U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Depth of Imprisonment and Prisonization: Levels of Security and Prisoners' Anticipation of Future Violence

NCJ Number
150240
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 33 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1994) Pages: 137-157
Author(s)
D J Stevens
Date Published
1994
Length
21 pages
Annotation
A survey of 462 inmates in three South Carolina prisons with three different custody levels, as well as 126 university students who served as a control group, tested the hypothesis that inmates assimilate into a normative prison culture consisting of violence that results in anticipation of future crime.
Abstract
The participants included 166 inmates in a maximum- security prison, 131 in a medium-security prison, and 165 in a minimum-security facility or work release prison. The offenders provided self-reports of past criminal activity, definition of violence, witnessed violence, and future criminal activities. Results revealed that nonviolent offenders in maximum-security facilities admit that they might commit violent crime after release. However, violent offenders in a work release center claim that violent crime is not an option for them. Findings suggest that organizational membership affects attitudes and that maximum-security prisons are sources of violence that lead to higher rates of violent crime. Tables, figures, notes, appended confidentiality statement and prison descriptions, and 51 references (Author abstract modified)

Downloads

No download available

Availability