NCJ Number
222566
Journal
Criminal Justice Studies: A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society Volume: 21 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2008 Pages: 27-35
Date Published
March 2008
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to determine whether variables discernable at admission could be used to predict self-reported prison misconduct in a sample of inmates.
Abstract
Using logistic regression, it was found that certain variables were consistent in predicting an array of prison misconduct. Being male, evidence of mental problems, prior drug use, previous adult and juvenile incarcerations, past physical abuse, and family members’ history of incarceration were consistently associated with increased levels of various types of rule violations, while older age, marriage, and prior employment were associated with lower rates of prison misconduct. Prior drug and alcohol use were best at predicting the same form of misconduct in prison. Having been convicted of a violent offense was similarly most predictive of weapons possession, as well as verbally and physically aggressive forms of rule misconduct. The results of the study show the importance of disaggregating rule violations when attempting to identify the correlates of prison misconduct. Prisons are designed to control a population of individuals who, based on their behavior in the community and their demographics, place them at a high risk for committing acts of violence and other forms of institutional misconduct. This study posed the question whether incoming inmate characteristics assisted in identifying those likely to commit rule infractions among a national representative sample. Tables, references