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