U.S. Prisons Face Chronic Lockdowns and Staffing Shortages

State prison systems across the U.S. are facing severe understaffing and overcrowding, leading to extended lockdowns that can last weeks or even months. During these lockdowns, inmates have limited access to rehabilitative classes, work, and visitation, resulting in isolation and disruption of their routines. Michele Deitch from the University of Texas noted that these lockdowns are not due to disciplinary issues but rather for institutional management. Facilities like the Green Bay Correctional Institution in Wisconsin have reported housing inmates nearly 45% above capacity, while the Waupun Correctional Institution has seen multiple deaths and ongoing staff criminal charges related to these conditions. Prolonged lockdowns have escalated tensions within prisons, contributing to violence, increased drug use, and suicides among inmates. The situation underscores the urgent need for reforms in the prison system to address these critical issues.