Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T16:19:55.176Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Race, Institutional Rule Breaking, and Disciplinary Response: A Study of Discretionary Decision Making in Prison

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2024

Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This study attempted to construct and test a discretionary justice model of disciplinary response to inmate rule breaking in a medium-security prison for adult male felons (N = 182). We found, first, that while black and white inmates were equally likely to engage in rule-breaking activity, blacks were more likely to be officially reported for rule infractions. Second, a prior record of official disciplinary action, itself shown to be a product of discriminatory response, influenced subsequent sanctioning decisions, thus amplifying the racial bias. Third, analyses of separate models for black and white inmates revealed the importance of prior record to be differentially imputed on the basis of race. The study concludes with a discussion of the nature and impact of stereotypic expectations and labeling processes in the reaction of guards to inmate behavior.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1981 The Law and Society Association

References

ARMOR, David (1974) “Theta Reliability and Factor Analysis,” in Costner, H.L. (ed.), Sociological Methodology 1973-1974. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
BECKER, Howard (1963) Outsiders; Studies in the Sociology of Deviance. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
BERNSTEIN, Ilene, KICK, Edward, LEUNG, Jan, and Barbara, SCHULZ (1977) “Charge Reduction: An Intermediary Stage in the Process of Labelling Criminal Defendants,” 56 Social Forces 362.Google Scholar
CARROLL, Leo (1974) Hacks, Blacks, and Cons: Race Relations in a Maximum Security Prison. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
CARROLL, Leo and Margaret, MONDRICK (1976) “Racial Bias in the Decision to Grant Parole,” 11 Law and Society Review 93.Google Scholar
CLOWARD, Richard (1960) “Social Control in the Prison,” in R. Cloward et al. (eds.), Theoretical Studies in Social Organization of the Prison. New York: Social Science Research Council.Google Scholar
CRESSEY, Donald (1959) “Contradictory Directives in Complex Organizations: The Case of the Prison,” 4 Administrative Science Quarterly 1.Google Scholar
CRESSEY, Donald (1965) “Prison Organization,” in March, J. (ed.), Handbook of Organizations. Chicago: Rand-McNally.Google Scholar
FOX, Vernon (1958) “Analysis of Prison Disciplinary Problems,” 49 Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science 321.Google Scholar
GOLDFARB, Ronald and Linda, SINGER (1973) After Conviction. New York: Simon and Schuster.Google Scholar
GREEN, Edward (1964) “Inter- and Intra-racial Crime Relative to Sentencing,” 55 Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police Science 348.Google Scholar
GRUSKY, Oscar (1959) “Role Conflict in Organization: A Study of Prison Camp Officials,” 3 Administrative Science Quarterly 452.Google Scholar
HAWKINS, Richard and Gary, TIEDEMAN (1975) The Creation of Deviance: Interpersonal and Organizational Determinants. Columbus, OH: Merrill.Google Scholar
HILLS, Stuart (1971) Crime, Power, and Morality. Scranton: Chandler.Google Scholar
HOOD, Roger and Richard, SPARKS (1970) Key Issues in Criminology. New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
KITSUSE, John and Aaron, CICOUREL (1963) “A Note On the Uses of Official Statistics,” 11 Social Problems 131.Google Scholar
KNOWLES, L. and K., PREWITT (1972) “Racism in the Administration of Justice,” in Reasons, C. and Kuykendall, J. (eds.), Race, Crime, and Justice. Pacific Palisades, CA: Goodyear.Google Scholar
LAFAVE, Wayne (1965) Arrest; The Decision to Take a Suspect Into Custody. Boston: Little, Brown.Google Scholar
LIZOTTE, Alan (1978) “Extra-legal Factors in Chicago's Criminal Courts: Testing the Conflict Model of Criminal Justice,” 25 Social Problems 564.Google Scholar
MCCORKLE, Lloyd and Richard, KORN (1954) “Resocialization Within Walls,” 293 Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 88.Google Scholar
MITTMAN, Howard (1970) “Punishment and Discipline in Prisons,” 32(3) American Journal of Correction 10.Google Scholar
NEW YORK STATE SPECIAL COMMISSION ON ATTICA (1972) Attica. New York: Bantam Books.Google Scholar
PETERSEN, David and Paul, FRIDAY (1975) “Early Release From Incarceration: Race as a Factor in the Use of Shock Probation,” 66 Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology and Police Science 79.Google Scholar
SKOLNICK, Jerome (1966) Justice Without Trial: Law Enforcement in Democratic Society. New York: John Wiley.Google Scholar
SYKES, Gresham (1958) The Society of Captives: A Study of a Maximum Security Prison. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
TURK, Austin (1969) Criminality and the Legal Order. Chicago: Rand-McNally.Google Scholar