NCJ Number
64934
Journal
Psychological Reports Volume: 34 Dated: (1974) Pages: 75-78
Date Published
1974
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY REPORTS ON THE INCIDENCE OF HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR AMONG 376 FEMALE INMATES OF A WOMEN'S PRISON AND IDENTIFIES SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INMATES WHO ENGAGE IN SUCH BEHAVIOR AND THOSE WHO DO NOT.
Abstract
TO DETERMINE THE INCIDENCE OF HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR, SURVEYS LISTING EVERY INMATE WERE DISTRIBUTED TO 11 STAFF MEMBERS AND 1 INMATE; THOSE SUBJECTS WERE INSTRUCTED TO INDICATE POSITIVELY IF A WOMAN HAD CONFIDED HER HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR TO ANYONE, IF SUCH BEHAVIOR HAD BEEN SEEN, OR IF THERE WAS KNOWLEDGE OF HER BEHAVIOR FROM A DISCIPLINARY REPORT. IF A WOMAN RECEIVED ONE POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION FROM ANY OF THESE RESPONDENTS, SHE WAS PLACED IN GROUP 1, THE PARTICIPATORS IN HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR. TABULATION OF ALL SURVEYS SHOWED THAT 196 INMATES, 52 PERCENT OF THE PRISON POPULATION, HAD RECEIVED AT LEAST 1 POSITIVE INDICATION. GROUP 2, RECEIVING NO POSITIVES ON THE SURVEY, NUMBERED 180 OR 48 PERCENT OF THE PRISON POPULATION. COMPARISON OF THE GROUPS SHOWED (1) NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN RACIAL DISTRIBUTION, LENGTH OF SENTENCE, OR INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT; (2) HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF RECIDIVISM IN GROUP 1, (3) AN AGE DIFFERENCE OF 9.5 YEARS, WITH GROUP 1 REPRESENTING YOUNGER WOMEN; (4) A MEAN EDUCATIONAL LEVEL HIGHER BY 1.23 YEARS FOR GROUP 1; AND (5) A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF SINGLE WOMEN AND FEWER WIDOWS IN GROUP 1. THE BASIC PERSPECTIVE OF THIS STUDY DISTINGUISHES BETWEEN HOMOSEXUALITY AND HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR. THE STUDY SUGGESTS THE NEED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH INTO THE CAUSES OF HOMOSEXUALITY IN PRISONS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MRK)