Life as an Offender - Segregation

An offender may be segregated (separated) from the general population and assigned to an administrative segregation or intensive management unit when his or her presence in the general population would create any of the following conditions:

  • A serious threat to the safety of staff, visitors, or other offenders.
  • A serious threat to the offender’s safety.
  • The probability of an escape by the offender.
  • A serious threat to the orderly operation of the institution.

What does it mean if an offender is “thrown in the hole?”

In the past and in movies, people would refer to segregation as “the hole.” Today’s segregation unit has individual cells where the offender is provided with appropriate sanitation, meals, medical and mental health care, recreation opportunities, religious guidance, and other amenities.

There are five types of segregation:

Administrative Segregation - Is authorized by facility staff for any of the reasons listed above.

Protective Custody - May be requested by the offender or facility staff if it is felt there is a threat to the offender’s safety.

Intensive Management - The assignment of an offender to long-term administrative segregation due to chronic behavioral problems, extreme protective needs, or the presence of a serious threat to the safety of staff or other offenders.

Pre-Hearing Confinement - An offender is placed in segregation pending a hearing for a serious rule violation if the continued presence of the offender in general population would present a risk to security or orderly operation of the facility, is an escape risk, is a danger to himself/herself, to others, or from others.

Disciplinary Segregation - Given as a sanction (penalty) resulting from an offender being found guilty of a rule violation/infraction.

How long will an offender remain in segregation?

It will depend upon the reason the offender was placed in segregation. Offenders in segregation are provided regular reviews to determine an appropriate release date.

Divider image - horizontal green bar