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Chapter 4

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

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Chapter 4

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  1. Chapter 4 The Social World of the Prisoner

  2. Who Is In Prison? • Overall Population • 2 million in prisons and jails • Rate of imprisonment may be slowing down

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Sentence Length and Time Served • Average sentence length decreased • Percentage of time served has increased • Average prison sentence is 3 years

  7. Age and Education • Young and uneducated • 41% have no high school diploma

  8. 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?

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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?

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. Change and Survival in the Prisoner Subculture Today • Avoiding “The Mix”: Niches and Sanctuaries in the Prisoner Subculture • Niche – sanctuary, protected living situation

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