Describe early research on prison life, including the development of the concept of total institutions

What will be an ideal response?


Early research on prison life focused primarily on male maximum-security prisons. Goffman described “total institutions” as places where the same people work, eat, sleep, recreate, and worship together every day. Total institutions, which include prisons, are facilities where residents are cut off from the larger society, either willingly or by force, and are therefore small societies with their own values and lifestyles. Goffman and other researchers found that any group with similar characteristics confined in the same place at the same time eventually develops its own subculture. This led to a focus on the study of prison subcultures and the way by which they communicate prison values and expectations.

Criminal Justice

You might also like to view...

Physical assaults such as _____ was a technique developed by the Irish Republican Army to cripple rather than kill

A person in such a condition sends a strong visual message and thus becomes an example to others of the terrorist group's power and the cost of informing on them. Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Criminal Justice

Criminal activity is facilitated by use of _____________ to secure both communications over networks and stored data on computers

Fill in the blank(s) with correct word

Criminal Justice

Which of the following involves the existence of a sense of common endeavor and responsibility within the group and embodies devotion to the group enterprise, cooperation among its members, and pride in its accomplishments?

A. Delegation B. Esprit de corps C. Upward discipline D. Liberty interest

Criminal Justice

In merit selection systems of judicial selection, approximately what percentage of judges are voted out of office (i.e., not retained)?

a. 25% b. 10% c. 5% d. Less than 1%

Criminal Justice