Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6

th

Chapter 11
The Prison
Experience
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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prisonization
(Donald Clemmer)
the process by which a new
inmate absorbs the customs
of prison society and learns to
adapt to the prison
environment
definition
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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degradation
ceremony
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.
definition
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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adjusting to prison society
customs roles
values
language
inmate
subculture
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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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
definition
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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Gresham Sykes inmate code
dont trust
the guards
dont weaken;
be tough
dont quarrel
with inmates
dont
interfere
with inmate
interests
dont exploit inmates
inmate
code
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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inmate social system:
prison roles
right guy
upholder of
inmate values
square John
non-criminal
self concept
punk
passive
homosexual
rat
squeals or sells
out to
authorities
hustler
entrepreneur,
supplies goods
& services
basic
inmate
roles
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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how inmates adapt to prison
adaptive
roles
doing time
prison = brief
interruption in
criminal
career; stay
comfortable
jailing
cut selves off
from outside;
develop a life,
power, influence
in prison;
disorganized criminal
cant develop any of the other
three roles; often disabled; cannot
adjust to prison life; develops
emotional disorders
gleaning
exploit prison programs &
opportunities; try to succeed
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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major prison gangs
La
Nuestra
Familia
Texas
Syndicat
e
Aryan
Brotherhoo
d
Mexican
Mafia
La Eme
Manding
o
Warriors
Black
Guerrilla
Family
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prison subculture:
where does it come from?
Explanation
Indigenous or
Imported?
Sykes
behavior is a response
to pains &
deprivations of
imprisonment
subculture is
indigenous
Irwin &
Cressey
behavior is a
combination of 3
subcultures
convict
thief
straight
subculture is
indigenous
& imported
Zamble &
Proporino
behavior is a product
of how different
inmates cope in
prison, bas ed on who
they are
involvement in
subculture
varies
according to
the makeup of
the individual
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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Bases of inmate violence
AGE
youth,
machismo,
identity
key
factors
ATTITUDE
subculture of
violence
RACE
convict code,
gangs
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causes of prison violence
inadequate
supervision
by staff &
inmate-staff
relations
high level of
tension
caused by
close quarters
architectural
design,
including size
& condition
housing
dangerous &
nondangerous
inmates
together
easy
availability
of deadly
weapons
main
causes
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
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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
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6
th

unit
management
organizational tactic for
reducing prison violence by
dividing facilities into a
number of small, self-
contained, semi-autonomous
institutions
definition