NCJ Number
15469
Journal
Sociological Quarterly Volume: 14 Dated: (SPRING 1973) Pages: 226-234
Date Published
1973
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE IMPORTATION MODEL IS A SIGNIFICANT EXPANSION ON THE TRADITIONAL DEPRIVATION MODEL INTERPRETATION OF INMATE SOCIALIZATION IN THAT IT TAKES EXTERNAL PRE-PRISON FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT.
Abstract
TWO THEORETICAL MODELS HAVE EMERGED TO ACCOUNT FOR VARIATIONS IN THE RESPONSE TO IMPRISONMENT AMONG INMATE POPULATIONS. ONE, THE 'DEPRIVATION MODEL', FOCUSES ATTENTION ON THE PRESSURES AND DEPRIVATIONS WHICH CONFRONT THE INMATES. THE OTHER, THE 'IMPORTATION MODEL', CRITIQUES THE CLOSED-SYSTEM ORIENTATION OF THE DEPRIVATION MODEL AND SUGGESTS THAT THE SCOPE OF AN ADEQUATE EXPLANATION MUST GIVE SYSTEMATIC ATTENTION TO FACTORS BEYOND THE IMMEDIATE PRISON SITUATION. THIS STUDY PROVIDES EMPIRICAL TESTS OF SEVERAL MAJOR PROPOSITIONS IMPLIED BY THE IMPORTATION MODEL. BASED ON THE ANALYSIS OF DATA OBTAINED FROM 276 ADULT FELONS CONFINED IN A MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION, THE ANALYSIS CLEARLY SHOWS THAT ADAPTATIONS TO IMPRISONMENT ARE IN PART ATTRIBUTABLE TO SUCH EXTRAPRISON INFLUENCES AS SOCIAL CLASS, PREPRISON INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR, FREQUENCY OF CONTACTS WITH INDIVIDUALS IN THE FREE SOCIETY, AND THE QUALITY OF THE INMATES' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR POSTPRISON LIFE-CHANCES. FOR MORE REPORTS BY THE SAME AUTHOR ON THE SAME EXPERIMENT, SEE NCJ-15471 AND NCJ-15547. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)