organized. Frequently, even minor disorders, if they are not promptly controlled, may quickly
develop into major disorders or riots either through leadership and organization or by a natural
development through group hysteria. A major disorder or riot rarely appears suddenly.
Investigation will reveal that it began with a minor incident, either by accident or through design.
The manner in which correctional and guard personnel handle disorders may determine whether a
minor disorder will be brought under control or whether it will flare to major proportions.
2. Unorganized disorders or riots are characterized at their inception as being spontaneous in
nature. They may begin with a minor situation or during a normal gathering, where unexpected
circumstances lead to group hysteria. Under determined leadership, the pattern of such a
disturbance may be changed to that of an organized riot.
3. In organized disorders or riots, military prisoners may form themselves into quasi-military
groups which are capable of developing plans and tactics to achieve the following purposes:
a. Create a diversion for an escape attempt.
b. Establish a grievance to express a complaint.
c. Demonstrate against persons in authority by expressing dissatisfaction with food,
clothing, living conditions, treatment, or other conditions.
d. Develop a means of harassing confinement personnel in an attempt to gain concessions.
This may include a refusal to work or to eat.
e. Impede or prevent normal operations through damage or destruction of property.
4. Basic techniques used to gain control in situations involving disorders or riots are discussed
below and are generally applied in the order in which they are listed. However, these techniques
may be applied concurrently or out of sequence depending on the situation variables.
5. Personnel involved in the disturbance should be isolated from other persons who may
attempt to join the disturbance. Isolation should be done immediately since organized disturbances
may involve prearranged plans for personnel in other compounds to simultaneously initiate a
separate disturbance or join the main disturbance. Isolation may be accomplished by means of
barriers, by the physical intervention of guards, or by denying mobility to other personnel who may
wish to participate in the disturbance.
6. Personnel involved in the disturbance should be dispersed so they cannot function as a
cohesive group. It may not be feasible to obtain the degree of dispersion desired between
individuals or groups because of limited space. Under such conditions, the desired result may be
obtained by immobilizing individuals or groups; forcing them to lie on the ground, to assume the
wall search position, or to enter segregation cells.
7. Preventing assemblies is normally done in conjunction with dispersion. Once the
participants have been dispersed or rendered ineffective, they must not be allowed to rejoin the
disturbance. Continuing and expanding the isolation and dispersion actions described above may
accomplish this.
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