NCJ Number
48952
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL - 1978) Pages: 162-169
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
PRISONERS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR PROBLEMS AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT OF COPING STRATEGIES ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF TWO GROUPS OF INMATES IN AN ENGLISH MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON.
Abstract
THE FIRST GROUP CONSISTED OF 11 INMATES WHO HAD SERVED AT LEAST 8 YEARS OF SENTENCES RANGING FROM 10 YEARS TO LIFE. THE SECOND GROUP CONSISTED OF A MATCHED SAMPLE OF MEN WHO HAD SERVED LESS THAN 18 MONTHS OF COMPARABLE SENTENCES. THE SUBJECTS WERE ASKED HOW OFTEN THEY EXPERIENCED EACH OF SEVERAL PROBLEMS INDICATIVE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS, HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO DEAL WITH EACH PROBLEM EXPERIENCED, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY DEPENDED UPON OTHER INMATES, STAFF MEMBERS, A RELATIVE SEVERITY OF PROBLEMS, SUGGESTING THAT LONG-TRERM IMPRISONMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY HAVE PROGRESSIVE OR CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ON INMATES'S DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCE OF PROBLEMS. BOTH GROUPS TENDED TO DEPEND PRIMARILY UPON THEMSELVES IN COPING WITH THEIR PROBLEMS, INDICTING GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-RELIANCE. PROBLEMS RATED AS LEAST SEVERE RELATED TO EXTREME PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCE; GENERALLY, THE SUBJECTS DID NOT VIEW IMPRISONMENT AS A FUNDAMENTAL THREAT TO THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. PROBLEMS RATED AS MOST SEVERE RELATED TO THE DEPRIVATION OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE OUTSIDE. RATHER THAN TO THE PRIVATIONS OF PRISON LIVE. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FOR PENOLOGY ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING THE DIFFICULTY OF GENERALIZING THESE RESULTS FROM A RELTIVELY EASY PRISON ATMOSPHERE TO MORE SEVERE DISCIPLINARY CONDITIONS, AND THE SUPPORT FOR PRESERVING PRISONERS' COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE OUTSIDE. DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCE ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM)