Understanding Prison Culture and Violence: Adaptation, Subculture, and Strategies for Reduction

1. Chapter 11 The Prison Experience

2. definition “prisonization”(Donald Clemmer) • the process by which a new inmate absorbs the customs of prison society and learns to adapt to the prison environment

3. definition “degradationceremony” • a conspicuous ritual that is played out in various stages of the criminal jsutice process that is designed to degrade, dehumanize, & humiliate an individual. By design or effect, it informs an inmate/criminal that s/he is “outside” of & beneath society, that s/he is no longer regarded as honest, honorable, trustworthy, upright, & good.

4. adjusting to prison society values inmate “subculture” roles customs language

5. definition “Inmate code” • a set of rules of conduct that reflect the values and norms of the prison social system and help to define (for inmates) the image of the “model” prisoner

6. Gresham Sykes’ inmate code don’t interfere with inmate interests inmate code don’t trust the guards don’t quarrel with inmates don’t weaken; be tough don’t exploit inmates

7. inmate social system:prison roles ‘right guy’ upholder of inmate values ‘square John’ non-criminal self concept basic inmate roles ‘punk’ passive homosexual ‘rat’ squeals or sells out to authorities ‘hustler’ entrepreneur, supplies goods & services

8. how inmates “adapt” to prison “gleaning” exploit prison programs & opportunities; try to succeed “doing time” prison = brief interruption in criminal career; stay comfortable “jailing” cut selves off from outside; develop a life, power, influence in prison; adaptive roles “disorganized criminal” can’t develop any of the other three roles; often disabled; cannot adjust to prison life; develops emotional disorders

9. major prison gangs Texas Syndicate Mexican Mafia ‘La Eme’ Mandingo Warriors Black Guerrilla Family La Nuestra Familia Aryan Brotherhood

10. prison subculture: where does it come from?

11. Bases of inmate violence AGE youth, machismo, identity key factors ATTITUDE subculture of violence RACE convict code, gangs

12. causes of prison violence inadequate supervision by staff & inmate-staff relations high level of tension caused by close quarters main causes housing dangerous & nondangerous inmates together architectural design, including size & condition easy availability of deadly weapons

13. strategies for reducing violence in prison • improve classification • separate violence-prone inmates from others • create opportunities for fearful inmates to seek staff assistance • increase custody staff size, diversity, training • redesign facilities • improve surveillance; eliminate ‘blind spots’ • use smaller institutions • install grievance mechanisms or ombudsman • augment rewards system to reduce pains of imprisonment

14. definition “unit management” • organizational tactic for reducing prison violence by dividing facilities into a number of small, self-contained, semi-autonomous ‘institutions’