Polemics over the accuracy of correctional system implementation and the non-conducive environmental impact have triggered violations by prisoners to commit acts of escapes from correctional institutions. The lack of explicit regulation of this act has led to the increasing number of escape attempts made by prisoners. The prisoners’ escape attempts also occurred at the Correctional Institution Class I Surabaya. Therefore, this research was conducted to find out and analyse the efforts and constraints in preventing escape attempts by prisoners. The method of approach used in this research is juridical sociological by examining Law No. 12/1995 on Corrections, Correctional Institution Guarding Regulations of 1975, and Decree of the Director General of Corrections No. E.22.PR.08.03 of 2001 on fixed procedures; and analysing the implementation of security systems in correctional class I Surabaya in actual conditions. There are 2 legal material sources in the research, such as (1) primary data from interviews with the officers of correctional institution class I Surabaya; (2) secondary data from official documents, law books related to the research topic. Preventive and repressive efforts have been implemented by the correctional institution class I Surabaya. However, they have faced several constraints in implementing these efforts, such as over-capacity of inmates, the mismatch between the number of prison staff and inmates, the absence of strict sanctions, and the lack of welfare of correctional institution class I Surabaya staff.