NCJ Number
61520
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1979) Pages: 246-272
Date Published
1979
Length
27 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF THIS STUDY INDICATE THAT INMATES WHO ADJUSTED MOST SUCCESSFULLY TO FORMAL PRISON LIFE ALSO ENCOUNTERED THE GREATEST DIFFICULTY IN MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM PRISON TO FREEDOM.
Abstract
FORMAL AND INFORMAL PRISON CULTURES WERE EXAMINED IN THIS STUDY WHICH EXPLORED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MODE OF ADJUSTMENT TO PRISON AND THE TRANSITION TO COMMUNITY LIFE. PROBABILITY SAMPLES OF 33 PERCENT WERE DRAWN FROM TWO ADULT MALE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN RURAL NORTHEASTERN STATES WITH POPULATIONS OF 875 AND 801 AND A 50-PERCENT SAMPLE WAS DRAWN FROM A THIRD INSTITUTION WITH A POPULATION OF 358. PHASE 1 OF THE STUDY DESCRIBED FOUR MODES OF ADJUSTMENT TO INCARCERATION--REBELLIOUS, INSTITUTIONALIZED, MANIPULATIVE RELEASE-ORIENTED, AND POSITIVISTIC--THROUGH THE USE OF BEHAVIORAL, ATTITUDINAL, AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA. PHASE 2, A 6-MONTH FOLLOWUP STUDY OF INMATES AFTER RELEASE FROM PRISON, MEASURED GROUP DIFFERENCES WITH PAROLE OFFICERS, WARNINGS, EMPLOYMENT, AND A COMPOSITE VARIABLE (CALLED CJS CONTACTS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTACTS CONSISTING OF TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS, MISCONDUCT REPORTS, PAROLE VIOLATION WARRANTS, ARRESTS, AND PAROLE REVOCATIONS. SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AMONG THE FOUR GROUPS WERE FOUND FOR THE FIRST MONTH OF PAROLE WITH THE INSTITUTIONALIZED GROUP HAVING THE MOST SERIOUS ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS. DIFFERENCES DECREASED IN SIGNIFICANCE IN EMPLOYMENT, PAROLE WARNINGS, AND CJS CONTACTS FROM THE SECOND AND THIRD MONTHS ONWARDS. IN ADDITION, PRISONIZATION, OR ASSIMILATION INTO THE INMATE SUBCULTURE, WAS RELATED TO FAVORABLE POSTRELEASE OUTCOME DURING THE FIRST MONTH, AND MARGINALLY INVERSELY RELATED TO INFORMAL WARNINGS. PRISONIZED INMATES WERE MARGINALLY MORE LIKELY TO BE EMPLOYED DURING THE FIRST MONTH AND LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE NEGATIVE CJS CONTACTS. RESULTS SUGGEST THAT INMATES WHO ADJUSTED MORE SUCCESSFULLY TO THE FORMAL PRISON ENVIRONMENT HAD THE MOST DIFFICULTY MAKING THE TRANSITION TO FREEDOM, WHILE INMATES WHO ADJUSTED LEAST TO THE FORMAL PRISON ENVIRONMENT HAD THE SMOOTHEST TRANSITIONS. PRISONIZATION, BY MAINTAINING THE INDIVIDUAL'S AUTONOMY AND DECISIONMAKING ABILITIES, MAY BE, AT LEAST FOR THE SHORT TERM, OF HELP IN POSTRELEASE ADJUSTMENT. FOOTNOTES, SIX TABLES, AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)