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Behind Bars: Life of an Inmate
Behind Bars: Life of an Inmate
© 2002 Wadsworth Publishing Co.
Chapter 14Introduction to Criminal Justice 2003:
A Microsoft® PowerPoint® Tool
Slides prepared by:Larry Bassi
SUNY Brockport
Chapter 14Introduction to Criminal Justice 2003:
A Microsoft® PowerPoint® Tool
Slides prepared by:Larry Bassi
SUNY Brockport
Principle of Least EligibilityPrinciple of Least Eligibility
The least advantagedmembers of outsidesociety should lead abetter existence than
any person livingin jail orprison
The least advantagedmembers of outsidesociety should lead abetter existence than
any person livingin jail orprison
Total InstitutionsTotal Institutions
Irving Goffman, (from Asylums, 1961)...
Large places or residences where like-situated individuals live cut off
from the wider society. Total institutions were thought to be regimented and dehumanizing.
Irving Goffman, (from Asylums, 1961)...
Large places or residences where like-situated individuals live cut off
from the wider society. Total institutions were thought to be regimented and dehumanizing.
Prison SlangPrison Slang
Prison SocietyPrison Society• Indigenous Theory
The nature of the prison shapes the nature of prison society
• Importation TheoryThe nature of prison is determined by outside criminal and conventional cultures
Prisoner PersonalitiesPrisoner Personalities
The ThiefThe Thief
The ConvictThe Convict
The SquareThe Square
Doing Time and GleaningDoing Time and Gleaning
Doing Time: follow the rulesto get out quicklyDoing Time: follow the rulesto get out quickly
Gleaning: working to improveone’s self for return to society
Gleaning: working to improveone’s self for return to society
Adapting to PrisonAdapting to Prison
JailingIdentifying with prisonlife - making it part of
one’s own identity
JailingIdentifying with prisonlife - making it part of
one’s own identity
“Disorganized” Prisoners“Disorganized” Prisoners
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Those who have mental impairmentsor low IQ and are therefore unable
to adapt to prison culture
Those who have mental impairmentsor low IQ and are therefore unable
to adapt to prison culture
The Inmate CodeThe Inmate Code
Reasons for Violent Behavior in Prison
Reasons for Violent Behavior in Prison
Protect one’s self from being a
target
Obtain sexualrelief
Enhance one’sown self image
Separate the powerful
from the weak
Obtain materialgoods through
extortion orrobbery
Deprivation Model ofPrison Violence
Deprivation Model ofPrison Violence
The stressful and oppressive conditions of prison life lead to
aggressive behavior on the part of inmates. As conditionsworsen, inmate conflict often
increases.
Inmate ConflictInmate Conflict
• Inmate violence (inmate against inmate)• Homosexual rape• Non-sexual assault (shake down)• Prison riots (90% of all riots have taken place
since 1952)
• Inmate violence (inmate against inmate)• Homosexual rape• Non-sexual assault (shake down)• Prison riots (90% of all riots have taken place
since 1952)
Prison GangsPrison Gangs
• Gang violence in prison wasinformally controlled prior to 1960s
• 80 - 90 % of prisoners in someprisons belong to a gang
• Gang initiated robbery, assault, rape and murder consolidated black and white gangs
• Some gangs’ influence may extend beyondthe institution
• Spread of prison gangs to the street, and street gangs to the prison have blurred the lines between them
• Gang violence in prison wasinformally controlled prior to 1960s
• 80 - 90 % of prisoners in someprisons belong to a gang
• Gang initiated robbery, assault, rape and murder consolidated black and white gangs
• Some gangs’ influence may extend beyondthe institution
• Spread of prison gangs to the street, and street gangs to the prison have blurred the lines between them
Two perspectives: Guards on Cons
Two perspectives: Guards on Cons
[My job is to] protect, feed and try to educate scum who raped and brutalized women and children…who, if I turn my back, will go into their cell, wrap a blanket around their cellmate’s legs, and threaten to beat or rape him if he doesn’t give sex, carry contraband, or fork over radios, money, or other goods willingly. And they’ll stick a shank in me tomorrow if they think they can get away with it.
