Chapter 8 Convict Society The Informal Organization of Inmate Life in American Prisons

Importation Theory The status roles and subcultures of the prison result from the identities established by inmates before imprisonment Prison as a school for crime Learning is direct (exchange of information) and indirect (modeling of violence) Inmates associate with those of similar race, age, background, and type of offense

Deprivation Theory Inmate societies as a response to the unique hardships that result from incarceration 1)Loss of liberty 2)Loss of access to goods and services 3)Loss of heterosexual relationships 4)Loss of autonomy 5)Loss of security

The Convict Code c Don’t interfere with the interests of other inmates; show loyalty to convicts, not to staff 2.Don’t be nosy, do your own time and mind your own business 3.Be cool, don’t lose control 4.Keep your dignity, never show weakness 5.Don’t take advantage of other inmates

Recent Changes to Convict Code Toughness is essential to identity and survival Extreme violence is “expected and accepted” Loyalty is expected only to one’s own racial group Results mainly from situational factors, such as racial makeup of inmate population Harsh conditions; lack of treatment and work

The Total Institution Bureaucratically administered All basic needs met within facility Administered for convenience of staff, not welfare of inmates Inmates spend relatively long periods within its control Inmates have similar statuses

Prisonization “Desocialization” followed by “resocialization” –Old identity lost in favor of new one that is meaningful within institution –Affects all inmates and staff to some extent Degradation ceremonies mark identity change, such as delousing, interactions with C.O.s Learning focuses on survival in new environment

Learned Helplessness Belief that one is powerless to affect his/her own life Being dependant on others for all needs Responsibility for actions attributed to others

Zimbardo’s Prison Experiment Inmates and staff affected quickly by prisonization Imprisonment makes even mentally healthy people behave pathologically Incarceration should be used only as a last resort for the most dangerous offenders

Wheeler’s U-Curve Thesis Inmate attitudes surveyed repeatedly over a 4.33-year period Most pro-social attitudes noted in first six months and last six months of sentence Unrealistic expectations and hope for future explained pro-social attitudes Longer sentences may worsen attitudes, no recovery at end of sentence

Sources of Prisonization 1.Involuntary incarceration 2.Segregation from mainstream society, significant others, and the opposite sex 3.Complex and unique system of social roles in prison 4.Imported antisocial identities and behaviors 5.Degradation ceremonies

Universal Aspects of Prisonization 1.Taking on the devalued identity of “convict” 2.Learning the customs, organization and general culture of the prison 3.Changing habits to deal with dangers of prison life 4.Developing new ways of dealing with, thinking about, people, such as increasing social distance and building an “antisocial” reputation

Factors that Minimize Prisonization 1.Serving a short sentence 2.Having a pro-social cellmate 3.Having a stable personality 4.Contacts with noncriminals in the free world 5.Avoiding deviant activities within the prison 6.Rejecting the norms of the convict society 7.Small, treatment ‑ oriented facilities 8.Low levels of security and/or high levels of exposure to the outside world

Types of Inmates Prosocial inmates: no association with a criminal subcultures before imprisonment –Prefer to associate with staff –No threat to others – orientation is clear Anti-social inmates: active in criminal sub-culture prior to imprisonment –Seek shortest, sentence, least deprivation possible –Epitome of convict code

Types of Inmates (continued) Pseudo-social inmates: many contacts within the prisoner, staff, and free-world cultures but are loyal to none – The politicians” and “merchants” of the prison – Manipulate others for gain Asocial inmates: emotionally damaged, few social skills –Often “state ‑ raised youths” –Oriented to life within the institution

Prison Gangs Began in 1950s; little concern until 1970s Organized along racial lines, also by region among Mexican groups –Mexican Mafia (S. CA), La Nuestra Familia (N. CA); Texas Syndicate, Black Guerilla Family, Aryan Brotherhood, Aryan Circle Allied with free world groups Responsible for much of the drug trade, violence in prisons

Prison Gangs (continued) Percentage of involved inmates varies with security level –30%+ in maximum security units –25% in medium security units –16% in minimum security units Power and size has grown immensely in last 15 years

Prison Gang Violence A condition of gang membership Main method of gaining status “Rolling your bones” – participating in a murder attempt to earn membership Common targets are members who are suspected of disloyalty or disobedience Hard to collect reliable data on gangs

The Prison’s Informal Economy Inmates obtain desired items and services: 1.As gifts from people in free society 2.From the prison canteen or commissary –Cash is contraband –Canteen purchases are made with credits on money placed in account 3.Through smuggling by staff and visitors 4.By stealing and making items Any item not explicitly permitted is contraband

Informal Economy (continued) Easily concealed items bartered in complex networks Cash required for drugs, alcohol All transactions violate rules Most ignored as nuisance violations Manipulation, deceit common source of violence Lockdowns, shakedowns attempt to eliminate dangerous contraband

Prison Riots Riots best explained by deprivation thesis –Crowding –Extremes of control –Loss of status –Vague release policies Some analysts fear U.S. prisons are increasingly dangerous, disturbance-prone African Americans disproportionately involved in violence – importation factor?

American Correctional Association: Causes of Riots Enforced idleness Lack of programs Poor parole policies Overcrowding Poor management Inhumane treatment Disruptions of status hierarchies

Sex in Prison Dispositional homosexuality: individual prefers partners of the same sex –Imported from free world –At high risk of victimization in prison Situational homosexuality: temporary adaptation to sexually segregated environment –Strives to maintain heterosexual self-image –Dominant role equated with masculinity

Sex in Prison Consensual and coerced sex more common than rape Up to 20% of inmates may suffer coercion –Fear of gang rape (myth?) used to coerce Rape often interracial, gang related “Punks” treated harshly, sex lacks affection Amount of sex and drug use predicted by harshness of prison life (deprivation)

Legitimizing Sex for Inmates Conjugal visits: Inmate can earn private, overnight visit from spouse –Allowed in five states, Mexico, Europe –Only benefits married inmates Home Furloughs: visits home, usually for those nearing release date, often to seek job –Substance use, diseases are problems