Prison Life For Inmates

Prisonization

Inmates take on a role and adopt values based on the prison experience

Examples of the inmate code?

Do your own time, Be a stand-up guy, Don’t be a rat, Don’t trust the guards, Don’t exploit other inmates, Maintain dignity and respect, Settle conflict between inmates, Respect the real cons

Who is a special population?

Anyone who deviates from the norm (young adult healthy man)

Inmate Code is Indigenous?

how the system changes people because of the loss of autonomy

The inmates have to adapt to the system in order to survive

Inmate Code is Imported?

how anti-social people bring baggage in

The prison environment exaggerates the culture

What is a square John?

First-timers that identify more with straight society than inmate code

What are some conditions of prison that can lead to violence?

• Discipline (mentally ill people have a hard time following the rules)

• Overcrowding

• Boredom

• Don’t want to be there

• Loss of freedoms

• Loss of the ability to make decisions

What are the two types of violence in prison?

Interpersonal vs collective violence

What is interpersonal violence?

Between 2 - 3 inmates due to personal reasons (specific beefs)

What is collective violence?

Between groups (gang vs gang; inmates vs guards)

Results in widespread disturbances, riots

Common gangs in prison?

Aryan Brotherhood, Mexican Mafia, Black Guerilla Family, La Nuestra Familia, MS-13

Who commits violence in prison?

• anti-social offenders (engage in violence to get their way)

• Special Need Offenders (Inability to communicate effectively leads to violence)

• Psychopathic offenders (The way they are) Richard Kuklinski

• Gangs (every prison system has some form of gangs)

Humor in Prison?

Inmates use self-deprecating humor in order to build relationships while not showing vulnerability

Women in Prison?

A different prison population than men. When a mom goes to prison, the nuclear family is broken. Serving time by yourself is harder for women. Women also create Pseudo families, in which the older women show the young women how to survive prison and thereby create a support system.