Association of Population Density, Reduced Space, and Uncomfortable Temperatures With Misconduct in a Prison Community

• NCJ Number: 72302
• Journal: American Journal of Community Psychology Volume: 5 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1977) Pages: 289-298
• Author(s): E I Megargee
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 18468; MH 13202
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This report is based on a paper presented at a conference on Violence in Prisons sponsored by the Unversity of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Corrections in April 1975, at the New England Center for Contining Education, Durham, New Hampshire.

Annotation

This study investigated the relation of population size, amount of personal space, and population density to the incidence of disruptive behavior over a 3-year period in a correctional institution for male youthful offenders.

Abstract

At the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) at Tallahassee, Fla., the daily number of inmates in residence was recorded for 36 months, the number of square feet of living space available to the inmate population per month was determined. Density was calculated by dividing the number of square feet by the monthly population, and incident reports charging inmates with disciplinary violations were recorded. Population size was significantly correlated wiih the number but not the rate of disciplinary violations. The total amount of personal space and the index of population density were significantly correlated with both the number and rate of violations. A post hoc analysis showed that the incidence of uncomfortable hot days had a relation to disruptive behavior. These results were contrasted with laboratory data on human crowding reporting no relation between population density and behavior pathology. Perhaps the chronic high density explored in this study differs from temporarily crowded conditions produced in laboratory research on human crowding. Chronic high-density living conditions were associated with negative behavior when crowding was involuntary and when there was little hope for relief. A table and 31 references are provided. (Author abstract modified)