Prison Personnel Solutions for Reducing and Improving the Appropriate Use and Effectiveness of Extended Restrictive Housing

Critiques of extended restrictive housing (ERH), used to manage incarcerated persons deemed to pose a threat to prison order and safety, have led to calls for reducing its use. There is a need for guidance about how to achieve this goal. Drawing on a qualitative study of restrictive housing in Florida, we glean insights from personnel about (1) how to reduce the need for and use of ERH and (2) how, when needed, to ensure its appropriate use and effectiveness. Findings point to many possible solutions for reducing ERH and facilitating appropriate and effective use of it. They also reveal that personnel support reforms that would reduce ERH and change how it operates. Implications for research and policy are discussed.