Supermaximum-security prisons

Historical origin and current discussions

Abstract

The supermaximum-securityprisons (supermax) emerged in the United States,during the 1980s,and presentas their essential characteristics the concentration model and the long-term solitary confinementofinmates.Key to the tough on crime agenda, these prisons are questioned with regard to prisoners' conditionsof confinement, admission criteria, effectiveness in controlling prison misconduct and the fairness of the inclusion and transfer procedures. In brief overview, it’s exploredthe historical context that triggered the emergence of supermax prisons, as wellas discussions in the foreign legal literature and jurisprudence related to the theme.