NCJ Number
5342
Journal
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE Volume: 62 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1971) Pages: 532-542
Date Published
1971
Length
11 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF AN EMPIRICAL EVALUATION OF THE TWO CONTRASTING THEORIES OF EITHER PRE-PRISON OR CURRENT INSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE AS PRIMARILY DETERMINATIVE OF PRISON BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
ATTITUDE SCALE QUESTIONNAIRES WERE GIVEN TO 194 JUVENILE INMATES AND THE RESULTS CORRELATED WITH EXTENSIVE INMATE BACKGROUND INFORMATION. IT WAS FOUND THAT NEITHER THE PRE-INSTITUTIONAL THEORY NOR THE SITUATIONAL THEORY SATISFACTORILY PREDICTED ALL INMATE RESPONSES. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INMATE WHICH ARE INFLUENCED BY HIS PRISON SURROUNDINGS ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY WHAT HE BRINGS INTO THEM.