EXPLAINING COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE IN PRISONS - PROBLEMS AND POSSIBILITIES (FROM PRISON VIOLENCE, 1976, BY ALBERT COHEN, GEORGE COLE, ROBERT BAILEY - SEE NCJ-36045)

• NCJ Number: 36046
• Author(s): R W WILSNACK
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT CONFERENCE CO-SPONSORED BY CORRECTIONS PROGRAM - UNIV OF CONNECTICUT AND CONNECTICUT DEPT OF CORRECTION, MAY 30-JUNE 1, 1975, DURHAM, NH

Annotation

THIS CONFERENCE PAPER EXAMINES AND PROPOSES SEVERAL HYPOTHESES ON THE CAUSES OF PRISON VIOLENCE, AND TESTS THESE HYPOTHESES IN A SAMPLE OF STATE PRISONS TO DETERMINE THE PRECONDITIONS TO PRISON VIOLENCE.

Abstract

THE MAJOR HYPOTHESES BY EXPLANATORY THEMES IN THE LITERATURE ON PRISON DISTURBANCES ARE SUMMARIZED AND EVALUATED. ADDITIONAL HYPOTHESES ARE DRAWN FROM RELEVANT STUDIES OF COLLECTIVE VIOLENCE IN OTHER INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS (MENTAL HOSPITALS, COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND URBAN GHETTOS). MANY OF THESE HYPOTHESES ARE TESTED AGAINST CONDITIONS AND EVENTS AT A SAMPLE OF STATE PRISONS DURING THE PERIOD OF 1971-1973. FINALLY, FINDINGS FROM THE STATE PRISONS ARE USED TO SUGGEST A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK THAT MAY HELP TO EXPLAIN BOTH RIOTS AND NONRIOT RESISTANCE AS DISTINCT FORMS OF COLLECTIVE DISTURBANCES IN PRISONS.