NCJ Number
98465
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 31 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1985) Pages: 46-54
Date Published
1985
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This comparison of the effects of doublebunking and singlebunking in Louisiana prison units in terms of inmate violent behavior and stress-related manifestations found that doublebunking apparently has detrimental effects on inmates.
Abstract
The study was based on the premise that social density and arrangement of space (doublebunking v. singlebunking) are more important independent variables in prison crowding effects than spatial density, where the latter equals or exceeds 50 square feet. The present study used the dependent variables of frequencies of simple fighting (with weapon), self-mutilation, and forced sexual activity; blood pressure readings; manifest anxiety; and self-reported dissatisfaction with housing. At two minimum-security and three medium-security Louisiana adult male facilities, reported incidences of violence were examined for the period August 1983 through March 1984 to obtain data on the dependent variables pertaining to violent behavior. Blood pressure was measured for a randomly selected sample of 155 adult male inmates from 5 facilities, and the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale was administered to a sample of 117 adult male inmates in 4 facilities. The subjects in the latter sample were also questioned about their attitudes toward prison housing. The facilities and inmates were labeled according to whether they were doublebunked or singlebunked. This study tentatively indicates that doublebunking correlates with more intradormitory and intracell-block violence, elevated systolic blood pressure, higher manifest anxiety, and greater dissatisfaction with housing. Graphic data and 42 references are provided.