[My job is to] protect, feed and try to educate scum who raped and brutalized women and children…who, if I turn my back, will go into their cell, wrap a blanket around their cellmate’s legs, and threaten to beat or rape him if he doesn’t give sex, carry contraband, or fork over radios, money, or other goods willingly. And they’ll stick a shank in me tomorrow if they think they can get away with it.
Two Perspectives: Cons on Guards
Two Perspectives: Cons on Guards
The pigs in the state and federal prisons…treat me so violently, I cannot possibly imagine a time I could ever have anything but the deepest, aching, searing hatred for them. I can’t begin to tell you what they do to me. If I were weaker by a hair, they would destroy me.
The pigs in the state and federal prisons…treat me so violently, I cannot possibly imagine a time I could ever have anything but the deepest, aching, searing hatred for them. I can’t begin to tell you what they do to me. If I were weaker by a hair, they would destroy me.
Correctional OfficerJob Categories
Correctional OfficerJob Categories
Block officersBlock officers
Industrial shop andschool supervisorsIndustrial shop andschool supervisors
Those withAdministrative
Assignments
Those withAdministrative
Assignments
Yard OfficersYard Officers Tower GuardsTower Guards
Use of Force GuidelinesUse of Force Guidelines
Hands-off DoctrineHands-off Doctrine Prior to 1964 (Cooper v. Pate), this principle held that the law did not accompany prisoners inside the prison; it left them at the prison gate. Prison conditions and prison society were matters properly left wholly toadministrative discretion; they were not thecourt’s business..
Prior to 1964 (Cooper v. Pate), this principle held that the law did not accompany prisoners inside the prison; it left them at the prison gate. Prison conditions and prison society were matters properly left wholly toadministrative discretion; they were not thecourt’s business..
“Hands-On” Approach“Hands-On” Approach
Since 1964 the Supreme Court declared the following basic due process procedures where in effect when disciplinary procedures were applied:– A fair hearing– Written notice of the hearing 24– Opportunity to speak at the hearing– Opportunity to call witnesses– A written statement detailing the final decision and the
reasons for that decision
Since 1964 the Supreme Court declared the following basic due process procedures where in effect when disciplinary procedures were applied:– A fair hearing– Written notice of the hearing 24– Opportunity to speak at the hearing– Opportunity to call witnesses– A written statement detailing the final decision and the
reasons for that decision
The Supreme Court in the 1970s: Expanding Prisoners’ Rights
The Supreme Court in the 1970s: Expanding Prisoners’ Rights
Prisoners’ Rights:Access to the Courts
Prisoners’ Rights:Access to the Courts
• Right to challenge aspects of their confinement.
• Access to an attorney.• Right to a jail house lawyer.• Access to law libraries and
transcripts of their cases.
Disciplinary Due ProcessDisciplinary Due Process
Right to a written statement detailingthe final decisions and the reasons
for that decision
An opportunity to call witnesses
An opportunity to speak at thehearing
Written notice at least 24 hours inadvance of the hearing
A fair hearing
State-by-State Prison
Overcrowding
State-by-State Prison
Overcrowding
Strategies for ReducingPrison Overcrowding
Strategies for ReducingPrison Overcrowding
• Front DoorReducing number admitted, reduced sentences, more community corrections
• Front DoorReducing number admitted, reduced sentences, more community corrections
• Back DoorIncreasing the number released for “good time” and parole
• Back DoorIncreasing the number released for “good time” and parole
Increasing capacityBuilding new prisons and jails to
handle more prisoners
Strategies for Reducing Prison Overcrowding
Strategies for Reducing Prison Overcrowding
More Major Prison ProblemsMore Major Prison Problems
Need forNeed formore workmore work
opportunitiesopportunities
IncreasedIncreasedmedicalmedical
expensesexpenses
History of Prison WorkHistory of Prison Work
Contract Labor System
The system in which a correctional facility would sell inmate labor to a private employer, who would provide the inmates with the raw materials to produce goods for sale.
