NCJ Number
77222
Journal
Social Deviance Volume: 15 Issue: 60 Dated: (April 1980) Pages: 33-42
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Inmate attitudes towards the prison staff at India's Model Prison, Lucknow, were surveyed.
Abstract
The survey was conducted in the belief that a prison staff's behavior affects inmate attitudes, which in turn are related to prison violence, riots, and escape attempts. In 1978, a 13-item questionnaire was distributed to all 337 inmates. The questions focused on the inmates' perceptions of the staff's security efforts, integrity, devotion to duty, helpfulness, understanding, and fairness towards all prisoners. The results showed that most of the inmates were satisfied with the staff. However, a majority felt that the staff were too preoccupied with security measures; and a smaller number felt that some staff members showed favoritism towards certain prisoners. Two-thirds of the inmates felt that money had little or no role in their day-to-day lives -- a result that reflects the integrity of most prison personnel. Most inmates agreed that neither staff nor training personnel showed partiality in the assignment of work and trainig tasks. Furthermore, the respondents were almost equally divided on whether prison personnel worked hard without bothering about rewards or promotion; but most of the inmates believed that staff and instructors did help and guide them to improve their conduct, ideas, and job skills. A majority were of the opinion that their hard work or improved performance were not duly appreciated and that poor performance in their work entailed punishment -- sometimes in the form of solitary confinement or caning. It is noted that such measures are likely to generate durable and negative attitudes towards the prison staff. Data tables and a 14-item reference list are included.