Institution aggression -prisons

Institution aggression -prisons

1. Importation model

   • Irwin & cressey (1962) -> this is a dispositional explanation, as it explains aggression by looking at the characteristics that the individual brings into the prison
     • ->prisoners aren't blank slates; when they enter, their anti-social norms & values are imported along with them.
   • Characteristics
     • 1.Younger inmates are more likely to be aggressive than older inmates (Adams, 1981)
       • 2.Black inmates, when compared to white inmates, are more likely to engage in violence within prison
         • 3.Gang members disproportionately engage in prison violence (Allender & Marcell, 2003)

2. Deprivation model

   • ->this is a situational explanation, suggests that the prisoner's aggression occurs as a result of internal factors within the prison setting.
     • ->overcrowding crisis in UK prison has been linked to an increase in both interpersonal violence & self-harm
       • ->according to the deprivation model, aggression in prisons is a product of the oppressive conditions of the institution itself.
   • ~Sykes (1958) -The pains of imprisonment
     • ->Sykes described deprivations that arise from 'the indigtuties & degradations suffered by becoming an inmate'
       • It's the rebellion of prisoners from their inability to cope with the situation that leads to their aggression.
         • Deprivation of... Autonomy /Freedom /Hetrosexual relationships /Security /Goods & services

3. + research support. Keller & Wang (2005) =prison violence occurs most often in max-security prisons, with more assaults on staff than with lower-security inmates ->imported more violence.

   • -however, max-security prisons will have less -freedom/ space/ communication =could be due to greater Deprivation.
     • ->stricter guards & more violent ->self-fulfilling prophecy -labelled -become more violent ->situational
       • -DeLisi et al (2004) =gang members were no more likely than other prisoners to engage in prison violence.

4. + RWA in terms of reducing overcrowding as happened at HMP Woodhil in 1990s. -> Davis & Burgess' =more experienced officers were less likely to suffer an assault.

   • - research opposition McCorkle et al =examined acts of aggression in 371 prisons found that the deprivation model not useful in explaining rates of prison violence, with overcrowding not being a factor ->poor management ->high staff turn-over ->lack of staff discipline

5. -criticised as it infers that aggression is inevitable, with all of the blame placed upon prisoners.

   • =practical implication is limited ->intervention taken place for gang members -> Fischer = isolating gang members reduced rates of serious assault by 50%

6. - McCorkle et al (1995) =level of stress associated with imprisonment such as overcrowding are generally constant ->violent riots aren't. =causal relationships cannot be established between situational factors & aggression.

   • + it is evident that both models need to be combined in order to provide a holistic understanding of aggression in prisons. -> Jiang & Fisher-Giorlando (2002) =support for both explanations