NCJ Number
55851
Journal
Social Science Quarterly Volume: 59 Issue: 1 Dated: (JUNE 1978) Pages: 37-50
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
ATTITUDE MEASURES OBTAINED 6 MONTHS APART WERE USED TO TRACE CHANGES IN OPINIONS TOWARD LAWYERS AND POLICE AMONG 198 MALE PRISONERS. ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE BECAME MORE POSITIVE, TOWARD LAWYERS MORE NEGATIVE.
Abstract
THE STUDY WAS DESIGNED TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECT OF INCARCERATION ON ATTITUDES TOWARD SOCIETY. ATTITUDES TOWARDS POLICE AND ATTORNEYS WERE CHOSEN FOR MEASUREMENT BECAUSE BOTH CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRISON EXPERIENCE AND BOTH GROUPS ARE FOUND OUTSIDE THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT. A TOTAL OF 241 VOLUNTARY INTERVIEWS WERE OBTAINED FROM THE 292 CONVICTED MEN RECEIVED AT THE STATE OF WASHINGTON CORRECTIONS RECEPTION CENTER. FOLLOWUP INTERVIEWS WERE OBTAINED WITH 198 OF THESE MEN 6 MONTHS LATER. RESPONSES WERE ANALYZED FOR INDIVIDUAL STATUS FACTORS, PRISONER HISTORY FACTORS, AND FACTORS SPECIFIC TO THE PRESENT INCARCERATION. TABLES AND GRAPHS PRESENT THE STATISTICAL ANALYSES. IT WAS FOUND THAT RESPECT FOR THE POLICE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER 6 MONTHS IN PRISON AND THEIR ROLE IN SOCIAL CONTROL WAS SEEN AS NECESSARY. FOUR FACTORS INFLUENCED THIS INCREASE. THERE WAS SHARP RACIAL CLEAVAGE WITH WHITES SHOWING GREATER SUPPORT THAN BLACKS. THERE WAS AN AGE EFFECT WITH OLDER PRISONERS MORE SUPPORTIVE THAN MIDDLE-AGED PRISONERS WHEN FIRST INTERVIEWED; HOWEVER, THIS AGE DIFFERENCE FADED AT 6 MONTHS. PRISONERS WITH PRIOR CONVICTIONS WERE LESS SUPPORTIVE THAN FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS, AND THOSE IN MINIMUM SOCIETY INSTITUTIONS WERE MORE POSITIVE THAN THOSE IN MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTIONS. THE WIDESPREAD DECLINE IN SUPPORT FOR LAWYERS WAS NOT MITIGATED BY RACE, AGE, OFFENSE, OR INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT. AT BEST, LAWYERS WERE CONSIDERED 'INEFFECTIVE,' AND AT WORST 'AGENTS OF THE SYSTEM.' THE FINDINGS ARE ANALYZED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)