Dr. Terry M. Mors, Ed.D.

© 2010

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Prisons

A prison is a state or federal confinement facility that has custodial authority over adults sentenced to confinement.

Approximately 1,325 state prisons 84 federal prisons

On January 1, 2006, state and federal prisons held 1,461,132 inmates. Almost 7% of those imprisoned were women.

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Prison Sentences

In state prisons: 52% are violent criminals 21% are property criminals 20% are drug law violators

In federal prisons: 55% are drug law violators

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Prison Population & Race

The rate of imprisonment for African- American males is seven times greater than that of white males.

Bureau of Justice Statistics states that a black male in America has a 32.3% lifetime chance of going to prison; white males have a 5.9% chance.

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Prison Overcrowding

Prison capacity—the size of the correctional population an institution can effectively hold. There are three types of prison capacity:

Rated Operational Design

Rhodes v. Chapman (1981)—overcrowding is not by itself cruel and unusual punishment.

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Maximum Security

Most maximum security institutions tend to be massive old buildings with a large inmate population, including all death row inmates.

They provide a high level of security with:

High fences/walls of concrete Several barriers between living area Secure cells Armed guards Gun towers

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Medium Security

Medium-security prisons are similar in design to maximum-security facilities; however, they:

Usually have more windows.Tend to have barbed wire fences instead of large stone walls.Sometimes use dormitory style housing.Allow inmates more freedom to move about.Rely on a “count” mechanism.

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Minimum Security

In minimum security prisons: Housing tends to be dormitory style. Prisoners usually have freedom of movement within the facility. Work is done under general supervision only. Guards are unarmed, and gun towers do not exist. Fences, if they exist, are low and sometimes unlocked. “Counts” may not be taken. Prisoners are sometimes allowed to wear their own clothes

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Prison Classification System

Classification systems determine which custody level to assign an inmate to. Assignments are based on:

Offense history Assessed dangerousness Perceived risk of escape Other factors

Inmates may move among the security levels depending on their behavior.

Internal classification systems determine placement and program assignment within an institution.

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The Federal Prison System

Today’s federal prison system consists of:

103 institutions 6 regional offices The Central office

(headquarters) 2 staff training centers 28 community corrections

offices

At the start of 2005, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employed 35,023 persons.

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The Federal Prison Classification Sysytem

There are five security levels.1. Administrative maximum (ADMAX)2. High security (U.S. penitentiaries)3. Medium security (federal correctional

institutions)4. Low security (federal correctional

institutions)5. Minimum security (federal prison

camps)Additionally, there are administrative facilities,like metropolitan detention centers (MDCs…the“jails” of federal system) and medical centers for federal prisoners (MDFPs).

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Jails

Jails—locally operated, short-term confinement facilities.

Original purpose—confinement of suspects following arrest and awaiting trial. Current use—confinement of those convicted of misdemeanors and some felonies, as well as holding suspects following arrest and awaiting trial.

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Jails

Annually, 20 million people go to jail. A 2006 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that the nation’s jails held 747,529 inmates.

13% women 6,757 juveniles 62% involved in the trial process

Jail authorities supervised another 71,905 inmates under certain community-based programs.

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Jails

There are 3,360 jails in the United States

Most jails are small, designed to hold 50 or fewer inmates. Some jails are very big, like “mega-jails” in LA and NYC. 6% of all jails hold over 50% of all prisoners.

There are 207,600 jail employees. 3 to 1 inmate to staff ratio

The average cost to jail one inmate is more than $14,500.

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Jails

Most people process through jails are members of minority groups:

61% minority 40.1% African American 18.5% Hispanic

36% Caucasian

Typical charges: 12.1% drug trafficking 11.7% assault 10.8% drug possession 7% larceny

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Total Institutions

Prisons are a type of total institution—enclosed places where people share all aspects of their daily lives.

Residents of total institutions: May be sent there forcibly Are cut off from larger society Operate like “small societies” Form distinctive value systems and life styles

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Prison Subculture

New inmates undergo a process of prisonization, through which they learn convict values, attitudes, roles, and language (argot) that make up the prison subculture.

