THEIVES, CONVICTS, AND THE INMATE CULTURE (FROM SOCIOLOGY OF CORRECTIONS - A BOOK OF READINGS 1977, BY ROBERT G. LEGER AND JOHN R. STRATTON - SEE NCJ-41800)

• NCJ Number: 41806
• Author(s): J IRWIN; D CRESSEY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: John Wiley and Sons
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTHORS CHALLENGE SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY THAT SUGGEST THAT THE BEHAVIOR SYSTEMS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF INMATES STEM FROM THE CONDITIONS OF IMPRISONMENT THEMSELEVES.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS CRITICIZE SUCH THEORY BECAUSE OF ITS INATTENTION TO THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOTAL INSTITUTION AND WIDER SOCIETY. THIS EXPLORATORY REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THE SITUATION IN ILLINOIS PRISONS WHERE THERE IS AN IMPORTATION OF ORGANIZATION, ROLES, AND NORMS FROM THE STREETS OF CHICAGO TO THE PRISON THROUGH GANGS WHICH RETAIN THEIR ORGANIZATION AND IDENTITY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE PRISON WALLS. THE AUTHORS POINT OUT THIS PHENOMENOM AS EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THEIR ARGUMENT THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE INSTITUTION AND THE SURROUNDING SOCIETY NEEDS TO BE MUCH MORE DEEPLY EXPLORED.(AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...TWH