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Participation in the Prison Economy and Likelihood of Physical Victimization

NCJ Number
233483
Journal
Victims & Offenders Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2011 Pages: 1-18
Author(s)
Heith Copes; George E. Higgins; Richard Tewksbury; Dean A. Dabney
Date Published
January 2011
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined the relationship between violent offending and victimization in prisons and participation in the prison economy.
Abstract
The prison economy provides an outlet for inmates to secure goods and services not formally available to them while incarcerated. While having access is beneficial, participation in the economy may increase people's chances of being victimized. The current study seeks to elaborate on the linkages between participation in the prison economy and violent victimization by drawing from survey data collected from 208 recently released male parolees in a Midwestern State. The results show that several measures of participation in the prison economy significantly predict violent victimizations, net the effect of other relevant independent variables. These findings suggest that engaging and controlling the prison economy may be effective in reducing the overall amount of violence that occurs in correctional facilities. Tables, notes, and references (Published Abstract)