“Taller Fences or Longer Tables”: Should We Rely on Dynamic Security to Prevent Prison Violence?

Dynamic security has become the foundation of efforts to prevent violence in prisons around the world. This article discusses the meaning of the term and how it has been operationalized in practice, before identifying several issues that relate to when, where, and how it might be relied upon to support safer living and working environments. We conclude that, despite its presence in contemporary correctional policy and practice, dynamic security sits in a quasi-professional space without a clear governance approach (the absence of professional standards, regulation, and consistent training) which results in inconsistent application. Prison administrators will inevitably face significant obstacles in any efforts to introduce a culture that prioritizes dynamic security in the absence of ongoing research and practice development.