Behind the Prison Riots

T HE years 1952-53 have the dubious distinction of being the darkest years in modern American penal history. During the eighteen months from April 1952 through September 1953 there were about thirty prison riots, or other major disturbances-more than had taken place in the entire preceding quarter-century. In 1951 there were a few disturbances that now appear comparatively unimportant in retrospect. The riots of greatest magnitude and importance began in April 1952, when the violent and destructive revolts