Prison crime has been a part of our prisons since prisons themselves were developed. Criminals who end up in institutions are almost certain to commit crimes while in prison. Prisons have come a long way over the years, and through trial and error, they have discovered many effective ways to help reduce crime rates. Mail is monitored and read occasionally and is a prisoner's privilege that can be taken away. While many of the new policies and procedures have proven effective, it is well-trained staff that will keep crime down. Crime in our prisons is declining and the availability of adequate staff in these institutions plays a crucial role in curbing crimes. By providing officers with intensive, paramilitary training, crime rates have decreased in our prisons (http://www .azcorrections.gov/adc/policy). Using appropriate tactical verbal skills with inmates allows staff to calm them in several ways. With verbal communication between officers, aggression between inmates and staff is reducing. We might all say that the problems in our prisons are gang-related, which may be the case; however, some of these crimes may be linked to contraband making its way into prison facilities. Having adequate and properly trained staff processing all incoming mail into our facilities helps slow the possible passage of contraband into our prisons (http://www.azcorrections.gov/adc/policy). Many will try on a daily basis to sneak any type of illegal contraband into these inmates for them to sell. Because these packages may contain contraband, each piece of mail is thoroughly checked for any drugs or weapons. Letters are also read and sent... middle of paper... and the rules established will allow the prison to function in a controlled environment and ultimately keep crime from declining both inside and outside the prisons. prison walls. Works Cited Arizona Department of Corrections. (Copyright 2011). Retrieved May 2, 2011, from WWW.ADC.State.AZ.US: WWW.ADC.STATE.AZ.US/Prison Offenders. (2010, January 14). Retrieved May 2, 2011, from WWW.PrisonOffenders.com: C. http://www.prisonoffenders.com/mexican_mafia.htmlWalker, R. (1999-2010). Gang or us. Retrieved May 2, 2011, from www.gangsorus.com: www.Gangsorus.comMontgomery, Michael (2005). Gangs leave prison to commit crimes. Retrieved March 7, 2005, from www.npr.org Gomez, Allen (2008). States work to curb violence in prisons. Updated August 28, 2008 from www.usatoday.com Holthouse, David (2005). Hate crimes in prison. Retrieved November 21, 2005, from www.alternet.org