© 2009 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Chapter 10 The Inmate World: Living Behind Bars 1

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Total Institution A place where the same people work, play, eat, sleep, and recreate together on a continuous basis. A place where the same people work, play, eat, sleep, and recreate together on a continuous basis. The term was developed by the sociologist Erving Goffman to describe prisons and other similar facilities. The term was developed by the sociologist Erving Goffman to describe prisons and other similar facilities. Life within total institutions is closely planned by those in control, and activities are strictly scheduled. Life within total institutions is closely planned by those in control, and activities are strictly scheduled. 2

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Modes Of Adaptation Some inmates convert to life within the institutions, taking on the staff’s view of themselves and of institutional society. Some inmates convert to life within the institutions, taking on the staff’s view of themselves and of institutional society. Some inmates withdraw. Some inmates withdraw. Some inmates make attempts at colonization – they strike a balance between values and habits brought from home and those dictated by the social environment of the prison. Some inmates make attempts at colonization – they strike a balance between values and habits brought from home and those dictated by the social environment of the prison. Some inmates rebel, rejecting the demands of their surroundings and often ending up in trouble with authorities. Some inmates rebel, rejecting the demands of their surroundings and often ending up in trouble with authorities. 3

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill The Inmate Subculture The habits, customs, mores, values, beliefs, or superstitions of the body of inmates incarcerated in correctional institutions; also, the inmate social world. The habits, customs, mores, values, beliefs, or superstitions of the body of inmates incarcerated in correctional institutions; also, the inmate social world. Prisonization - The process by which inmates adapt to prison society; the taking on of the ways, mores, customs, and general culture of the penitentiary. Prisonization - The process by which inmates adapt to prison society; the taking on of the ways, mores, customs, and general culture of the penitentiary. Donald Clemmer – “The Prison Community” Donald Clemmer – “The Prison Community” Pains of Imprisonment - Major problems that inmates face, such as loss of liberty and personal autonomy, lack of material possessions, loss of heterosexual relationships, and reduced personal security. Pains of Imprisonment - Major problems that inmates face, such as loss of liberty and personal autonomy, lack of material possessions, loss of heterosexual relationships, and reduced personal security. Gresham Sykes – “The Society of Captives” Gresham Sykes – “The Society of Captives” 4

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill The Forming Of The Inmate Subculture Deprivation Theory - The belief that inmate subcultures develop in response to the deprivations in prison life. Deprivation Theory - The belief that inmate subcultures develop in response to the deprivations in prison life. Importation Theory - The belief that inmate subcultures are brought into prisons from the outside world Importation Theory - The belief that inmate subcultures are brought into prisons from the outside world Integration Model - combination of the importation and deprivation theories. The belief that, in childhood, some inmates acquired, usually from peers, values that support law- violating behavior but that the norms and standards in prison also affect inmates. Integration Model - combination of the importation and deprivation theories. The belief that, in childhood, some inmates acquired, usually from peers, values that support law- violating behavior but that the norms and standards in prison also affect inmates. 5

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Prison Code A set of norms and values among prison inmates. It is generally antagonistic to the official administration and rehabilitation programs of the prison. A set of norms and values among prison inmates. It is generally antagonistic to the official administration and rehabilitation programs of the prison. Don’t interfere with the interests of other inmates. Never rat on a con. Don’t have loose lips. Don’t interfere with the interests of other inmates. Never rat on a con. Don’t have loose lips. Don’t lose your head. Don’t quarrel with other inmates. Play it cool. Do your own time. Don’t lose your head. Don’t quarrel with other inmates. Play it cool. Do your own time. Don’t exploit other inmates. Don’t steal. Don’t break your word. Pay your debts. Don’t exploit other inmates. Don’t steal. Don’t break your word. Pay your debts. Don’t whine. Be tough. Be a man. Don’t whine. Be tough. Be a man. Don’t be a sucker. Don’t trust the guards or staff. Remember that prison officials are wrong and inmates are right. Don’t be a sucker. Don’t trust the guards or staff. Remember that prison officials are wrong and inmates are right. 6

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Prison Argot The special language of the inmate subculture. The special language of the inmate subculture. Some examples: Some examples: Peckerwood – a white prisoner Peckerwood – a white prisoner Ball busters – violent inmates Ball busters – violent inmates Hipsters – young, drug involved inmates Hipsters – young, drug involved inmates Wolf – a male inmate who assumes an aggressive role during homosexual relations. Wolf – a male inmate who assumes an aggressive role during homosexual relations. 7

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Inmate Roles The Real Man The Real Man The Mean Dude The Mean Dude The Bully The Bully The Agitator The Agitator The Hedonist The Hedonist The Opportunist The Opportunist The Retreatist The Legalist The Radical The Colonist The Religious Inmate The Punk The Gang-banger 8

