ANALYSIS OF FACTORS IN PRISON LEADERSHIP

• NCJ Number: 34610
• Journal: Quarterly Volume: 29 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUTUMN 1972) Pages: 35-40
• Author(s): J W GIBB
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Pennsylvania Assoc on Probation, Parole & Correction
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED THE VALIDITY OF THE FOLLOWING HYPOTHESIS: 'IF AN INMATE IS COMMITTED TO PRISON FOR A CRIME OF A VIOLENT NATURE, HE IS MORE LIKELY TO BE A LEADER IN THE PRISON COMMUNITY'.

Abstract

TWENTY-SEVEN INMATES AT THE STATE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT CAMP HILL (PA) WERE TESTED ON THEIR LEADERSHIP IDENTIFICATION IN MARCH 1972. EXAMINED WERE WHETHER CONVICTS CHOOSE A LEADER DUE TO ADMIRATION OF A PARTICULAR INMATES' VIOLENT RECORD, THE INMATE'S BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEM COMING FROM THE LONGER PRISON SENTENCES CONNECTED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES, RESPECT FOR PHYSICAL VIOLENCE AND FORCE, THE HOMOGENEOUS GROUPING TO WHICH HE BELONGS (RACE, AGE, INTELLIGENCE), OR ACCORDING TO SITUATIONAL OR INHERENT LEADERSHIP ABILITIES IN THE OTHER INMATES. BASED ON INMATE RESPONSES, IT WAS THAT LEADERSHIP IN PRISON IS NOT DETERMINED SOLELY ON THE SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF RESPECT FOR A CRIME OF VIOLENT NATURE AND THAT THE ONE FACTOR PRISONERS CONSIDER MOST IMPORTANT IN CHOOSING A LEADER IS INTELLIGENCE, NOT PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND VIOLENCE AS WAS HYPOTHESIZED.