AGE AND RULE-BREAKING IN PRISON - A TEST OF SOCIOCULTURAL INTERPRETATIONS

• NCJ Number: 41015
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 14 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1977) Pages: 555-568
• Author(s): G F JENSEN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ARTICLE EXPLORES TO WHAT DEGREE AGE IS A FACTOR IN LAW BREAKING.

Abstract

AGE DIFFERENCES IN RULE-BREAKING HAVE BEEN WIDELY NOTED AND WIDELY EXPLAINED, BUT RARELY IF EVER HAVE SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLANATIONS BEEN SUBJECTED TO ACTUAL TEST. THIS STUDY EXAMINES SUCH AGE DIFFERENCES AMONG WOMEN IN PRISON AND LENDS SUPPORT TO THE NOTION THAT AGE DIFFERENCES ARE MORE CHARACTERISTIC OF INMATES WITH URBAN BACKGROUNDS THAN OF INMATES WITH RURAL OR SMALL TOWN BACKGROUNDS. MOREOVER, AMONG URBAN INMATES AGE DIFFERENCES APPEAR TO BE DUE TO AGE-RELATED NORMATIVE ORIENTATIONS AND COMMITMENTS RATHER THAN AGE 'ITSELF' OR RELATED LOSSES OF 'ENERGY', 'DARING', OR 'VIGOR'. FINALLY, THE STUDY SUPPORTS RECURRING ARGUMENTS THAT NONINSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INMATES CAN SHAPE NORMATIVE AND BEHAVIORAL CONFLICT WITHIN THE PRISON. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)....BDS