Prison Culture

Culture – set of values that help people understand what is acceptable/unacceptable

Prisons – total institutions – whole life run by prisonArgots (languages)

Economies

Power systems

Economies and Argots

Economies based on items of value (cigarettes, food, servitude, etc.)

Slang and prison jargon evolves within and between institutions

Gangs & New InmatesPrison gangs – offer protection, control economic

activity, create hierarchy

Gangs – often racially organized (tribalism)

Weaker, younger inmates, often preyed upon/abused

Prison rape

Read Types of Prisons 468-73For each type of prison (Maximum, SuperMax, Medium and

Minimum) outline 2-4 key pointsDesign/setup

Inmate lifestyle

Types of Prisons

• Supermax, Maximum, Medium, Minimum• Supervision and control vary – typically based on severity of one’s crimes,

actions on the inside

• Categories exist at state, federal, and local jail levels – max and supermaxmore common at federal and state levels

Texas Death Row

Death Watch

Medium

• Read Page 431 “Probation: Doing Time in the Community” and 521-22 “Parole Supervision – Conditions of Parole”

Tell how parole and probation are both similar and different in the purposes that each system seeks to achieve – 1 sentence

Miami Sex OffendersQuestions for discussion

1. Describe the laws that have been made to deal with sex offenders. How have the offenders’ probation & parole officers dealt with the laws?

2. Describe the living conditions of Miami sex offenders. Why are their living conditions like this?

3. Do you feel that it is fair what has happened to the Miami sex offenders? Explain why or why not.

Parole vs. Probation• Parole – conditional, supervised release from prison;

can be sent back to prison for violating conditions of parole

• Probation – convict remains in community as long as he/she follows set rules

Similarities between parole & probation

• Supervised by officers

• Limited rights/restrictions

• Possibility of being incarceration

• Use of drug tests, electronic monitors etc.

Sex offender registry• Megans’ Laws – sex offenders must register with local

police – name on registry – searchable database

• Various living restrictions

• Sex offenses – habitual crimes

• Megan Kanka – Hamilton, NJ - 1994