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FIELD STUDY OF TWO SUBSYSTEMS IN A WOMEN'S PRISON IMPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENCES IN VALUES AND GOALS

NCJ Number
45387
Author(s)
J D BROWN
Date Published
1977
Length
227 pages
Annotation
THE STUDY ANALYZES THE STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL DIMENSIONS OF QUASI-FAMILY GROUPS AND OF THREE FORMAL REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES IN A NEW JERSEY WOMEN'S PRISON.
Abstract
IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THE QUASI-FAMILIES ACT AS A SOCIALIZING AGENT FOR SOME OF THE INMATES WITHIN THE INMATE MILIEU AND INFLUENCE THEIR BEHAVIOR WITH OTHER INMATES AND STAFF IN THE PRISON. THE THREE FORMAL ACTIVITIES -- THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, THE VOCATIONAL PROGRAM, AND THE CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE -- ARE ALSO CONSIDERED AS PROCESSES WHICH SOCIALIZE THE INMATES IN A PROGRAM OF REHABILITATION. EACH OF THESE THREE EXPOSES THE INMATES TO A LEARNING PROCESS WHICH INCLUDES THE MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS OF THE INSTITUTION AND THE SKILLS AND ATTITUDES PRESCRIBED FOR PERSONAL REFORM. HOWEVER, INMATES ALSO LEARN INEQUITABLE PRACTICES AND ABUSES OF POWER FROM THESE FORMAL ACTIVITIES. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO FORMS OF SOCIALIZATION AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE DIFFERENCES ARE DESCRIBED IN THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY. THIRTY-FIVE RESPONDENTS IN TEN QUASI-FAMILIES AND TWENTY INMATES OUTSIDE OF THESE GROUPS WERE INFORMALLY INTERVIEWED. IN ADDITION, TEACHERS IN THE EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND STAFF INVOLVED IN THE CLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE WERE INTERVIEWED, AND CLASSROOM SESSIONS WERE OBSERVED. OBSERVATIONS CONTINUED OVER A 15-MONTH PERIOD. EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEWS AND THE RESEARCHER'S COMMENTS ARE PRESENTED. THE AUTHOR MAKES SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON THE RESEARCH FINDINGS, INCLUDING PROVIDING EACH INMATE COTTAGE WITH A COUNSELOR; INCREASING VISITING HOURS; PROVIDING THE WOMEN WITH GREATER WORK-RELEASE OPPORTUNITIES; AND UPGRADING EMPLOYMENT QUALIFICATIONS FOR PRISON PERSONNEL. APPENDIXES INCLUDE AN INMATE'S NARRATIVE ON SCHOOL, THE STUDENT AND TEACHER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS, AND THE EVALUATION FORM USED IN CLASSROOM OBSERVATION. A GLOSSARY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (VDA)

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