NCJ Number
37439
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND PENOLOGY Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (AUGUST 1976) Pages: 257-270
Date Published
1976
Length
14 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY OF VICTIMIZATION IN A MAXIMUM SECURITY MALE JUVENILE INSTITUTION IN THE MIDWEST.
Abstract
TO UNDERSTAND THIS VICTIMIZATION, AN EXPLOITATION MATRIX WAS EXAMINED. THE HIERARCHY WHICH EMERGED CONSISTED OF A BLACK HEAVY, SEVERAL BLACK LIEUTENANTS, A THIRD GROUP MADE UP OF GOOD GUYS AND CHUMPS, AND A WHITE SCAPEGOAT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PECKING ORDER. THESE FOUR GROUPS, ALONG WITH ONE OR TWO BOYS WHO REMAINED INDEPENDENT OF THE EXPLOITATION MATRIX, MADE UP THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF EACH OF THE EIGHT COTTAGES IN THE INSTITUTION. IN TERMS OF UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL PROCESSING OF INMATES BY INMATES, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT VARIOUS STIMULUS QUALITIES SEPARATED THE BOYS IN THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE EXPLOITATION MATRIX. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE STIMULUS QUALITIES, AT LEAST IN THIS INSTITUTION, WERE IMPRESSION MANAGEMENT, RACE, SOCIAL CLASS, AND NUMBER OF PREVIOUS COMMITMENTS TO INSTITUTIONS. THROUGH THESE QUALITIES, BOYS PROJECTED TO OTHERS EITHER THE IMAGE OF STRENGTH OR WEAKNESS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)