Inmate Social System Subculture Prisonization Inmate Code Argot

Inmate Social System (Subculture) Prisonization Inmate Code Argot Roles Find a “niche” within the system Inmate Economy Limit: Most research is on “big house” prisons Males, maximum security, north/midwestern… Women’s culture? Minimum Security? Southern Prisons?

John Irwin—Prisons In Turmoil Prison culture from early 1900 s to the early 1980 s Big House Era Correctional Institution Era Inmate code starts to crumble, as “thieves” not able to dominate New subcultures emerge (splintering of social system) “Modern” (dated now) Black inmates become more numerous and more assertive (black power movement, black Muslims, etc. ) Influx of young “hoods” or “gangbangers” Inmate culture further splintered Gangs, some “old cons, ” violence dominates other aspects of the old code

Female Inmate Social System Researchers have examined the “female” code Violence not glorified CO/Inmate interaction tolerated more Race mixing more common/tolerated Less emphasis on doing own time

Explaining the Subculture Deprivation Model Sykes “pains of imprisonment” Physical safety, heterosexual relations, autonomy, material goods, freedom Deprivations more severe = less variation in social systems Importation Model Extension of culture on outside

Gangs/STG’s Emergence in 1950 s, dominance since 1970 s Irwin = “state raised youth” or “gangbangers” Do your own time do gang time OK to rip off independents Organized around RACE and/or ETHNICITY Trends/Issues Prison streets (Mexican Mafia) Streets prison (bloods, crips, etc) Prevalence? Why are gangs a problem/threat?

Correctional Administration OVERVIEW MANAGEMENT STYLES GOVERNING PRISONS UNIT MANAGEMENT

Prisons as Unique Institutions They are a bureaucracy (see chart in book) Rule bound (standards of conduct), hierarchical, standardized… Assume rules are correct and follow them religiously However, they are unique Don’t get to select clients Have little control over release of clients Clients are there against their will Clients do most of their work in the institution Chaotic, sometimes volatile environment

Given the constraints…how best to run a prison? �The Old Penology (PN/Auburn debates) �The Autocrat/Dictator model (1800 s-1950 s) Joseph E. Ragen (Stateville prison in IL) Substituted “his way” for the typical politics of the time James B Jacobs, Stateville (1977) Complete control over every detail—enforced by brutal physical punishment –during Irwin’s “big house” era �The Sociology Era (1950 s-1980 s) No interest in “controlling” inmates � Interests = inmate subculture, guard attitudes and cultures… � ASSUME wardens can do little to control inmates without help from the inmate social system

John Di. Iulio Governing Prisons (1987) �Di. Iulio = a rather conservative political scientist � “…officials responsible for prison policy have been the slave of some defunct sociologist. ” � “Management” viewed as disruptive to inmate social system �Book summarized a comparative study of 3 states � Texas “control model” � California “consensual model” � Michigan “responsibility model”

Governing Prisons II How best to measure effective management, or a “good” prison? Order Amenity Service The “Confinement Model” now used in much of the prison literature

Governing Prisons III Concludes that TX control model is superior Homicide rate in TX system is 1/8 of CA system Violence/disturbances rare in TX system Programming better (less volatility) Reasons to be skeptical Context of his study (CA and MI in late 1970 s, early 1980 s) The “Exceptional Manager” theory The building tender system CO Abuse/Violence

Management/Leadership Styles Authoritarian Joseph Ragen George Beto (idiosyncratic) Laissez-faire Democratic/Participatory

Unit Management Now the “rage” for running prisons Architecture x Direct Supervision model DECENTRALIZATION Not one chain of command for the entire 1000 inmates Manageable units (pods) UPSIDES Almost everything self-contained Custody/treatment division is lessened (team) New career ladders Free up warden to do “big picture” things

Summary Pre-1980 s = little could be done Prisons as corrupting, inmate culture will override 1990 s and beyond MANAGEMENT MATTERS Debates What sort of management works best? How do we evaluate prison management?