1. Chapter 11 The Prison Experience

2. Learning Objectives
Discuss the “inmate code” and talk about where the values of the prison subculture come from.
Be familiar with the prison economy.
Explain the different types of prison violence.
Discuss what can be done about prison violence.

3. Learning Objective 1
Discuss the “inmate code” and talk about where the values of the prison subculture come from.

4. Inmate Code
A set of rules of conduct that reflect the values and norms of the prison social system and help define for inmates the image of the model prisoner.
Don’t interfere with inmate interests
Don’t quarrel with fellow inmates
Don’t exploit inmates
Don’t trust the guards or the things they stand for
The prison subculture decides what types of roles inmates play in prison and the extent to which they conform to those roles.

5. Prisonization
The process by which a new inmate absorbs the customs of prison society and learns to adapt to the environment.
Short sentence, continuation of contacts with the outside, a stable personality, and refusal to become part of the group weaken prisonization.
A big issue surrounding prisoners is one of deprivation versus importation.
Deprivation-Much of the prison subculture stems from aspects of life of which inmates are deprived.
Importation- Aspects of life inmates bring with them into prison.

6. Norms and Values
Convict society organized along racial, ethnic, and age lines.
Many inmates conform to subculture even though their own values run contrary to the inmate code.

7. Adaptive Roles Four basic role orientations: Doing time Gleaning
Cost of doing business
Gleaning
Better themselves
Jailing
Construct life within prison
Disorganized criminal
Those who cannot develop other three

8. Learning Objective 2
Be familiar with the prison economy.

9. Prison Economy Prisons have a commissary or store
Informal underground economy is major element of prison life
Goods and services unique to prison can take on exaggerated importance
Reinforces norms and role of the social system
Certain positions enhance opportunities
Lockdowns can disrupt the economy
Underground inmate “stores” are also common in prison society providing prisoners with contraband they couldn’t necessarily find elsewhere

10. Learning Objective 3
Explain the different types of prison violence.

11. Prisoner-Prisoner Violence
Rate is 28 attacks per 1,000 inmates
Each year 34,000 prisoners are attacked by other inmates
High homicide and suicide rates exist within the prison subculture

12. Prisoner-Prisoner Violence
Prison gangs
Also known as security threat groups
Linked to acts of violence in most prison systems
Tightly organized
Typically divided across racial/ethnic lines
Prison administrators use variety of strategies to weaken gang influence:
Identifying members
Segregating housing
Restricting gang symbols
Strip searches
Monitoring mail and telephones

13. Table 11.1 Characteristics of major prison gangs

14. Prisoner-Prisoner Violence
Protective custody:
6,000 state prisoners in protective custody
Known as Special Management Inmates
Life not pleasant, limited opportunities
Prison rape
September 4, 2003 – Prison Rape Elimination Act
Perpetrators tend to be
Male
Black (49%) or White (39%)
Involve a single victim 96% of the time

15. Prison Rape Victims: Male Under age of 40
Also: Most frequently posses one or more of the following characteristics:
First-time, nonviolent offenders
Convicted of a crime against a minor
Physically weak
Viewed as effeminate
Not affiliated with a gang
Believed to have “snitched”

16. Prisoner-Officer Violence
Occurs in specific situations and against certain individuals
Yearly, inmates assault approximately 18,000 prison staff members
Inmates often manage to find weapons which contribute to these attacks
Officer’s greatest fear is unexpected attacks
After attack, officers transferred to tower duty

17. Officer-Prisoner Violence
Many guards view physical force as an everyday, legitimate procedure.
Goon squads
Worse case in California
Officers authorized to use force to enforce prison rules and to uphold discipline and prevent escapes.
At times it is difficult to separate whether or not force by officers is necessary.

18. Learning Objective 4
Discuss what can be done about prison violence.

19. Decreasing Prison Violence
Architecture and size:
New generation institutions
Small housing units
Clear sight lines
Security corridors
Relationship between prison crowding and violence is unclear.
The Megaprisons (3,000 or more inmates) appear to facilitate greater rates of crime.

20. Decreasing Prison Violence
The role of management:
Improve classification
Create opportunities for fearful inmates
Increase size, racial diversity, and training for custody force
Redesign facilities
Surveillance
Install grievance mechanisms
Augment reward system
Stricter unit management