NCJ Number
225242
Journal
Punishment & Society Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 447-474
Date Published
October 2008
Length
28 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to examine the measurement of prison climate in the United States Federal prison system and in the English/Welsh system to assess the comparability of the measures used.
Abstract
There were no significant differences between the United States and English factors patterns, although at a slightly lower level of factor constraint. Data suggest that the Prison Social Climate survey (PSC) is stable within the United States sample, and is also stable in its factor pattern between the United States and English samples. Prison climate, as measured by the three domains of the PSC selected, appears a stable measure across similar western penal systems and inmate cultures. Prison climate refers to the social, emotional, organizational, and physical characteristics of a correctional institution as perceived by inmates and staff. The potential importance of measuring prison climate is central to understanding both what happens in prison, and what may happen on release. With that said, there is a commonality of dimensions in the United States PSC and English Measurement of Quality of Prison Live (MQPL) instruments although they differ in tone. This study compared the factor patterns and stability from three domains of the PSC (environmental quality of life; personal well-being; and safety and security). Stability was compared using randomly split halves of inmate responses from 10 selected United States Federal prison samples. Factor patterns on the same instrument were compared between the United States sample and an English purposive sample of inmates. Tables and references