MINIATURE TOTALITARIAN STATE - THE MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON - A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

• NCJ Number: 2253
• Journal: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CORRECTION Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1969)
• Author(s): H BURNS
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 29 pages
• Corporate Author: Canadian Criminal Justice Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ANALYSIS OF THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON.

Abstract

PRISON LIFE IS A SOCIETY WITHIN A SOCIETY. IN SPITE OF MANY DIVERSITIES, PRISONS ARE APT TO PRESENT A COMMON SOCIAL STRUCTURE. ON THAT BASIS, THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE OF PRISONS IS ANALYZED WITH RESPECT TO TOTALITARIAN SOCIETIES. THE FEATURES FOR COMPARISON ARE IDEOLOGY, ONE MAN RULE, POLICE PRACTICES, COMMUNICATIONS MONOPOLY, WEAPONS MONOPOLY, AND A CENTRALLY DIRECTED ECONOMY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PRISON IS AN AUTHORITARIAN COMMUNITY AND WILL REMAIN AS SUCH NO MATTER HOW MUCH EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON REHABILITATION. CRIMINALS WILL CONTINUE TO BE CONFINED IN LARGE GROUPS UNDER CONDITIONS OF RELATIVE DEPRIVATION FOR SOME TIME TO COME. BIBLIOGRAPHY. (AUTHOR MODIFIED)