Lecture 7: EXPERIENCING IMPRISONMENT 1: ADAPTATION Flashcards
What are the 5 key deprivations highlighted by Sykes in “The Pains of Imprisonment” (1958)
1.Liberty: social isolation and rejection
2. Material goods, services: lack of choice and access to preferred service providers
3. (Hetero)sex: ‘figuratively castrated by his involuntary celibacy’ (Sykes, 1958:70)
4. Autonomy: reduced ‘to the weak, helpless, dependent status of childhood’ (Sykes, 1958:75)
5. Personal security: enforced proximity with others and lack of privacy
What are the aspects of ‘Depth’ and ‘Weight’ as new pains in the context of imprisonment, according to Downes (1998), King, and McDermott (1990, 1995)?
‘Deep end custody’: Involves oppressive physical security and psychological weight.
Isolation from the outside world.
Distance from release.
‘Subversive geraniums.’
Unchecked staff power.
what are the 4 types of Models of adaptation
Indigenous (deprivation)
Importation (sub-cultural)
Integration
U curve of adaptation
what were the Indigenous (deprivation) 4 factors
‘Role-stripping’ and ‘civil death’ (Goffman, 1961)
A ‘total institution’
Uniforms, prison number, prison slang
‘Prisonization’ and the ‘criminalistic ideology’ (Clemmer, 1940)
what were the Importation (sub-cultural) factors
Culture maintains external behaviour and individual characteristics
Multiple fluid subcultures (Irwin and Cressey, 1962)
Thief: professional, loyal
Convict: individualistic
Legitimate: conformist
Criminal (ethnic) gangs and ‘homecoming ceremonies’ (Jacobs, 1977)
What are the fundamental aspects of the Integration Model within the models of adaptation in prison, as highlighted by Crewe (2007)?
The Integration Model involves the following aspects:
Reflection of interdependent (indigenous) and interactive (imported) effects within the culture.
Continuation of either negative or positive pre-prison behaviors.
Formation of groups with shared interests for self-protection or the emergence of criminal gangs and ‘business’ alliances.
What does the U curve of adaptation refer to within the models of adaptation in prison, as outlined by Wheeler (1961) and highlighted by Crewe et al. (2017)?
Kick off: Initial entry into the prison system.
Prisonization
Thoughts of release
Described as “swimming with rather than against the tide” by Crewe et al. (2017)
According to Sykes (1958), Crewe (2005a), and Treadwell (2023), what governs social relations in prison, described more as an ideal than a description?
The inmate code regulates social relations in prison, but this code’s influence can be affected by gender, race, religion, age, and locality.
Additionally, the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) system can enforce a ‘divide and rule’ strategy among inmates.
What hierarchical structure exists among prisoners according to Sykes (1958), Crewe (2005a), and Treadwell (2023)?
The inmate hierarchy is structured as follows:
Top: Dominated by gangsters and ‘businessmen’.
Middle: Comprising ‘lads’, ‘foot soldiers’, ‘firm hoppers’, users, and ‘fraggles’.
Bottom: Includes individuals labeled as ‘nonces’ and transgender individuals, although there are exceptions to these categorizations.
Describe the dynamics of prisoner solidarity as outlined by Sykes (1958), Crewe (2005a), and Treadwell (2023).
While there is a sense of ‘them and us’ among inmates, prison solidarity is affected by various factors:
BUT
Interdependency: Both staff and prisoners rely on each other for safety.
Cross-posting Influence
Staff Distinctions
According to Sykes (1958) and Crewe (2005a), what are some central principles of the inmate code in prison?
The inmate code no ‘grassing’ (informing) with potential severe penalties,
no theft from or exploitation of fellow ‘cons’, except for scenarios involving drugs or ‘double-bubble’.
self-sufficiency, promoting the idea of ‘do your own time’ and the notion of ‘being a man’. dilemma of friendship here
