NCJ Number
28207
Date Published
1973
Length
115 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINED THE EXTENT TO WHICH TERRITORIES EXIST WITHIN THREE CANADIAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND DISCUSSES, WITH REFERENCE TO CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS AND DESIGN, THE REASONS FOR THESE TERRITORIES.
Abstract
'TERRITORY', IN THIS STUDY, REFERS TO AREAS WHERE A LIMITED AMOUNT OF INFORMAL INTERACTION BETWEEN STAFF AND INMATES TAKES PLACE, AND WHERE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT WELCOME BY MEMBERS. TO DETERMINE INMATE AND STAFF TERRITORIES WITHIN THE THREE INSTITUTIONS, SEVERAL METHODS WERE USED, INCLUDING OBSERVATIONS OF SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE INSTITUTIONS AND INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF AND INMATES DURING WHICH A QUESTIONNAIRE ON STAFF-INMATE INTERACTIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF STAFF AND INMATE TERRITORIES WAS ADMINISTERED. USING THE DATA, SEVERAL ASSUMPTIONS ON THE NATURE AND LOCATION OF STAFF AND INMATE TERRITORIES WERE TESTED. THE DATA SHOWED THAT AREAS SUCH AS LIVING AREAS, COURTYARDS, AND SPORTSFIELDS WERE THE MOST NOTABLE INMATE DOMAINS, WHILE STAFF LOUNGES AND ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS WERE THE STRONGEST STAFF TERRITORY. INMATE TERRITORIES WERE CHARACTERIZED BY LIMITED, AND OFTEN NEGATIVE STAFF-INMATE CONTACTS WHICH ARE INITIATED MORE OFTEN BY STAFF AND ARE BRIEF IN DURATION. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FINDINGS FOR CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMS, AND CORRECTIONAL DESIGN ARE DISCUSSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON REDUCING THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF TERRITORIALITY IN PRISONS THROUGH FACILITY DESIGN ARE PROVIDED.