NCJ Number
156545
Date Published
1994
Length
111 pages
Annotation
This research project focused on the network system of prison society in corrections and on psychological attitudes of black prison offenders as they sought help in forming network systems in and out of society.
Abstract
The project attempted to identify various types of social network support systems among maximum-security prison offenders and also to examine relationships among social networks, social well-being, network satisfaction, and attitudes toward seeking professional help for emotional problems. The author examined support used by prison offenders within their social network, whether attitudes toward the social network influenced the individual's decision to seek professional help for personal problems, what factors affected the individual's decision to seek professional help, and what problems caused people to seek professional help. A total of 110 adult black offenders were administered a 30-item questionnaire designed to measure social well-being, network utilization for emotional problems, and network satisfaction. Results indicated that social well-being was highly correlated with network satisfaction and network utilization for emotional problems. Black offenders who had contact with friends and relatives, demonstrated the ability to get along with other people, belonged to organizations, planned goals, discussed personal problems with treatment staff, and sought personal counseling had more coping skills and were less likely to return to the prison environment. Factors that affect the decision to seek professional services are examined, and implications for the development of treatment approaches and public policies sensitive to the needs of black offenders are addressed. Recommendations for future social change are offered. The questionnaire form used in the study is appended. 92 references and 12 tables