NCJ Number
69181
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1980) Pages: 203-214
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
STUDIES OF INMATES IN CANADA FIND THAT PERSONALITY FACTORS INFLUENCE INSTITUTIONAL MISCONDUCT TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN CROWDING, AND THAT NEITHER THE PASSAGE OF TIME NOR SENTENCING AFFECTS OVERALL ANXIETY LEVELS.
Abstract
THE FIRST STUDY, WHICH COMPARED 52 MALE INMATES WHO HAD COMMITTED INSTITUTIONAL MISCONDUCT TO 134 INMATES WHO HAD NO HISTORY OF SUCH BEHAVIOR, FOUND THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED INCIDENTS WAS UNRELATED TO THE TOTAL JAIL POPULATION. THE DAYS WHEN THE POPULATION WAS LOWEST HAD THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF REPORTED MISCONDUCTS, WITH NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MOST CROWDED AND THE LEAST CROWDED AREAS OF THE FACILITY. THE VARIABLES MOST ASSOCIATED WITH MISCONDUCT WERE PREVIOUS HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT, AGE (YOUNGER MEN WERE MORE DISRUPTIVE), AND LENGTH OF SENTENCE (LONGER SENTENCES PRODUCED MORE MISCONDUCT). ANOTHER STUDY INVESTIGATED THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LENGTH OF INCARCERATION AND THE EFFECT OF SENTENCING ON ANXIETY LEVEL. A TOTAL OF 61 MALES AT THE SAME FACILITY WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR 'FEELINGS' REGARDING INCARCERATION. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT ANXIETY LEVELS WERE JUST AS HIGH 21-24 DAYS AFTER ADMISSION TO THE JAIL AS THEY WERE AT ADMISSION. EVEN IF SENTENCING HAD TAKEN PLACE, IT HAD NO EFFECT ON ANXIETY. THIS CONTRADICTS AN EARLIER STUDY WHICH FOUND THAT ANXIETY DROPS FOLLOWING SENTENCING. A LIST OF 12 REFERENCES ARE APPENDED.