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COCORRECTIONS - A CASE STUDY OF A COED FEDERAL PRISON

NCJ Number
49323
Author(s)
J O SMYKLA
Date Published
1977
Length
132 pages
Annotation
SEXUAL RELATIONS, VIOLENCE, AND INMATE-STAFF COMMUNICATION AT A COED FEDERAL PRISON NEAR PLEASANTON, CALIF., ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE INMATES AT THE PLEASANTON FACILITY ARE PREDOMINANTLY YOUNG (18 TO 26), WHITE, MIDDLE CLASS MEN AND WOMEN WHOSE RECORDS GENERALLY DO NOT INCLUDE ASSAULTIVE BEHAVIOR AND WHO ARE NOT REGARDED AS SIGNIFICANT ESCAPE RISKS. DATA ON THE INMATES AND STAFF AT PLEASANTON WERE GATHERED THROUGH OBSERVATION, ATTENDANCE AT INMATE-STAFF MEETINGS AND GATHERINGS, INFORMAL AND FORMAL INTERVIEWS, USE OF INMATE AND STAFF INFORMANTS, AND DISTRIBUTION OF INMATE QUESTIONNAIRES. THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT COCORRECTIONS MAKES IMPRISONMENT LESS STARK, AUSTERE, AND DIFFICULT TO MANAGE FROM THE INMATE'S PERSPECTIVE AND CAN MAKE THE STAFF'S JOB OF CONTROL EASIER. COCORRECTIONS MIGHT NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR MARRIED INMATES AND MAY BE HELPFUL ONLY FOR CERTAIN KINDS OF OFFENDERS, SUCH AS FIRST OFFENDERS AND OFFENDERS WITH RELATIVELY SHORT SENTENCES TO SERVE. PATTERNS OF SEXUAL ADAPTATION AT PLEASANTON PARALLEL IN GENERAL THOSE FOUND IN THE FREE COMMUNITY. THE INCIDENCE OF VIOLENCE AT PLEASANTON IS MINIMAL. COCORRECTIONS APPEARS TO PRODUCE A MORE FAVORABLY BALANCED CORRECTIONAL ENVIRONMENT WITHIN WHICH PROBLEMS RELATED TO SEX AND VIOLENCE IN PRISON ARE MITIGATED. TABULAR DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)