Institutional Aggression Prisons Importation model of Institutional Aggression

Institutional Aggression Prisons

Importation model of Institutional Aggression At the end of this session, you will be able to: 1. Describe the importation model of institutional aggression relating to prison violence 2. Use other theories as evaluation 3. Describe evidence relating to the models 4. Discuss limitations of these models

The Importation Model The notorious British Prisoner, Charles Bronson (Michael Gordon Peterson), who has spent 35 years in prison, 28 of these in solitary confinement, after taking at least 50 prisoners and guards hostage, starting numerous riots, arson attacks, roof top protests and causing over £ 500, 000 damage. He was convicted of armed robbery in 1974. He got away with £ 27. he has • Violence is not a product of the institution • Inmates have certain predispositions for violence • These personal characteristics are imported into the prison • Violence is a product of the individual characteristics of the inmates

The Deprivation Model A Solitary confinement cell at Abu Ghraib detention centre, Iraq • Imprisonment deprives inmates of freedoms, ‘normal’ relationships, comfort, privacy, control etc. • This deprivation causes stress and frustration • Frustration leads to violence towards other inmates and staff

The Managerial Model • The decisions made by prison Prison Guards tackle perceived managers can affect aggression in prisoner prisons indiscipline during the • Inappropriate security measures, Prison improper classification of Stanford prisoner, Experiment poor training and poor (Zimbardo, professionalism can increase 1973) the number of assaults in prisons

Evidence Supporting the Importation Model • Many of the inmates’ behaviour are due to the cultural and personal characteristics brought in by the prisoners on arrival (Irwin and Cressey, 1962) • The researchers suggest that younger inmates are more likely to be aggressive • They suggest that people from impoverished backgrounds will be more aggressive • They suggest that people from different ethnic background will display differing degrees of aggression, but this may be due to being from different socio-economic backgrounds

More Evidence Supporting the Importation Model • Keller and Wang (2005) reported that prison violence occurs in prisons which hold the most troublesome inmates • Facilities which holding maximum-security inmates had higher levels of assault on staff by inmates than those in lower-security facilities. Maximum-security prisoners are, by definition, considered violently dangerous, so the prisoners already have a pre-disposition to aggressive behaviour before they arrive • Earlier research from 4 different types of juvenile institutions found that pre-institutional violence was the best predictor for inmate aggression, regardless of the specific features of the institution. (Poole and Regoli, 1983)

Statistics • Many critics point to prisons statistics to support the argument that aggression is imported into prisons • 26% of men and 19% of women are in prison because of violence against the person, so nearly a quarter of prisoners have a history of aggressive behaviour. • 41% of men and 30% of women were excluded from school, suggesting preexisting behavioural issues as children.

Limitations of the Importation Model • This model suggests no practical application on how to manage violent offenders or how to reduce prison violence in general. (Mc Corkle et al. , 1995) • A study on 800 violent gang members showed that they were no more or less likely to be violent once inside prison (De. Lisi et al. , 2004)

Comparisons • The importation model suggests that the issue is with the prisoner. How does this differ from the deprivation and managerial models? • Supporters of the deprivation and managerial models would suggest that the situation needs to change, where as the importation model suggests that the institution needs to change is aggression is to be controlled

Implications and Applications Implications: Some critics suggest that the importation model is a negative approach, in that very little can be done unless the prisoner characteristics are changed. Applications: The theory will lead to greater focus on the individual, maybe trying to change his/her behaviour through training or medication, although the risk is that this leads to abuse towards prisoners, and a negative attitude towards prisoners, perpetuating the violence

IDA • Point: This theory is socially sensitive • Explain: It has a negative view on prisoners, which can lead to labelling people as a certain type. • So what? – What do you think are the consequences of this type of labelling could be, both in and out of the prison setting?