Consequences of Incompatible Goal Structures in Correctional Settings, Final Report

• NCJ Number: 14975
• Date Published: 1974
• Author(s): C W Thomas; E D Poole
• Length: 32 pages
• Grant Number(s): 73-NI-03-0002
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

Concludes that a coercive prison structure whose goal is to control inmates undermines rehabilitation goals, while engendering hostility that requires ever increasing attention to control goals.

Abstract

Conclusions are based on data acquired from questionnaires given to a sampling of inmates in a maximum security penitentiary. Statistical analysis, based on the model used, indicates that control procedures tend to alienate inmates from the staff and programs administered by representatives of social control. It is concluded that control and rehabilitation goals are essentially incompatible within the context of an organizational structure better suited for maintaining desired levels of social control.