NCJ Number
37465
Date Published
1976
Length
227 pages
Annotation
THIS IS A STUDY OF THE POLITICAL ATTITUDES OF CALIFORNIA INMATES, FOCUSING ON THE DEGREE OF THEIR POLITICAL MILITANCY, I.E., THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN AND SUPPORT UNCONVENTIONAL POLITICAL ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
THE FIRST HYPOTHESIS INVOLVES THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE PROCESSES WHICH FUNNEL CERTAIN MEN INTO PRISON, WHILE FILTERING OTHERS OUT, LEAD TO A CONVICT POPULATION WHOSE POLITICAL ATTITUDES ARE UNUSUAL EVEN AS THEY ENTER PRISON. THE SECOND HYPOTHESIS SHIFTS THE EMPHASIS TO THE EFFECTS OF INCARCERATION ON INMATE POLITICAL BELIEFS. IT ASSERTS AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE DEPRIVATION, DEGRADATION, AND SUBORDINATION OF INMATE EXISTENCE AND WILLINGNESS TO ENDORSE UNCONVENTIONAL POLITICAL ACTS. THE STUDY IDENTIFIES THE POLITICAL WILLINGNESS AND MOTIVATIONS OF CERTAIN TYPES OF PRISONERS - SQUARE JOHNS, RIGHT GUYS, OUTLAWS, AND POLITICIANS. DATA WERE GATHERED BY THE ADMINISTRATION OF A FORCED-CHOICE QUESTIONNAIRE PRIOR TO IMPRISONMENT AND AGAIN AFTER THREE MONTHS OF INCARCERATION.