Transcript Chapter 11 The Prison Experience Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th “prisonization” (Donald Clemmer) definition  the process by which a new inmate absorbs the customs of prison society.

Chapter 11
The Prison
Experience
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
“prisonization”
(Donald Clemmer)
definition
 the
process by which a new
inmate absorbs the customs
of prison society and learns to
adapt to the prison
environment
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
“degradation
ceremony”

definition
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.
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
adjusting to prison society
values
roles
inmate
“subculture”
customs
language
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
“Inmate code”
definition
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
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
Gresham Sykes’ inmate code
don’t
interfere
with inmate
interests
inmate
code
don’t quarrel
with inmates
don’t trust
the guards
don’t weaken;
be tough
don’t exploit inmates
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
inmate social system:
prison roles
‘right guy’
‘square John’
upholder of
inmate values
non-criminal
self concept
‘punk’
passive
homosexual
basic
inmate
roles
‘hustler’
entrepreneur,
supplies goods
& services
‘rat’
squeals or sells
out to
authorities
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
how inmates “adapt” to prison
“gleaning”
exploit prison programs &
opportunities; try to succeed
“doing time”
prison = brief
interruption in
criminal
career; stay
comfortable
adaptive
roles
“jailing”
cut selves off
from outside;
develop a life,
power, influence
in prison;
“disorganized criminal”
can’t develop any of the other
three roles; often disabled; cannot
adjust to prison life; develops
emotional disorders
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
major prison gangs
Mexican
Mafia
‘La Eme’
Black
Guerrilla
Family
Aryan
Brotherhoo
d
Texas
Syndicat
e
Manding
o
Warriors
La
Nuestra
Familia
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
prison subculture:
where does it come from?
Indigenous or
Imported?
behavio r is a response subculture is
to pains &
“indigenous”
deprivations of
imprisonment
behavio r is a
subculture is
combination of 3
“indigenous”
subcultures
& “imported”
 convict
 thief
 straight
behavio r is a product involvement in
of how different
subculture
inmates cope in
varies
prison, based on who according to
they are
the makeup of
the individual
Explana tion
Sykes
Irwin &
Cressey
Zamble &
Proporino
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
Bases of inmate violence
AGE
youth,
machismo,
identity
ATTITUDE
subculture of
violence
key
factors
RACE
convict code,
gangs
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
causes of prison violence
inadequate
supervision
by staff &
inmate-staff
relations
architectural
design,
including size
& condition
main
causes
easy
availability
of deadly
weapons
high level of
tension
caused by
close quarters
housing
dangerous &
nondangerous
inmates
together
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
strategies for reducing violence in
prison
 improve
classification

separate violence-prone inmates from others


improve surveillance; eliminate ‘blind spots’
use smaller institutions
 create
opportunities for fearful inmates to seek
staff assistance
 increase custody staff size, diversity, training
 redesign facilities
 install grievance mechanisms or ombudsman
 augment rewards system to reduce pains of
imprisonment
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th
“unit
management”
definition
 organizational
tactic for
reducing prison violence by
dividing facilities into a
number of small, selfcontained, semi-autonomous
‘institutions’
Clear & Cole, American Corrections, 6th