In depth-analysis
Where “Old Heads” Prevail: Inmate Hierarchy in a Men’s Prison Unit
The article chosen for this analysis is “Where ‘Old Head’ Prevail: Inmate hierarchy in a men’s prison. While reading, little sentences like “prison has become a social reject warehouse” (Wacquant 2001:109) or “how are modern prison socially organized” made me want to continue reading and figure why this was being said. Plus, I have great interest in the criminal system and the article just seemed a perfect fit. Reading this article, I learned that prisons had closed their doors to researches. This is because when researched, it portrait little details of what goes on inside. Which I find surprising because a researcher would want to show evidence enough evidence
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He stated “…within chaotic social milieu can arise ‘real men’ or ‘right guys’ (Sykes & Messinger:1960). Moreover, a shocking statistic is how inmate homicide rate dropped during the period when incarceration rates rose most. After completing the reading, I did not understand the power and influence nomination in a prison unit node graph. I have never seen something of this sort and I was not able to the read it properly. Another unclear aspect was the following statistic: “…the state prison population age 55 or older grew by 400 percent, from 3 percent in 1993 to 10 percent in 2013” (Carson & Sabole:2016).
The research question posed were to empirically investigate inmate social order with an in-depth case study of a prison units’ status hierarchy (Timmermans & Tavory:2012). This research combined many different approaches. The research is explanatory, descriptive and mixed-method. Explanatory because the research identify explanation behind the
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How is causality demonstrated, if at all? Explain why or why not it is appropriate to this study. The three main attributes are age in years, time in prison as total number of years and time in units. These measurements are used in three different categories which includes nominal and ratio. The way the variables are measured in the study are with the usage of nominal and ratio., Inmate hierarchy, Status attributions and Status correlates. The three main In the inmate hierarchy section The objective of the study was to interview as much of the units’ inmate population as possible. The main procedures were interviews and survey instruments such as using computer assisted personal interviews. The idea of computer was to build a trusted relationship with the inmates. Another procedure was by word of mouth and having direct conversation with the inmates’. Data was collected in different ways for this study. It was mainly collected narrative and social network data from 133 male inmates in Pennsylvania medium security prison. In specific, prison custody level 2. Then for each category, there were different methods. Qualitative narratives on the sources of status was collected which the results showed older inmates were clear leaders. Status attribution results were inputting in computer. Status correlations used different additional variables. Lastly, inmate hierarchy results were collected from inmates who were asked about other inmates, a nomination process. Once all survey
Social structures include the environment that surrounds the individual, affecting their interactions with others. The 1997 book by Mike Rolland, “Descent into Madness: An Inmate’s Experience of the New Mexico State Prison Riot,” provides an account of not only the horrors of what is considered one of the worst prison riots in history, but also the evidence demonstrating how social structure influences interaction among inmates.
The jobs of correctional officer are some times overlooked. Correctional officers are playing a huge role in society because they need to perform important tasks. A correctional officer’s job is not easy and can become very stressful at times. Correctional officers are required to enforce and keep order, supervise inmates, help counsel offenders, search inmate cells for contraband, and also report on inmate actions. Correctional officers need to contain power over the prisoners in order to enforce the rules of the prison, or else the prison will not function correctly. In the book, Conover says, “The essential relationship inside a prison is the one between a guard and an inmate…the guard, it is thought, wields all the power, but in truth the inmate has power too” (Conover, p. 207). In the book, the importance of power the prisoner’s hold can be seen through the sudden increase of prisoners, the Stanford Prison Experiment and through the contraband they make.
Understanding the organization of prisons and how the are can is a very complex mechanism. In “Stateville: The penitentiary in Mass Society”, Jacobs seeks to understand the organization in the Stateville prison system, one of the world’s toughest prisons. Giving the history of the prison does this and how things ran under different wardens, and how things were coupled throughout different organizations. When looking at these things Jacobs also points out issues in the prison and how they happened under what type of organization. By doing this, Stateville is easily relatable to understand leadership and authority.
Many young criminals are less likely to become career criminals if punished through public embarrassment than through prison. Prison can be a sign of manliness or a “status symbol” (Jacoby 197). He says “prison is a graduate school for criminals”, providing evidence that criminals want to be convicted and be in prison, to strengthen their status (Jacoby 197). Jacoby knows how to properly get his view across to the reader, by saying that prison is not as effective now, as it used to be.... ... middle of paper ...
According to the prior summarized research, the origin of the supermax facility is established. It is identified that these facilities were necessary to create order among inmates in the general prison population. Differing characteristics of inmates can potentially create havoc and chaos in prison environments. Although there are inmates who request placement in supermax facilities, inmates who do not choose to be housed in these facilities demonstrate certain constant factors seen among the population in supermax facilities. It is understandable that gang affiliation, mental illness, and specialized needs for protective custody lead to placement in supermax facilities due to the protection of correctional officers and staff, along with the
Having the study formulated after a prison environment presents a disturbing view on the effects it has on the individuals living in these conditions. As the study demonstrated both groups take on an alternate persona based on the roles assigned to them and the level of authority given to each. Today the same effect can be seen outside the prison environment, businesses experience this phenomenon as well. Managers are figures of authority within company and based on the type of management they exude, subordinates experience at different points some level of dominance over them. The results of the study are extremely valuable especially for the corrections industry, in recent years’ prisons have employed medical professionals that help inmates with psychological traumas and are able to utilize different outlets such as classes and work related activities within the corrections facility as a means to eliminate the negative effects on its
Attorney General's Report to Congress on the Growth of Violent Street Gangs in Suburban Areas
Prisons have dated back to the twentieth century when the United States had almost two million people confined in prisons or jails. Prisons have been a form of government punishment that has shaped our nation to what it is today. The first jail was established in Philadelphia, in 1970. It was called the Walnut Street Jail and was recorded as the first use of imprisonment through solitary confinement. The basic principles of the new system were to reform those in prison, and to segregate those according to age, sex, and type of offenses charged against them (Schoenherr). The second prison was called Sing-Sing a...
Drago, F., Galbiati, R. & Vertova, P. (2011). Prison conditions and recidivism. American law and economics review, 13 (1), pp. 103--130.
Ralph, P.H.(1997). From Self Preservation to Organized Crime: The Evolution of Inmate Gangs. In J.W. Marquart, & J.R. Sorensen (Eds.). Correctional Contexts: Contemporary and Classical Readings (pp. 182-186). Los Angeles: Roxbury
During the early half of the 19th century, there were two new models of prisons being built in the United States. Along with the new styles of prisons being constructed, two new styles of correctional systems were developed, the Pennsylvania system, and the Auburn, New York system (Mays & Winfree, 2009). Although the designs of the actual prisons were dramatically different, both systems shared similar ideals, with regards to how inmates should spend their days. Ultimately, the Auburn system prevailed as the more popular system of corrections in the United States, with some of the system’s correctional philosophies being used well into the 20th century (Mays & Winfree, 2009). Before discussing the actual philosophies, which were used to manage the inmates in each system, we should first look at the difference in the design of the prisons used in each system.
Shelden, R. G. (1999). The Prison Industrial Complex. Retrieved November 16, 2013, from www.populist.com: http://www.populist.com/99.11.prison.html
“The history of correctional thought and practice has been marked by enthusiasm for new approaches, disillusionment with these approaches, and then substitution of yet other tactics”(Clear 59). During the mid 1900s, many changes came about for the system of corrections in America. Once a new idea goes sour, a new one replaces it. Prisons shifted their focus from the punishment of offenders to the rehabilitation of offenders, then to the reentry into society, and back to incarceration. As times and the needs of the criminal justice system changed, new prison models were organized in hopes of lowering the crime rates in America. The three major models of prisons that were developed were the medical, model, the community model, and the crime control model.
Prison was designed to house and isolate criminals away from the society in order for our society and the people within it to function without the fears of the outlaws. The purpose of prison is to deter and prevent people from committing a crime using the ideas of incarceration by taking away freedom and liberty from those individuals committed of crimes. Prisons in America are run either by the federal, states or even private contractors. There are many challenges and issues that our correctional system is facing today due to the nature of prisons being the place to house various types of criminals. In this paper, I will address and identify three major issues that I believe our correctional system is facing today using my own ideas along with the researches from three reputable outside academic sources.
(2013) Prison: the facts Bromley Briefings Summer. Available from: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Prisonthefacts.pdf [Accessed 01 January 2014]. Sue Rex, A. and Robinson, G. (2004) Alternative Prison Options for an Insecure Society.