PEER VERSUS AUTHORITY EFFECTS IN A CORRECTIONAL COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 11563
• Journal: Criminology Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1973) Pages: 233-257
• Author(s): B SCHWARTZ
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: American Society of Criminology
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF STAFF, FAMILY, AND PEER INFLUENCE ON AN INMATE'S PRISON BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

THIS STUDY, CONDUCTED AT GLEN MILLS PENAL INSTITUTION FOR DELINQUENT BOYS IN PENNSYLVANIA, EXAMINES THE CORRELATIONS BETWEEN INTEGRATION INTO PRISON PRIMARY GROUPS, STAFF ORIENTATION, AND FAMILY CONTACT TO ASSESS THE EFFECTS OF PEER INFLUENCE VERSUS AUTHORITY INFLUENCE. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM CASE FOLDERS, QUESTIONNAIRES, AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR 194 INMATES. SEVERAL SCALES WERE DEVELOPED TO TEST THE 'SOLIDARY OPPOSITION' HYPOTHESIS, WHICH STATES THAT 'THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTER OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND THE INMATES IS ONE OF CONFLICT'. THE DATA SHOW THAT FAVORABLE RELATIONS WITH THE STAFF TEND TO PROMOTE CONVENTIONAL BEHAVIOR, WHILE CLOSE TIES WITH OTHER INMATES HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT. THE RESULTS ALSO INDICATE THAT THE KINDS OF SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS INMATES BRING INTO THE INSTITUTION DO EXERT INFLUENCE ON INMATE TIES.