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Abstract: 

Based on the author’s more than 35 years as a consulting psychiatrist for the Ohio prison system, this article examines the nature, diagnosis, and management of violence among prisoners. While rates of violent crime have decreased significantly in the past two decades, the increasing use of diversion and early release of non-violent offenders means that prison populations now contain a higher proportion of violent offenders than before. This article examines the psychological bases for violent behavior, surveys the major treatment modalities for anger and violence interventions, and offers practical advice for clinicians and other uniformed and non-uniformed staff who work with prisoners who have displayed violent behavior or are serving sentences for violent crimes.

Keywords: Ego-dystonic Versus Ego-syntonic Violence; Assessment of Propensity to Violence; Underlying Disorders; Personal Safety Concerns

Affiliations:  1: The Ohio State University (Retired).