Do you think secure housing units (SHUs) are good way to reduce gang activity in prisons as well as the influence of gang leaders on outside gang members, I believe the answer is yes. The reason why I say yes is, the SHU is a control units within prisons, including single-cell and cell-confinement practices, to lessen directives by inmates to outside criminal organizations (Allen, 2017). The objective is to provide long-term, segregated housing for inmates classified as the highest security risk or as security threat group (STG) or prison gangs. The leadership’s control over free-world crime has been lessened but not been extinguished (Allen, 2017). The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation labels inmates as “gang leaders” or “affiliates” based on a set of criteria that can include having a gang tattoo, socializing with gang members, and committing a gang crime. Once prison officials “affiliate” an inmate with a prison gang that inmate can be sent to a SHU. The minimum term is six years, unless the inmate “debriefs” by dropping the gang and telling prison officials all about it. Corrections Undersecretary Terri McDonald says, “Our hope is it reduces our SHU gang population” He also stated that, “It’s designed to have inmates out programming and reduce the influence the gangs have on offenders.” I believe the SHU isn’t the best answer, but until something else is done it’s the only answer to ensure the gang member and leader have little influence on the rest of the prison.
