NCJ Number
195612
Journal
Prison Journal Volume: 82 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 213-233
Date Published
2002
Length
21 pages
Annotation
Medium-security prisoners in two nations provided personal insights into the inmate social systems in the following facilities: Southern New Mexico Correctional Facility near New Mexico's border with Mexico and Christchurch Prison in New Zealand's South Island.
Abstract
Besides personal biographical and sociolegal questions, the inmates in both facilities responded to a series of closed-ended and open-ended questions about inmate values and norms. The authors analyzed three critical dimensions of alleged inmate values: inmate orientations on the qualities or features in others that they respect; the respect given to a series of 15 types of criminal offenders; and the nature and extent of prison code adoption in both facilities. The survey results broadly confirmed that inmate attitudes and values were fairly similar even in different parts of the world. The greatest similarities among the inmates were in the values given to honesty, intelligence, attitude, and reservedness, as well as the treatment of others (to a lesser extent). Inmate attitudes toward staff workers were similar as well. Collaboration with the authorities was prohibited, and guards were viewed with suspicion and distrust. There were, however, significant differences in inmate values and orientations between the two institutions. Prisoners in New Zealand gave significantly more antistaff responses than those in New Mexico. The similarity of viewpoints on respect levels for various types of offenders was similar for the inmates in the two institutions. Inmates had disrespect for sex offenders while having respect for offenders who engaged in violence. 3 tables and 55 references