PRISONIZATION AS AN INHIBITOR OF EFFECTIVE RESOCIALIZATION

• NCJ Number: 31003
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1975) Pages: 336-388
• Author(s): M T ZINGRAFF
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 53 pages
• Corporate Author: American Society of Criminology
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FOCUSING ON DATA COLLECTED FROM 267 INCARCERATED MALE DELINQUENTS, THIS STUDY IDENTIFIES AND DISCUSSES THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF PRISONIZATION ON THE INMATE AND THE EFFECT OF PRISONIZATION ON REHABILITATION.

Abstract

IN THIS STUDY, PRISONIZATION IS CONCEPTUALIZED AS THE DEGREE OF ASSIMILATION INTO THE INMATE CONTRACULTURE, AND THE PARTICULAR TYPE OF SOCIAL ROLE ASSUMED BY THE INMATE. IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT THE FOLLOWING CONSEQUENCES WOULD RESULT FROM PRISONIZATION: OPPOSITION TO THE INSTITUTION, PLACEMENT OF HIGH PRIORITY ON INTERPERSONAL CONTACT WITH OTHER INMATES WHILE INCARCERATED, AND OPPOSITION TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM. IT WAS STATED THAT POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING PROBABLE POSTRELEASE ADJUSTMENT WOULD INDICATE LOWER PRISONIZATION. LIKERT SCALES DEVELOPED BY THOMAS WERE USED TO MEASURE THESE INMATE ATTITUDES. THE FINDINGS OF THIS STUDY SUGGESTED THAT PRISONIZATION IS RELATED TO SELF-ATTITUDES THAT ARE NOT CODUCIVE TO EFFECTIVE RESOCIALIZATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)