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Sexuality in Men’s Prisons Violence and victimization occur in men’s prisons Violence and victimization occur in men’s prisons A good deal of prison violence has sexual overtones. A good deal of prison violence has sexual overtones. Punks are “owned” by powerful inmates, who protect them from sexual violence. Punks are “owned” by powerful inmates, who protect them from sexual violence. Many punks fill the role of a wife and can often be found doing their Man’s laundry, ironing, and housekeeping. Many punks fill the role of a wife and can often be found doing their Man’s laundry, ironing, and housekeeping. Affectionate relationships often develop between Men and their punks. Affectionate relationships often develop between Men and their punks. Some even “marry” in imitation ceremonies. Some even “marry” in imitation ceremonies. 9

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Women in Prison In the U.S., there are far fewer women’s prisons than men’s prisons. In the U.S., there are far fewer women’s prisons than men’s prisons. Incarcerated males outnumber incarcerated females 12 to 1. Incarcerated males outnumber incarcerated females 12 to 1. Prisoner programs in women’s prisons are often criticized as being inferior to the same types of programs in men’s prisons. Prisoner programs in women’s prisons are often criticized as being inferior to the same types of programs in men’s prisons. Security in women’s prisons is generally more relaxed than in men’s prisons. Security in women’s prisons is generally more relaxed than in men’s prisons. Many women’s prisons consist of cottages arranged in groupings called pods. Many women’s prisons consist of cottages arranged in groupings called pods. 10

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Women Inmates Since 1995, the female prison population has had a higher rate of growth (57%) than the male prison population (32%). Since 1995, the female prison population has had a higher rate of growth (57%) than the male prison population (32%). Female prisoners largely resemble male prisoners in race, ethnic background, and age. Female prisoners largely resemble male prisoners in race, ethnic background, and age. More likely to be serving time for a drug offense. More likely to be serving time for a drug offense. Have shorter criminal records than males. Have shorter criminal records than males. 2/3 of all women in federal prisons are serving time on drug charges. 2/3 of all women in federal prisons are serving time on drug charges. Usually have shorter maximum sentences than men. Usually have shorter maximum sentences than men. 11

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Female Inmate Roles The Cool Inmate: Cools usually have previous criminal records; are in the know; and do not cause trouble for other inmates while in prison. The Cool Inmate: Cools usually have previous criminal records; are in the know; and do not cause trouble for other inmates while in prison. The Square Inmate: Squares are not familiar with criminal lifestyles; have few, if any, criminal experiences other than the one for which they were imprisoned; and tend to hold the values and roles of conventional society. The Square Inmate: Squares are not familiar with criminal lifestyles; have few, if any, criminal experiences other than the one for which they were imprisoned; and tend to hold the values and roles of conventional society. The Life Inmate: Lifers are habitual or career offenders generally well socialized into lives of crime; they support inmate values and subculture. The Life Inmate: Lifers are habitual or career offenders generally well socialized into lives of crime; they support inmate values and subculture. 12

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Male Inmates vs. Female Inmates The social roles in women’s prisons place greater emphasis on homosexual relations as a mode of adaptation to prison life. The social roles in women’s prisons place greater emphasis on homosexual relations as a mode of adaptation to prison life. The mode of adaptation a female inmate selects is best assessed by studying the inmate’s pre-institutional experience. The mode of adaptation a female inmate selects is best assessed by studying the inmate’s pre-institutional experience. 13

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Pseudofamilies Unique family-like structures, common in women’s prisons, in which inmates assume roles similar to those of family members in free society. Unique family-like structures, common in women’s prisons, in which inmates assume roles similar to those of family members in free society. Inmates derive emotional and social support from their membership in a pseudofamily. Inmates derive emotional and social support from their membership in a pseudofamily. Pseudofamilies are to women’s prisons what gangs are to men’s. Pseudofamilies are to women’s prisons what gangs are to men’s. 14

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Mothers In Prison An estimated 4,000 women prisoners give birth each year. An estimated 4,000 women prisoners give birth each year. Few institutions allow women prisoners to keep newborns with them in the prison. Few institutions allow women prisoners to keep newborns with them in the prison. More than 75 percent of all women prisoners have children under the age of 18. More than 75 percent of all women prisoners have children under the age of 18. Although 78 percent of women inmates report having monthly contact with their children, that contact takes the form of personal visits for only 24 percent of reporting inmates. Although 78 percent of women inmates report having monthly contact with their children, that contact takes the form of personal visits for only 24 percent of reporting inmates. 15

© 2009The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. McGraw-Hill Cocorrectional Facilities Cocorrections – the incarceration and interaction of female and male offenders under a single institutional administration. Cocorrections – the incarceration and interaction of female and male offenders under a single institutional administration. Coed Prison – a prison housing both male and female offenders. Coed Prison – a prison housing both male and female offenders. They have been touted as potential solutions to a wide variety of corrections problems. They have been touted as potential solutions to a wide variety of corrections problems. 16