NCJ Number
211251
Date Published
2005
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study of the subculture of Israeli inmates has them describe their daily lives in prison and analyze how their conduct code and language reflect their world views, beliefs, and attitudes about their condition.
Abstract
The first part of the chapter focuses on the Israeli Prison Service's ideology and formal working objectives. The second part addresses issues related to the "pains of imprisonment" and Israeli prisoners' behavioral code. The third part of the chapter discusses the social and cultural meanings of the term "argot" (distinctive inmate prison language) and examines the significant role of argot in the inmates' conduct code. The chapter's fourth part describes the methodology used in the research. Qualitative methodology and the phenomenological semistructured interview were used to collect and analyze information from the inmates. The fifth part of the chapter presents narrative, dialogues, phrases, and behavioral patterns that describe life in Israeli prisons. The final section of the chapter analyzes the interaction between Israeli inmates' constraints and distresses and their worldview, behavioral code, and argot. The findings show that inmate subculture and argot exist in Israeli prisons and constitute rational action by inmates as they adapt to and cope with prison conditions. The findings also indicate that inmates do not feel obligated to adhere to codes and norms imposed by the prison authorities. The highest level of intensity was found for "adherence to the inmate code and loyalty to fellow prisoners." Violation of the inmate code can be compared to a fracture in a dam that endangers its stability. Sanctions for violating the inmate code symbolize the repair of the breach. 1 table, 10 notes, 65 references, and list of major terms in Israeli prison argot