NCJ Number
47932
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION (FCI), A COED PRISON FACILITY OPERATING IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE BASIC CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION TO THE FCI ARE THAT A MAN OR WOMAN BE WITHIN 2 YEARS OF A PROBABLE RELEASE DATE, QUALIFY FOR PARTICIPATION IN ONE OF THE FUNCTIONAL UNIT PROGRAMS, HAVE NO RECORD OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR, AND BE FROM THE SOUTH-CENTRAL REGION OF THE U.S. IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL LAYOUT AND SECURITY MEASURES, THE FCI SEEMS TYPICAL OF INSTITUTIONS OFFICIALLY LISTED BY THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS AS 'INTERMEDIATE TERM FACILITIES FOR ADULTS.' HOWEVER, FCI'S COED SETTING, ITS OPPORTUNITIES FOR PASSES, FURLOUGHS, AND WORK OR STUDY RELEASE, AND ITS TREATMENT PROGRAMS SET THE FACILITY APART FROM THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS OPERATED BY THE BUREAU. SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS, ESPECIALLY WITH FELLOW RESIDENTS, PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE LIFE OF ALMOST EVERY RESIDENT. EIGHTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THOSE INTERVIEWED MAINTAIN THAT GOING IT ALONE IS NOT POSSIBLE AT THE FCI, PROBABLY BECAUSE THE MULTIPLICITY OF RELATIONSHIPS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AND AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS AND ENCOURAGES SOCIAL INVOLVEMENT. THE COED SETTING IS ALSO SEEN AS A KEY FACTOR IN THE REDUCTION OF PROBLEMATIC RELATIONSHIPS TRADITIONALLY ASSOCIATED WITH PRISON LIFE, PARTICULARLY HOMOSEXUALITY. SEVENTY PERCENT OF THE RESIDENTS THINK THE COCORRECTIONAL SETTING IS CLEARLY A POSITIVE FACTOR, WHILE 19 PERCENT INDICATE THAT THEY HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE COED SETTING. WHERE STRONGLY NEGATIVE FEELINGS ARE EXPRESSED, THE REASONS ARE ALMOST INVARIABLY RELATED TO THE DIFFICULTIES INHERENT IN ADHERING TO THE RULES REGARDING PHYSICAL CONTACT. GENERALLY, SIX FORMS OF HETEROSEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS APPEAR AT THE FCI. THE FIRST IS FRIENDSHIP: THERE ARE TWO MAJOR RECRUITMENT SOURCES FOR THE FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A MAN OR WOMAN OR IN A GROUP SITUATION. FOR MEN AND WOMEN WITH INTACT MARRIAGES, COCORRECTIONS PROVIDE A MORE REAL ATMOSPHERE WHERE THEY CAN ENJOY THE SUPPORTIVE COMPANIONSHIP OF THE OTHER SEX WHILE THE CONTROL STRUCTURES PROVIDE NORMATIVE SUPPORT WHICH PROTECTS THE MARITAL STATUS OF THE INMATES. ALSO, WOMEN WITH A HISTORY OF PROSTITUTION AND MEN LONG REMOVED FROM THE COMPANY OF WOMAN CAN EXPLORE NONEXPLOITIVE WAYS OF RELATING TO THE OTHER SEX. THE SECOND SET OF ROLES ARE CHARACTERISTICALLY 'PROTECTIVE UNCLE' OR 'MOTHERING AUNT' RELATIONSHIPS. THE THIRD FORM IS THE DIRECT ONE OF 'DATING' AND LIKE ITS COUNTERPART ON THE OUTSIDE, IS ENTERED INTO BY BOTH PARTIES FOR A VARIETY OF INTENTIONS. THE FOURTH FORM INVOLVES RESIDENTS WHO ARE MARRIED; A REAL EFFORT IS MADE TO AFFECT THE TRANSFER OF ONE OR THE OTHER OF SEPARATED INMATE COUPLES TO THE INSTITUTION. THE FIFTH AND SIXTH RELATIONSHIPS ARE EXPLOITIVE AND APPEAR TO BE ADOPTED BY RELATIVELY FEW RESIDENTS. THESE ARE COMMISSARY COMPANIONSHIP WHERE OLDER MEN PAY FOR A COMPANION TO SIT WITH THEM DURING MEALS OR IN THE YARD AND OUTRIGHT PROSTITUTION WHICH EXISTS TO A VERY LIMITED DEGREE. (KBL)