NCJ Number
168649
Journal
Journal of Crime and Justice Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (1997) Pages: 55-72
Date Published
1997
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This case study describes the process of status assignment among inmates in a maximum-security penitentiary.
Abstract
The research involved analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data from semi-structured interviews with a random sample of inmates and selected prison officials. Results show that inmate status is largely dependent upon adherence to an inmate code of conduct. Participants in the study identified components of an inmate code which includes loyalty, doing your own time, standing up for oneself, and smartness. The type of offense for which the individual was serving time was reported to have a significant effect on status. Participants also discussed other factors including pre-prison status, gang affiliation, access to money, personal connections, time served, and prison job assignment. The data also yielded serendipitous findings which indicate that historical changes in the structure and organization of this penitentiary have diluted the inmate culture through which status assignment is determined. The article discusses the implications of these findings for sociological theory and prison policy. References