TYPE OF LEADERSHIP IN PRISON - A STRUCTURAL APPROACH TO TESTING THE FUNCTIONAL AND IMPORTATION MODELS

• NCJ Number: 46122
• Journal: Sociological Quarterly Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 378-383
• Author(s): R L AKERS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 6 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 1581301141; MH 20032
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: University of Iowa
• Sale Source: University of Iowa
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A STUDY OF PRISON LEADERSHIP WAS UNDERTAKEN IN THREE CUSTODIAL/PUNITIVE, THREE TREATMENT/REHABILITATIVE, AND ONE INTERMEDIATE-TYPE PRISON TO TEST FUNCTIONAL AND IMPORTATION THEORIES OF INMATE SOCIAL STRUCTURE.

Abstract

IN FUNCTIONAL THEORY, INMATE SOCIAL STRUCTURE IS A COLLECTIVE ADAPTATION TO THE IN-PRISON ENVIRONMENT, WHILE IMPORTATION THEORY SUGGESTS THAT IT REFLECTS PREPRISON EXPERIENCES AND CHARACTERISTICS, PARTICULARLY CRIMINAL ONES. THE FUNCTIONAL THEORY SUGGESTS THAT LEADERSHIP STYLES IN TREATMENT-ORIENTED PRISONS WOULD REFLECT THAT ORIENTATION IN A HELPFUL DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STYLE. THE IMPORTATION THEORY WOULD SUGGEST NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN LEADERSHIP STYLE ACROSS INSTITUTIONS. INFORMATION ON INMATE LEADERSHIP WAS OBTAINED THROUGH ONSITE OBSERVATIONS AND INTERVIEWS AND THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF A LEADERSHIP STYLE QUESTIONNAIRE TO SAMPLE GROUPS OF INMATES WITHIN EACH INSTITUTION. ANALYSIS OF DATA INDICATED THAT BOTH LEADERSHIP STYLE AND IMPACT OF LEADERSHIP ARE RELATED TO PRISON ENVIRONMENT; FOR EXAMPLE, THREE-FOURTHS OF THE RESPONDENTS IN TREATMENT-TYPE PRISONS REPORTED THAT THEIR LEADERS WERE HELPFUL AND LED THROUGH PERSUASION, WHILE TWO-THIRDS OF CUSTODIAL INMATES REPORTED THAT INMATE LEADERS WERE AUTHORITARIAN, AGGRESSIVE, AND LED OTHER INMATES INTO TROUBLE. TO TEST THE IMPORTATION MODEL, A FURTHER ANALYSIS OF AGGREGATE MEASURES OF LEVEL OF CRIMINALITY, AGE COMPOSITION, AND RACIAL COMPOSITION, DEVISED FOR THE INMATE POPULATION OF EACH PRISON, WAS UNDERTAKEN. WHILE LEVEL OF CRIMINALITY WAS NOT RELATED TO LEADERSHIP STYLE AND EFFECT, AGE AND RACIAL COMPOSITIONS WERE; NONWHITE AND YOUNG INMATES ARE LIKELY TO REPORT AUTHORITARIAN AND HARMFUL LEADERS. EVEN WHEN AGE AND RACIAL COMPOSITION OF THE INMATE POPULATION ARE CONTROLLED, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PRISON TYPE AND INMATE LEADERSHIP PERSISTS. HOWEVER, ADDITIVE EFFECTS OF PRISONER CHARACTERISTICS OF CRIMINALITY, RACE, AND AGE ARE ALSO APPARENT. OVERALL FINDINGS PROVIDE THE GREATEST SUPPORT FOR THE FUNCTIONAL MODEL OF INMATE SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND SUGGEST A CLEAR RANKING OF VARIABLES IN ACCOUNTING FOR THE STYLE AND IMPACT OF PRISON LEADERSHIP: (1) PRISON TYPE; (2) SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AGE AND RACE; AND (3) CRIMINALITY OF THE POPULATION. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (JAP)