Attica Prison Riot

Descriptive Essay # 108629

Criminology > Criminal Justice and Corrections
Law > Criminal
Political Science

Attica Prison Riot

This paper studies the events at the Attica prison riot in 1971 and looks at the consequences.

2,133 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer looks at the Attica Prison Riot that took place on September 9, 1971 at the Attica Correction Facility in Attica, New York. The writer notes that the riot lasted four days and ended when 1,500 State Police and National Guardsmen reclaimed the facility leaving 42 dead with ten of those being hostages. The writer examines what took place at the facility and looks at the negotiations that took place. Further, the writer discusses what ultimately was changed following the riot.

From the Paper:

"There are many accounts of why the prisoners revolted that day in September, some accounts say that it was racial, some state that the prisoners were treated inhumanely by being abused by prison guards and others blame the uprising on inadequate medical treatment for the prisoners but by most accounts it was all of the above rolled up into one.
"The Attica Correctional Facility was designed to hold 1,200 inmates but at the time of the riots, the prison was well beyond capacity with 2,225 inmates residing there. Among the 2,225 inmates, 52% were African American, 13% were of Puerto Rican decent and the remaining 35% were white. There were 383 Corrections Officers employed at the time of the uprising with all but one officer being white. The one officer that was claimed by the prison to be of Puerto Rican decent could not be located after or during the riot."

Sample of Sources Used:

Badillo, H. (1972) A Bill of No Rights: Attica and the American Prison System. NY: Outerbridge & Lazard, Inc.
Attica Prison Riots. Retrieved on 9/16/08 from http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Attica-Prison-riotsAttica Inmate Demands, 1971. Retrieved on 9/16/08 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/sources/ps_attica.html
Massacre at Attica Prison. Retrieved on 9/17/08 from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=5342
Noel, P. (2000) Attica Brother. Village Voice Retrieved on 9/17/08 from http://www.villagevoice.com/2000-04-11/news/attica-brother/
Weiss, R. (1999) Reflections on Social Justice and the Prisoner Struggle. Social Justice, summer 99, Vol. 26 Issue 2.