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Aggressive Behavior Among Female Inmates: An Exploratory Study

NCJ Number
128682
Journal
Justice Quarterly Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 371-389
Author(s)
C Kruttschnitt; S Krmpotich
Date Published
1990
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study explores the issue of violence in one women's correctional facility. It specifically attempts to determine the extent of aggressive activity and whether any significant relationships exist between incidents of aggression, the background characteristics, and current institutional lives of female inmates.
Abstract
Using data gathered from the Minnesota correctional facility for adult females felons, this study looks at the extent of aggressive behavior among female inmates and examines some of the factors that may be associated significantly with aggressive acts. Race, age, childhood family structure, offense of conviction, time served on present and past offenses, race relations, and current drug use are examined in light of the prior research on prison violence. The data reveal that both race and childhood family structure are associated significantly with female inmate aggression. Implications of these findings for future research conclude the study. 1 appendix, 3 tables, 4 footnotes, and 72 references