NCJ Number
52374
Date Published
1978
Length
27 pages
Annotation
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PRISONS AND IMPRISONMENT, FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF BOTH INMATES AND STAFF, ARE DISCUSSED, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN IMPRISONMENT AND OTHER FORMS OF RESTRICTIONS ARE POINTED OUT, AS ARE WAYS IN WHICH PRISONS ARE COMPARABLE TO OTHER 'TOTAL INSTITUTIONS.' THE NATURE OF THE DEPRIVATION EXPERIENCED BY INMATES IS EXAMINED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE INMATE'S LOSS OF SELF-ESTEEM AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT LOSS. STRATEGIES USED BY INMATES TO NEUTRALIZE THE STRESS OF IMPRISONMENT ARE DESCRIBED, SUCH AS THE 'REAL MAN' FACADE OF TOUGHNESS AND DIGNITY ADOPTED BY SOME MALE INMATES, AND ATTEMPTS BY FEMALE INMATES TO FORM FAMILY GROUPS IN IMITATION OF THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEM OUTSIDE OF PRISON. STUDIES OF THE CAREER PATTERNS AND ADJUSTMENT STRATEGIES OF INMATES WHO HAVE ARRIVED AT PRISON WITH DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS ARE NOTED. FACTORS INFLUENCING THE BEHAVIOR OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ATTRACTIONS OF THE CUSTODIAL (AS OPPOSED TO TREATMENT) ORIENTATION FOR OFFICERS. THE POTENTIAL OF CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AS MENTAL HEALTH AGENTS IS ASSESSED, AND OFFICERS' EXPRESSIONS OF PRIDE IN HAVING HELPED INMATES ARE QUOTED. THE POSSIBLITY OF PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO OFFICERS FOR ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INMATE MENTAL HEALTH IS RAISED. THE ROLE OF OTHER PRISON STAFF MEMBERS (WORK SUPERVISORS, CASEWORKERS, CHAPLAINS) AS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IS DISCUSSED, AS IS THE REHABILITATIVE ROLE OF INMATES THEMSELVES. CRITICAL ELEMENTS IN INMATE SELF-GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS ARE IDENTIFIED, WITH REFERENCE TO A RUSSIAN STUDY OF SELF-GOVERNANCE AMONG INSTITUTIONALIZED JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. THE AIMS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IN PRISONS--DEALING WITH PSYCHOSIS AND OTHER FORMS OF MENTAL ILLNESS, HELPING INMATES WHO HAVE SITUATIONAL COPING PROBLEMS, REMEDYING PERSONAL DEFICIENCIES THAT IMPEDE INMATES' ADJUSTMENT IN THE FREE WORLD--ARE NOTED, AS ARE PROBLEMS IN ATTEMPTING TO DELIVER PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IN A PRISON ENVIRONMENT. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT, ALTHOUGH PRISONS ARE STRESSFUL, THEY NEED NOT BE DESTRUCTIVE OR WASTEFUL. THE STRESSES OF IMPRISONMENT NEED NOT TRANSLATE INTO DESTRUCTIVE MODES OF ADJUSTMENT. IT IS POSSIBLE TO ACQUIRE KNOWLEDGE IN PRISONS, TO MAKE FRIENDS, TO FOLLOW MEANINGFUL PURSUITS, TO REMINISCE AND PLAN, AND EVEN TO FIND A NEW PURPOSE IN LIFE. IT MAY BE DIFFICULT, BUT IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE THE PRISON EXPERIENCE MORE FRUITFUL FOR MANY INMATES. THE FIRST STEP IS A SYSTEMATIC, INMATE-CENTERED REVIEW OF ALL ASPECTS OF THE PRISON ENVIRONMENT. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.