NCJ Number
184723
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 44 Issue: 4 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 480-489
Date Published
August 2000
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This study asked maximum-security prison inmates to respond to 30 items on a questionnaire previously used to assess attitudes of college students toward ex-convicts and ex-mental patients.
Abstract
The study involved 131 inmates from a single-celled maximum-security prison with a capacity of about 860 inmates. Of the total inmates in the study, 51 were housed in the general population (the least restrictive housing unit in maximum security), 20 were housed on death row, 38 were housed in protective custody, and 22 were housed on the disciplinary unit. Inmates were divided into two groups based on housing unit. One group consisted of those housed in the general population, and the second group consisted of those inmates in restrictive housing units. The study found a significant and positive correlation between attitudes of college students and prison inmates that favored ex-convicts over ex-mental patients on several items. Conversely, the study found that prison inmates significantly preferred ex-convicts; whereas, college students did not. This study has implications regarding the threat of an additional stigma placed on ex-mental patients by prison inmates. The examination of the current practice of transferring inmates to mental facilities for treatment is an implication of these findings. 1 table and 25 references