NCJ Number
56162
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
WAYS IN WHICH INMATES ARE VICTIMIZED BIOLOGICALLY, SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
VICTIMIZATION IS A TRANSACTION IN WHICH A MORE POWERFUL INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP RECEIVES GOODS, SERVICES, OR OTHER ADVANTAGES FROM A LESS POWERFUL INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP THROUGH THE COERCIVE EXERCISE OF SUPERIOR STRENGTH, SKILL, OR OTHER POWER RESOURCES. INMATES MAY BE VICTIMIZED BY OTHER INMATES, BY STAFF MEMBERS, OR BY THE CORRECTIONAL BUREAUCRACY AS A WHOLE. LINE STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO VICTIMIZATION FROM TIME TO TIME. BIOLOGICAL VICTIMIZATION INVOLVES SUCH THINGS AS ASSAULTS, RAPES, AND MURDERS COMMITTED BY INMATES AGAINST EACH OTHER; PRISONER ASSAULTS ON GUARDS (AND VICE VERSA); AND DRUG AND MEDICAL EXPERIMENTATION ON PRISONERS. EXAMPLES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL VICTIMIZATION INCLUDE CON GAMES DESIGNED TO SECURE MATERIAL GOODS OR SEXUAL FAVORS FROM VULNERABLE PRISONERS, OTHER FORMS OF MANIPULATION THAT STRONGER INMATES USE AGAINST WEAKER INMATES, SYSTEMATIC ATTEMPTS BY PRISON GUARDS TO 'GET' CERTAIN INMATES, GUARDS' PURPOSEFUL INSTILLATION OF FEAR IN PRISONERS, AND SELF-MUTILATION AND SUICIDE BY PRISONERS. INMATES ARE VICTIMIZED ECONOMICALLY WHEN THEIR BELONGINGS ARE STOLEN, WHEN THEY BUY BAD DRUGS, WHEN A GUARD POCKETS MONEY HE HAS PROMISED TO GIVE THEIR RELATIVES, AND WHEN THEY ARE PAID LOW WAGES. SOCIAL VICTIMIZATION INVOLVES COERCION OF GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF THEIR RACE, RELIGION, IDEOLOGY OR OFFENSE. THIS CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK SHOULD BE USED IN A NATIONAL SELF-REPORT SURVEY OF INMATES AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF TO DETERMINE THE EFFECT ON VICTIMIZATION OF INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AGGRESSORS AND VICTIMS, AND THE ECOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF VICTIMIZATION EVENTS.