CCTV in jail housing: An evaluation of technology-enhanced supervision

• Published in: Security journal 2017-05, Vol.30 (2), p.367-384
• Main Authors: Debus-Sherrill, Sara A, La Vigne, Nancy G, Downey, P Mitchell
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cameras; Closed circuit television; Correctional personnel; Crime and Society; Criminology and Criminal Justice; Original Article; Prisons; Social Sciences
• ISSN: 0955-1662; 1743-4645
• DOI: 10.1057/sj.2014.31

Surveillance cameras are widely used in correctional settings, but there has been little research on their effectiveness, especially in jail settings. Employing a mixed methods approach, this article examines how implementing closed-circuit television in jail housing units in a large Eastern city influences inmate perceptions of safety and incidents of violence and misconduct. Data collected through surveys with 101 inmates and 68 months (56 months from before and 12 from after camera implementation) of administrative records of inmate infractions, incidents of self-harm and officer use of force were analyzed through χ 2 tests, independent sample t-tests, and structural break (time series) analyses. Semi-structured interviews with 14 correctional staff were analyzed qualitatively to provide contextual information. Findings indicate that while inmate perceptions of safety changed after implementing cameras, analyses of reported incidents did not yield any effect. These mixed results may be because of a combination of deterrence and detection effects or to cameras not being paired with more effective monitoring.