chapter 4 the social world of the prisoner who is in prison? overall population 2 million in prisons...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 4
The Social World of the Prisoner
Who Is In Prison?
Overall Population 2 million in prisons and jails Rate of imprisonment may be
slowing down
Race and Gender (1 of 2)
Go to http://
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/gcorpop.htm Rates for men
Black men – 3,437/100,000 Hispanic men – 1,176/100,000 White men 450/100,000
Race and Gender (2 of 2)
Rates for women Black women – 191/100,000 Hispanic women – 80/100,000 White women 35/100,000
Rate of growth for women is higher but still means smaller numbers
Persons in Prison by Type of Crime 49% are sentenced for violent crime 19% are sentenced for property crimes 20% are sentenced for drug crimes Difference between statistic of total
prison population versus admitted population % of violent, property, and drug offenders
Decrease in % of total population of violent offenders between 1985–1990 Decrease in property offenders Increase in drug offenders
Sentence Length and Time Served
Average sentence length decreased
Percentage of time served has increased
Average prison sentence is 3 years
Age and Education
Young and uneducated 41% have no high school
diploma
The Prison as a Social Setting Total institution Separate system v. congregate system
Both created isolated world of prison Isolated world creates unique prisoner
subculture Researching the Prisoner Subculture
Participant observation (examples) Survey Other?
The Process of Imprisonment (1 of 3)
Degradation Ceremonies Stripping of outside identity Everyone the same, no individuality
Getting “Cliqued On” and “Ho Checked” Tests by prisoners and guards
The Process of Imprisonment (2 of 3)
Inmate code Rules, language, roles, values How does it develop?
Deprivations Liberty, goods and services,
heterosexual relationships, autonomy, security
The Process of Imprisonment (3 of 3)
Deprivation theory (Gresham Sykes) The subculture is created to meet the
prisoner’s needs Importation theory (Irwin and
Cressey) Roles, language, values imported from
street Research supports both theories Zimbardo experiment
Prisons From the 1940s to the 1960s (1 of 4)
The Inmate Code Don’t rat, don’t interfere, etc. Women’s code not same as men’s Eroded since the 1940s
Prisoner Slang Argot: symbolic expression of
solidarity Snitch, fish, “dawg,” others?
Prisons From the 1940s to the 1960s (2 of 4)
Prisoner Roles Argot roles: based on activities, values Schrag: square john, con politician, right guy,
outlaw Women’s roles? Giallombardo’s
Prisoner Values Group loyalty, violence, resistance, strength Violence is a central theme Snitches are another theme of prison life Sanctions: different in men’s and women’s
prisons
Prisons From the 1940s to the 1960s (3 of 4)
Homosexuality and Rape Men’s prisons – wolves & punks Women’s prisons – consensual
(“butches”) Pseudofamilies not found in men’s
prisons Measurement difficult to estimate true
extent of homosexuality 1–7% forced sex; 15–20% some form of
sexual victimization Prison Rape Elimination Act 2003
Prisons From the 1940s to the 1960s (4 of 4)
Adapting to Prison: Prisonization Goffman
Situational withdrawal, intransigent line, colonization, conversion
Pattern of prisonization Linear, U-shaped curve
Prisons From the 1960s to the 1980s Changing Free World
Massive social change; recognition of “rights” of Blacks, juveniles, women, etc.
Use of social activism to induce social change Changing Prison World
Civil rights extended to prison; Black activists were incarcerated as were students
Use of group organized activity (including riots) Use of litigation Black awareness led to race-based gangs
Prisons From the 1980s to Today (1 of 4)
Major issue was prison population explosion Prisoner rights movement Minorities came to represent majority
Changes to the Inmate Code and Subculture Greater emphasis of race Greater need to isolate and stay out of yard
activity Similar changes in women’s prison
Prisons From the 1980s to Today (2 of 4)
Prison Gangs Stems from ethnic identification of
1960s Best known gangs in Illinois, California,
and Texas Gangs – black market Texas – came after dismantling of
building tenders in late 1980s Women do not have obvious or
prevalent gang activity
Prisons From the 1980s to Today (3 of 4)
Racial Conflict in Prisons Perception is that racial violence is
pervasive Trulson and Marquart found that racial
violence did not escalate with integration
Disproportionate violence perpetrated by small number of inmates
Prisons From the 1980s to Today (4 of 4)
The Black Market in Prisons Contraband – anything against the rules Anything is for sale including sex
Responses to the Violent Prison Today: Containing Extraordinary Prisoners Super-max – marginally successful in
keeping gang communications to a minimum
Change and Survival in the Prisoner Subculture Today
Avoiding “The Mix”: Niches and Sanctuaries in the Prisoner Subculture Niche – sanctuary, protected
living situation