Public administration in disasters: Integrating emergency management into jail and prison preparedness

Jail and prison administrators have historically struggled to prepare for and respond to disasters. State and county Emergency Managers, as public administrators, are responsible for coordinating preparedness to mitigate disaster impacts. The author used 41 qualitative interviews with emergency management and corrections professionals to assess the extent to which these two collaborate for carceral disaster readiness. The findings indicate that Emergency Managers omit local jails and prisons from their planning, training, and exercises. Additionally, neither sees the other as a legitimate partner in disaster preparedness. This forces corrections professionals to face disasters without the aid of emergency management experts thereby exposing inmates, staff, and the public to greater risk.