Contract Labor System
The system in which a correctional facility would sell inmate labor to a private employer, who would provide the inmates with the raw materials to produce goods for sale.
Lease SystemA variation of the contract
system in which the private employer not only oversaw inmate labor but also took responsibility for the food, shelter, and discipline of the inmate laborers.
Lease SystemA variation of the contract
system in which the private employer not only oversaw inmate labor but also took responsibility for the food, shelter, and discipline of the inmate laborers.
Modern Prison Work: The State Use System
Modern Prison Work: The State Use System
• Goods produced by prison labor in the state use system are purchased only by other state institutions and never enter the free market.
• Goods produced by prison labor in the state use system are purchased only by other state institutions and never enter the free market.
Items Produced by Prison LaborItems Produced by Prison Labor
Conceptual Foundationsof Parole
Conceptual Foundationsof Parole
GraceContract of Consent
Custody
GraceContract of Consent
Custody
Parole EligibilityParole Eligibility
• Supreme Court has ruled parole is a privilege not a right
• States determine eligibility dates:– Some are eligible when the minimum sentence is
served; others are eligible at one third of the maximum sentence; others use prior convictions and/or the crime for which an individual is incarcerated
Legal Requirements for ParoleLegal Requirements for Parole
How is Eligibility Determined?How is Eligibility Determined?
• Parole Guidelines
Risk assessment instruments based on the seriousness of the offense and the risk of the offender to public safety
• Salient Factor Score (SFS)
This is a number that states the probability that a parolee will succeed on parole
Advantages and Disadvantages of Parole Guidelines
Advantages and Disadvantages of Parole Guidelines
• Appearance of objectivity• They are fairer than no
guidelines• They are economical• They help release those
most likely to succeed
• Risk prediction is an imprecise science
• The degree of sophistication of the instruments does not improve predictions
• Guidelines can lead to more legal problems
Advantages Disadvantages Advantages Disadvantages
Duties of a Typical ParoleBoard
Duties of a Typical ParoleBoard
To determine whether or not parole privilegesshould be revoked when a violation of parole occurs.
To discharge the offender when the conditionsof parole have been met.
To determine the conditions of parole.
To decide which inmates should be given parole.
“Truth-in-sentencing”“Truth-in-sentencing”
• These law make more transparent the actual time that a convicted criminal will serve in jail or prison. The goals are:– to restore truth-in-sentencing process– to increase the percentage of a sentence that is
actually served– to better control the use of prison space
State Truth-in-Sentencing RequirementsState Truth-in-Sentencing Requirements
Standard Conditions of
Parole
Standard Conditions of
Parole
Halfway HousesHalfway Houses
Provide a transition placementbefore parole or expiration release.
Provide a transition placementbefore parole or expiration release.
Reasons for Parole RevocationReasons for Parole Revocation
• Arrest on serious criminal charges
• Repeated violations of conditions
• Abscond or cannot otherwise be found
• Abuse of alcohol or other drugs
• Carry weapons
Parole Revocation and Due Process
Parole Revocation and Due Process
In general, the exclusionary rule does not extend to parole
revocation hearings. Parolees do not have the same rights to
due process as does the average citizen.
Handicaps of Released Prisoners
Handicaps of Released Prisoners
• Long absence from family and friends.
• Legal and practical limits on employment.
• Suspiciousness and uneasiness of acquaintances.
• Strangeness of everyday living.
Does Parole Reduce Recidivism?
Does Parole Reduce Recidivism?
Sacks and Logan: “…parole had no preventive effects after two (or three) years following release. Parole seems to affect recidivism while the parolee is on parole…but these effects soon begin to dissipate and tend to disappear by the time parolees have finished two years in the community”
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