NCJ Number
18902
Date Published
1969
Length
182 pages
Annotation
EXAMINES THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF AN INMATE SOCIETY THROUGH AN INTERPRETATION OF SOCIOMETRIC DATA.
Abstract
THE MALE RESIDENTS OF A JUVENILE INSTITUTION IN LAUREL, MARYLAND WERE STUDIED. THE FACILITIES INCLUDE THIRTEEN COTTAGES AND BUILDINGS FOR ADMINISTRATION AND VARIOUS INMATE PROGRAMS. DATA WERE COLLECTED THROUGH THE USE OF QUESTIONNAIRES DESIGNED TO MEASURE FRIENDSHIP PATTERNS AND DEGREE OF CONFORMITY TO A NORMATIVE INMATE CODE. ADDITIONAL DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM THE SOCIAL SERVICE FILES OF EACH SUBJECT. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT CLIQUE MEMBERSHIP AND PRISONIZATION ARE INFLUENCED PRINCIPALLY BY FACTORS RELATED TO PREVIOUS DELINQUENT AND INSTITUTIONAL HISTORIES. THE INMATE SOCIAL STRUCTURE IS CONSIDERED TO BE ORGANIZED BY THE NORMS FORMED OUT OF THE SUBJECT'S PREVIOUS HISTORY RATHER THAN BY COMMITMENT TO A NORMATIVE INMATE SYSTEM THAT IS OPPOSED TO THE FORMAL ORGANIZATION'S NORMS. THE DATA STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT THE BASIS OF THE INMATE SOCIAL STRUCTURE IS COERCION, NOT LEGITIMATION, REWARD, EXPERTNESS OR REFERRENT.