NCJ Number
41854
Date Published
1977
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE MODES OF ADAPTATION OF CONVICTS IN THE PRISON WORLD AND THE LONG TERM STRATEGIES THEY FORM AND ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW DURING THEIR PRISON SENTENCES COMPRISE AN IDENTIFIABLE BEHAVIOR TYPOLOGY.
Abstract
THE MODE OF ADAPTATION OF THOSE CONVICTS WHO TEND TO MAKE A WORLD OUT OF PRISON IS CALLED 'JAILING.' 'TO JAIL' IS TO CUT YOURSELF OFF FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND TO ATTEMPT TO CONSTRUCT A LIFE WITHIN PRISON. THE ADAPTATION OF THOSE WHO STILL KEEP THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE OUTSIDE LIFE AND SEE PRISON AS A SUSPENSION OF THAT LIFE, BUT WHO DO NOT WANT TO MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THEIR LIFE PATTERNS IS CALLED 'DOING TIME.' ONE DOES TIME BY TRYING TO MAXIMIZE HIS COMFORT AND LUXURIES AND MINIMIZE HIS DISCOMFORT AND CONFLICT AND TO GET OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE ADAPTATION MADE BY THOSE WHO, LOOKING TO THEIR FUTURE LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE, TRY TO EFFECT CHANGES IN THEIR LIFE PATTERNS AND IDENTITIES IS CALLED 'GLEANING.' IN 'GLEANING,' ONE SETS OUT TO 'BETTER HIMSELF' OR 'IMPROVE HIMSELF' AND TAKES ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES THAT EXIST IN PRISON TO DO THIS. RACE AND ETHNICITY ARE ALSO IMPORTANT IN THE FORMATION OF CLEAVAGES AND IDENTITY CHANGES IN THE CONVICT WORLD. OVER AND BEYOND THE PARTICULAR CRIMINAL OR RACIAL-ETHNIC IDENTITY ACQUIRED OR MAINTAINED IN PRISON AND THE CHANGES IN HIS DIRECTION PRODUCED BY HIS PRISON STRATEGY, TO SOME DEGREE THE FELON ACQUIRES THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE 'CONVICT.' THERE ARE SEVERAL GRADATIONS AND LEVELS OF THIS PERSPECTIVE AND ATTENDANT IDENTITY: THE 'TAKEN-FOR-GRANTED' PERSPECTIVE; THE CONVICT CODE OF 'DO YOUR OWN TIME' (LIVE AND LET LIVE); AND THE 'OLD CON' PERSPECTIVE, REACHED AFTER SO MUCH TIME HAS BEEN SERVED THAT THE ONLY MEANINGFUL WORLD IS THAT OF THE PRISON. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)