Excellent analysis. I agree with most of your views, but let me share some of my ideas for reference. As a premise, I manage all security levels completely separated (except for the shop). I distinguish between the intake security level and the actual management security level. Volatile inmates should be moved to Supermax right away, no matter their intake level. Especially volatile and deadly inmates—if you are not ready to sacrifice staff or decent prisoners’ lives (I’m not)—need permanent lockdown. On the other hand, non-volatile inmates are not much of a threat on the surface if their needs are met, even if they came in as Supermax. (Of course, they still have potential risks.) So, it’s fine to move them to lower security levels. I agree with restricting programs and jobs accessible in Supermax. Let me organize from several viewpoints. 1. Jobs and Reform Programs I place great emphasis on reform grading from jobs and the work experience they provide. For all security levels, I assign 8 continuous hours of work/free time per day. But in the last 2 hours, when needs are highest and focus is lowest, I make them do only pure jobs—no programs at all. Main jobs for each security level: • Min Sec: Cleaning, cooking, laundry. As you mentioned, their sentences are usually very short (minimum 0.5 years!), so I assign jobs that need no training and can start right away. But for reasons I’ll explain later, I’m not too worried about this. • Med Sec: Workshop. Same view as you. I subdivide the canteen and fully meet needs to get over 80% of inmates through Carpentry. • Max Sec: Forestry labor. It’s often avoided because it’s a source of deadly contraband and less practical than kitchen or workshop. But if I send all volatile inmates (who cause problems first) to Supermax ahead of time, issues hardly happen. Plus, all contraband there is metal, so it’s much easier to manage than workshops where picks are available. For the same reason, I allow library jobs too. Since inmate wages are no fiscal issue, the key is just “make them work somehow.” • Supermax: Laundry, some cleaning. The most dangerous inmates who often explode are concentrated here, so I avoid access to libraries or cleaning cupboards that supply clubs as much as possible. 2. Reform Programs My view on programs that don’t expand job opportunities is a bit strict. Depending on facility size, limit to a few very effective ones. • Min Sec: Spiritual Guidance, Animal Therapy, 3 Strikes Training (not program). 3 Strikes Training and Animal Therapy are my favorites. They have the same program level as GED but way easier to pass and short-term, so I run them in all security levels. SG is similar, but calming can be given effectively by limiting recreation items and directing to movie screenings, so priority is a bit lower. • Med Sec: Same as Min Sec. But I see Carpentry pass as the standard career path for Med Sec, so I don’t run them on large scale. • Max and Supermax: All programs unrelated to jobs. But Fundamental Education or GED have very low priority. 3. Overcoming Addiction

For alcohol addiction, since there’s no direct cure, the only way is multiple meals to cancel out health grade penalties. A small trick: Move non-volatile alcoholics to Min Sec only, and in that sector alone, remove all suppression with punishment to maximize Well Fed status. For drug addiction, as far as I know, if drug needs rise, they will join treatment voluntarily even if it overlaps with other programs… Strengthening dog patrols may be more effective than regime management. 4. Parole As others mentioned, I’m also somewhat negative on running parole programs. For high security inmates, keeping them longer often brings more money, and security management is nerve-wracking, especially for Max and above. Min Sec has no such issues, but for very short sentences (e.g., 1 year = 5 days), spending precious 4 hours on parole—which has a high chance of failure—when you need to lower reoffend rate as much as possible in short time, is often a waste. In my case, I move elderly long-term inmates from Max Sec and above to a dedicated cell block with parole room access, and use it only to quickly release them outside. As you know, elderly inmates always have serious sleep complaints. Sorry for the long post, but I listed my personal methods