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Prison Cubculture

Five elements of the prison code:Don’t interfere with interests of other inmates—don’t rat on othersPlay it cool—do your own time Don’t whine—be a man Don’t exploit inmates—don’t break your word Don’t be a sucker—don’t trust guards or staffSykes and Messinger:The Inmate Social System (1960)

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Prison Subculture

Research on prison subcultures suggests that they:

Evolve to reflect the concerns and experiences of the wider culture Develop independently of the plan of prison administrators Are consistent among prisons across the United States

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The Function of Prison Subculture

Two Explanations for Prison Society:

Deprivation ModelPrison subculture develops as a way to adapt to deprivations faced by inmates:Liberty Goods and servicesAutonomyPersonal securityHeterosexual relationships

Importation Model Inmates bring values, roles, and behaviors with them from the outside world when they enter prison.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Probation and Parole

AdvantagesLow costIncreased employmentRestitutionCommunity supportReduced risk of criminal sanctionsIncreased use of community servicesBetter rehabilitation opportunities

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Prison Lifestyles and Inmate Types

Inmates express themselves through the choice of prison lifestyles. Some of the types of inmates that researchers have described are:

Mean dude Hedonist Opportunist Retreatist Legalist Radical Colonist Religious Realist

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Inmate Types

Mean Dude:…is dangerous, quick to fight, and best left alone. He receives frequent write-ups for violations and spends a lot of time in solitary.

Prison subculture supports role of mean dude by: Expecting prisoners to be tough Values that say “only the strong survive”

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Inmate Types

Hedonist:… builds life around limited pleasures in prison (smuggling, gambling, drug running, homosexuality, etc.).

Opportunist:… takes advantage of positive experiences prison has to offer, such as schooling, trade programs, counseling, etc.

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Inmate Types

Retreatist:… attempts some form of psychological retreat from realities of prison, often becoming heavily involved in drug and alcohol use leading to depression and mental illness.

Legalist:… the “jail house” lawyer—fights confinement through the law.

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Inmate Types

Radical:… views himself as a political prisoner, society = the oppressor.

Religious:… has strong religious ties and may be “born again.”

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Inmate Types

Colonist:… views prison as “home.”

Has many friends inside Often holds position of power and/or respect Does not look forward to leaving prison Has been known to commit new crimes to return to prison

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Inmate Types

Realist:… sees incarceration as a natural consequence of criminal activity— just an unfortunate part of “doing criminal business”—follows inmate code and does not get in trouble.

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Homosexuality in Prison

Prison subculture both constrains andpromotes homosexuality.

Words within argot describe homosexuality Newcomers frequently preyed upon Sex used as a commodity Prison rape does occur

Sexual assaults in prison are likely to leave psychological scars long after the physical event is over.

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Female Inmates

At the start of 2006, there were more than 98,000 women in state and federal facilities.

7% of the total prison population Increasing at a faster rate than male inmates

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National Profile of Female Offenders

According to the NIC, women offenders are:

Disproportionately women of color In their early to mid-30s Most likely to have been convicted of a drug-related offense From fragmented families that include other family members who also have been involved with the criminal justice system

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Institutions for Women

Most female inmates are housed in centralized state facilities. Institutions housing women:

Usually are located in towns with fewer than 25,000 inhabitants. Typically not designed to house female inmates. Some also house men. Few have programs especially designed for female offenders. Few major disturbances or escapes reported. High rates of substance abuse. Few work assignments.

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Social Structure in Women’s Prisons

Some researchers have discovered a social structure in which women form relationships with each other that are similar to those experienced outside of prison life.

Courtship, marriage Kinship systems

Additionally, lesbianism and staff-inmate sexual misconduct exists.

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Types of Female Inmates

Esther Hoffman (1972) found three styles of female adaptation to prison life:

1.The square2.The cool3.The life

Recently, another type of inmate hasemerged: “crack kids.”

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Adressing the Problems of Imprisoned Women

The Task Force on the Female Offenderrecommends the following changes:

1. Make substance abuse programs available

2. Build greater literacy skills3. House females in separate

facilities4. Develop programs allowing

women to keep children in the facility

5. Ensure equal access to assistance with programming

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