NCJ Number
45412
Journal
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Volume: 45 Issue: 4 P 505-512
Date Published
1977
Length
8 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A STUDY OF BLACK PARTICIPANTS IN A RACIAL RIOT IN A FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN CALIFORNIA ARE REPORTED.
Abstract
A RACIAL RIOT BETWEEN BLACKS AND CHICANOS OCCURRED IN 1973 AT THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT LOMPOC, CALIFORNIA. MOST OF THE PARTICIPANTS WERE IDENTIFIED. THE 48 BLACK RIOTERS IDENTIFIED WERE COMPARED WITH 50 BLACKS SELECTED AT RANDOM FROM AMONG THE INSTITUTION'S BLACK POPULATION WHO INTENTIONALLY CHOSE NOT TO BECOME INVOLVED. THE COMPARISON WAS MADE WITH 41 VARIABLES, TAKEN FROM EACH INMATE'S CENTRAL FILE. THE VARIABLES STUDIED ARE LISTED IN A TABLE AND INCLUDE LENGTH OF SENTENCE, AGE, IQ, PRIOR ARREST, PRIOR COMMITMENTS, USE OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, EDUCATION, CUSTODY LEVEL, AND VARIOUS PERSONALITY INDICATORS. THE TWO SAMPLE POPULATIONS DIFFERED SIGNIFICANTLY ON 22 OF THE VARIABLES WHEN ANALYZED BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES. THE DATA WERE ALSO COMPARED BETWEEN THOSE INMATES WHO WERE IDENTIFIED AS HAVING ENGAGED IN MORE EXTREME ACTS OF VIOLENCE DURING THE RIOT WITH THOSE IN THE CONTROL GROUP. ITEMS OF ANALYSIS WERE GROUPED AROUND FIVE CATEGORIES: HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION; EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND; PRISON ADJUSTMENT; DIAGNOSTIC PSYCHOLOGICAL DATA; AND HEALTH DATA. INMATES INVOLVED IN THE RIOT DIFFERED FROM THOSE IN THE CONTROL GROUP IN THAT THEY HAD A GREATER NUMBER OF PRIOR ARRESTS HAD A GREATER NUMBER OF PRIOR PRISON COMMITMENTS WERE YOUNGER AT AGE OF FIRST ARREST HAD A LOWER EDUCATIONAL LEVEL HAD MORE DEVIANT PSYCHOLOGICAL SCORES, WERE MORE APT TO BE RESTRICTED TO CLOSE OR MEDIUM CUSTODY, AND WERE MORE OFTEN ENROLLED IN MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (VDA)