Supermax prison

Supermax is the short name for super- maximum security, a prison standard from the U.S.. In the prison system of the United States ( to which the Super Maximum Security Prisons are ) distinguished between minimum -, low-, medium - and high- security, and Administrative. It is in the latter a kind of high-security custody for heavy criminals.

History

The standard of the Supermax prison was developed after 1983 in the maximum security prison of the state prison of Illinois (Marion ) two prison guards were killed by inmates independently on the same day. Since that day, some high-security prisons in the U.S. have switched to the Supermax standard. The first prison that was designed and built completely according to this standard, the federal prison ADX Florence ( Colorado). It is based on current prison standard as the safest prison in the world. However, many international human rights organizations to have strong reservations against the ADMAX and the Supermax in general.

Standard

In general, the placement in a supermax prison is equivalent to almost complete isolation from the outside world. Even within the cell block communication between the detainees is suppressed, so is incommunicado. Prisoners remain locked up in their single cell 22 to 23 hours a day; the only social contact they have is in jail, with the overseers. The cells are about 3.5 × 2 m in size and equipped with special sound-proof doors, to prevent communication between the inmates. There are few furniture, these are made of reinforced concrete and are anchored to the ground so that they are not shiftable. The shower is scheduled. Windows - if present - very small and placed so that only the sky is to be seen and an orientation on the prison grounds is made almost impossible. The inmates are under video surveillance 24 hours a day, regardless of whether they are in their cell in an outdoor cage to walk in the yard or in a shower. The doors throughout the area are remotely controlled in most supermax prisons. The fences that are usually in several rows surround the property are under tension. As is common in most prisons in the United States, the prisoners have to wear prison clothes. These clothing usually consists of a colored jumpsuit made ​​of tear -resistant, fire -resistant materials.

  • Prison system
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