Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Volume 55 Article 4 Issue 3 September Fall 1964 Social Rules in a Correctional Community Peter G. Garabedian Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/jclc Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminology Commons, and the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons Recommended Citation Peter G. Garabedian, Social Rules in a Correctional Community, 55 J. Crim. L. Criminology & Police Sci. 338 (1964) This Criminology is brought to you for free and open access by Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology by an authorized editor of Northwestern University School of Law Scholarly Commons. RESEARCH REPORTS SOCIAL ROLES IN A CORRECTIONAL COMMUNITY* PETER G. GARABEDIANt The traditional conception of our maximum tration, however, illegitimate prescriptions do not custody prisons assumes the existence of two demand uniformity of behavior. Rather, they en- normative systems that are in point for point op- courage symbiotic or reciprocal relations among in- position to each other. The first system represents mates by recognizing certain interdependencies in standards of behavior that are defined and sanc- a variety of permissible roles that are organized 2 tioned by conventional society and by prison around a number of focal issues or concerns. administrations as representatives of that society. The present study directs its attention to an Legitimate norms are embodied in the formal rules investigation of four major role alternatives that and regulations of the institution and represent are available to inmates as they enter maximum standards of appropriate behavior which the in- custody prisons. Specifically, the purpose of this mate is to use in his relationships with prison paper is to construct an empirical typology of in- officials and with other prisoners. Ideally, no in- mate role types that have been identified by a num- mate is exempt from employing these formal ber of investigators and to examine variations standards. In theory, the prison's administration among the types with respect to (a) criminal demands that all inmates conform to these norms. careers, (b) institutional behavior, and (c) nor- Conformity to legitimate norms is rewarded in a mative orientations. variety of ways such as reductions in custody status SociL. ROLES IN PRISON and sentence, while deviations are not tolerated Inmate roles are differentiated and integrated and result in institutional infraction reports along around such focal issues as "doing time" in prison, the withdrawal of privileges. The maximum with loyalty attachments, food, sex, health, etc. The in- security prison maintains a large custodial staff to mate learns the importance of these issues early in enforce uniformity of behavior among inmates. his institutional career while being exposed to system is part of the in- The second normative processes of mortification.3 His mode of adapta- mate subculture and is also assumed to prescribe tion, both actions and verbalizations, with respect appropriate behavior for the inmate. Behavior pre- to focal issues is observed and assessed informally scribed by this system, however, is assumed to be by other inmates, and through a process of mutual contrary and opposed to behavior prescribed by agreement they assign the inmate to a given role. These illegitimate be- the formal authority system. Consider for example the issue of "doing time" in havior prescriptions are embodied in the prisoners' prison. There are two major alternatives available loyalty to the inmate com- code which emphasizes to prisoners with respect to this issue. The first in- adminis- munity.' Unlike the norms of the prison's volves inmates who are constantly aware of their * Revised and expanded version of a paper read at sentences and, in the language of the prisoners, they the annual meeting of the Pacific Sociological Associa- do "tough time." Inmates occupying the second tion, Tucson, Arizona, April, 1961. Grateful acknowl- alternative absorb themselves into the affairs of edgment is made to Dr. Clarence C. Schrag, University the prison community and are characterized as of Washington, for his direction and criticisms of this 4 research. doing "easy time." t The author is Assistant Professor of Sociology in Washington State University. He has had both re- in Sykes & Messinger, The Inmate Social System, in search and practical experience in adult correctional TIEORETICAL STMDIES IN SOCIA1 ORGANIZATION OF institutions in the State of Washington. Currently, THE PRISON 5 (Cloward, Grosser, McCleery, Ohlin, Dr. Garabedian is directing a project concerned with Sykes2 & Messinger eds. 1960). Juvenile Delinquency and the Administration of Youth Schrag, A Preliminary Criminal Typology, 4 PA- Justice. The project is being subsidized in part by the ciFic Soc. Rmv. 11 (1961). President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency and 3Goffman, Charactcristics of Total Institutions, in Youth Crime, and in part by the College Committee WALTER REED A uy INsTITUTE OF RESEARCH, Sy - on Research of Washington State University. POSrUm ON PREVENTIvE AND SOCIAL PSYcHIATRY 43 I Earlier accounts of the prisoners' code are described (1957). in CiEamiR, THE PRISON CoMmuMNTY esp. 152 (1958); 4Schrag, Social Role, Social Position, and Prison OHIN, SocIoLooy AND THE FIELD Or CORRECIONS Social Structure, 1959 PROCEEDINGS OF THE AMERICAN 28-29 (1956). A more recent discussion may be found CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION 178. 19641 RESEARCH REPORTS Another focal concern in prison is sex. The The first role in the set is defined in terms of prison is a uni-sexual community, and as such is doing "tough time" while incarcerated in the devoid of many of the affectional relations com- institution. Affective attachments are oriented monly derived from heterosexual contacts. The toward legitimate norms and standards, and thus newly arrived "fish" soon learns the importance of loyalties are anchored in conventional groups in this issue and invokes a given mechanism of adap- the free community and with the prison's admini- tation to cope with the problem. Although be- stration. Relations with staff members, therefore, havior with respect to this issue varies widely are generally good involving a high degree of con- among prisoners, there are a variety of alternatives tact, but contacts with other inmates are generally that are generally recognized by staff and inmates. limited to those with similar affective attachments. Some inmates occupy a role alternative consisting Thus there is a lack of intensive involvement in in- of behavior characteristic of the female role in the formal inmate activities, and as a result the oc- free community. According to the inmate argot, cupant of this role remains naive about much of the these role incumbents are fairies or queens, since prison culture. Inmates at the prison studied refer they employ female gestures and mannerisms to to this alternative as Square John behavior. seduce other inmates. Techniques of seduction In contrast to the Square John role, a second employed by this role type, however, are generally major behavior alternative is defined in terms of of a non-violent kind. On the other hand, inmates doing "easy time" while in the institution. Af- recognize another role alternative with respect to fective attachments are oriented toward illegiti- the issue of sex. Recognized as a wolf orjocker, this mate norms, and thus loyalties are anchored with role type also seeks to seduce other inmates, but criminal persons and groups. This alternative in- techniques of seduction are likely to be of a violent volves strict conformity to the principles of the type, using force or the threat of force to exploit prisoner's code. Relations with other inmates are weaker inmates. Wolves are likely to be active generally good, involving a high degree of contact homosexuals, while fairies are of the passive type. with them, while contacts with staff members are A third major behavior alternative recognized is minimized and avoided if possible. Deep involve- the punk. The term punk generally refers to the in- ment in prison rackets and other informal inmate mate who allows himself to be seduced by either of activities also characterize this role. Although a the above two types, and thus may be active or variety of labels are used to identify the incumbent passive. Finally, many inmates refrain completely of this role, the most frequent label used in the from homosexual behavior, or engage in this prison studied is Right GCuy. practice only periodically. These inmates for the The third alternative in the set is also charac- most part are called iwrmals.5 terized by doing "easy time" in the institution. Prisoners have a variety of role alternatives But unlike either of the first two alternatives, this available to them, and on the basis of their be- role involves affective neutrality with respect to haviors and verbalizations with respect to a given conventional or illegitimate behavior prescrip- issue or issues they are assigned a given role by tions. Contacts with staff and inmates are exten- their peers. Identification of the role incumbent is sive, but members of both these groups are accomplished chiefly through the language system manipulated for the promotion of personal goals. of the prisoners. Manipulation involves a high degree of role-taking The set of role alternatives that concerns us in skill, with normative perspectives