NCJ Number
18000
Date Published
1973
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH PRISONERS AND CORRECTIONAL STAFF, THE ATTITUDES THAT BOTH INFLUENCE AND ARE INFLUENCED BY PRISON LIFE ARE PRESENTED, AND PROGRAMS GIVING INMATES MORE VOICE IN MOLDING PRISON LIFE ARE PORTRAYED.
Abstract
INTERVIEWS WITH ARTICULATE PRISONERS COMMUNICATE THE SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS AND DIMINISHMENT OF WORTH EXPERIENCED BY INMATES IN PRISON. SOME CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CUSTODIAL PURPOSE OF PRISON WHICH IMPLIES THEIR FUNCTION TO BE THAT OF MAINTAINING ORDER AND INCULCATING SUBMISSIVENESS AMONG THE INMATES. THE FILM URGES GREATER PARTICIPATION BY INMATES IN STRUCTURING A PRISON ENVIRONMENT THAT NURTURES A SENSE OF RESPONSIBLE POWER OVER ONE'S WORLD EVEN IN PRISON. FILM SEQUENCES ARE INCLUDED FROM ATTICA, AND PRISONS IN MASSACHUSETTS.