NCJ Number
2342
Date Published
1966
Length
244 pages
Annotation
EXPLORATORY STUDY FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR RECOGNIZES THAT A BROAD SOCIOLOGICAL STUDY REQUIRES EXAMINING THE CONTINUITY OF EVENTS OVER A CONSIDERABLE LENGTH OF TIME. DATA WAS GATHERED OVER A ONE YEAR PERIOD AT THE FEDERAL REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN AT ALDERSON, WEST VIRGINIA. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO EXAMINE THE PRISON FROM A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, THAT IS, AS A SYSTEM OF ROLES AND FUNCTIONS AND TO MAKE COMPARISONS WITH THE LITERATURE ON THE MALE PRISON, IN ORDER TO INCREASE OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PRISON STRUCTURE WITHIN ITS LARGER SOCIETAL CONTEXT. INCLUDED ARE EXAMINATIONS OF THE PHYSICAL PRISON, THE STAFF, INMATES AND THEIR INTERRELATIONS, INSTITUTIONAL GOAL CONFLICT, AND NATURE OF THE PRISON EXPERIENCE, HOMOSEXUAL ALLIANCE, SOCIAL ROLES AND COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION THROUGH KINSHIP. APPENDICES REVIEW STUDY METHODOLOGY, GLOSSARY OF PRISON TERMS AND EXAMPLES OF PRISON LETTERS AMONG OTHERS.