Race, Prison Violence & Empirical Analysis: A Study

The primary purpose of this paper focuses on empirical analysis and the synthesis of five scholarly and academic articles. It mainly focuses on critical areas such as objectives, purpose, research methods, and characteristics and research findings established by the researcher(s) during the investigation.

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Race and Prison Violence

The study conducted Miles D. Harer, federal Bureau Prisons in collaboration with Darrell J. Steffens Meier, the Pennsylvania State University. The primary purpose of the study aimed at examining racial differences in prison misconduct and violence by using national prison data records. The research question seeks to establish whether prison violence and misconduct are linked to inmate racial and ethnic differences. It also seeks to determine whether the inmate's culture is a product of prison environments, or whether it is extensions of the external subcultural influence.

The study obtained data by the use of existing disciplinary hearing reports that had been accumulated by the national government Bureau of prisons(BOP). Therefore, the survey primarily utilized secondary by comparing criminal cases related to behavioral misconduct based on race. It usually focused on misconduct data records. The study took a period of 18- months starting from July 1, 1988, to December 31, 1989. The sample size used involved 58 male inmate institutions that had been recorded national misconduct system within the specified period. The criteria used to select all black and white inmate for file review analysis covers (1) White and Black inmate that had charged with guilty findings and behavioral misconduct for the specified period, and (2) all black and white inmate in national government prison system before the midpoint of the study period, March 5, 1989(Harer & Steffensmeier,1996). The research excluded Hispanic and other ethnic and racial groups who are not U.S. citizens.

Based on the violence-race relationship, the research established (net of controls) that race and violence significantly related to black inmates had a significantly high level of prison violence compared to counterparts but had a lower level of drug and alcohol-related misconduct. It also established that prison violence's still prevailed regardless of substantial statistical control. The second research findings found is that the effects of race differ based on type and form of prison behavioral misconduct, of which black prisoners had a lower rate of drug behavioral misconducts related to drug and alcohol abuse. Therefore, the study concluded that subcultural or normative have a significant influence on prison violence.

Disciplinary Infractions Behind Bars: An Exploration of Importation and Deprivation Theories

Denney, Connor, and Tewksbury conducted the research. The researchers were trying to explore whether or not features of deprivation and importations serves as prognosticators of receipts of institutional disciplinary infractions among inmates. The study was based on deprivation and importation theories that provide background information and the formation of the research question and hypothesis that act as a guideline during the research process. The importation theory aid determines factors and traits held by prisoners who had prior exposure to incarcerations and resultant effects and impacts on inmate behavior. The research question was to ask what are the key factors and indicators that show whether or not an inmate had ever received disciplinary infractions.

The research used a sample size 858, mostly comprising of adult males and ten behavior correction institutions to collect raw data using research interviews and cohort research methods. It was carried in one Midwestern in the U.S. Data collected was analyzed by use of logistic regressions to determine factors for deprivation and importations.

The study established that both deprivation and importation factors are vital indicators for an inmate to receive an infraction and discipline. The 585 male inmates used in the study revealed that the application and imposition of two deprivations and two importation actions to the individual behind bars significantly indicated the reception of any form of disciplinary infractions (Tewksbury et.at.,2014). The position and status of an inmate convicted for a criminal offense such as sex offenses established as an indicator. Whether or not an inmate had received any form of severe and coercive disciplinary infractions. The limitation of this study is that, it only focused on adult male inmates leaving the demographic groups.

The Influence of Prisons on Inmate Misconduct: A Multilevel Investigation

The research conducted by Saylor, Langan, Scott, and Gaes. The research article focused on the examination of the effectiveness of prison operations regarding prisoners' behavioral misconduct.

The research question seeks to determine whether prison environments significantly differ based on their effects and impacts on the prisoner's misconduct. The study assumes inmates behave based on the situation, if prisons are not safe, they tend to be violent; therefore, advocates for more positive and humane prison environments.

The study used the national Bureau of Prisons'(BoP) electronic records to collect data on inmates by focusing on specific areas such as health care, educational, disciplinary infractions, psychological programming, and movement (Camp et.al.,2003). The data collected involved 121,051 inmates detained to national prison and had incarcerated in the year 2001, most specifically the month of June that year. It included prisoners incarcerated in 156 different institutions located at 89 locations. It used statistical regression descriptive statistics to analyze data collected.

The study established that the prison environment differs in their effects on person inmates' propensity leading them to involve in most of the behavioral misconduct. Therefore, the management of prisons and operation by making it safer reduces violence and riots in prisons.

Blessed be the Social Tie that Binds: The Effects of Prison Visitation on Offender Recidivism

Duwe and Clark researched in Canada and Florida. The primary purpose of the study was to investigate the impacts and effects of prison visits on recidivism. The research question seeks to establish whether there is a relationship between recurrence and types of visits family relatives, spouses, ex-spouse have to the individuals imprisoned. Besides, the question also tried to establish whether the social network of the offenders reflected by a person's visitation is associated with recidivism.

The study used 16 420 offenders that were released between 2003 and 2007 from Minnesota Prisons. Bureau of crime apprehension(BCA) databased used primarily used to provide data regarding felony reconviction electronically. On the other hand, data regarding technical violation revocation was retrieved from MnDOC's inmate behavior correction operation management system database. Regression method used to analyze data to enable comparison. Also, an analysis was done by the use of a survival analysis research model since it is time-dependent, thus able to determine an offender's recidivism.

The study established by the use of cox regression indicated that prison visitation had a significant effect on the threat of reconviction. For instance, the hazards of prison reconviction regarding felony were at 13% lower among prisoners who had been visited compared to inmates who had not been visited (Duwe & Clark,2013). It also established that visitation made closer to the inmate's release date decrease reconviction hazard since they receive a social attachment to promote motivation and encouragement.

Religious Programs and Recidivism among Former Inmates in Prison Fellowship Programs: A Long Term Follow-Up Study

The research project was conducted by Byron R. Johnson from Baylor University through generous fund contribution courtesy of Mr. Templeton foundation. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between crime and religion by comparing individuals with the same demographic background and socioeconomic status while controlling the influence of religiosity. The research question of the study was how do religion and faith-based organizations influence the occurrence of criminal activity.

The study used 201 male inmates, a sample size drawn from the States of New York prisons (Johnson,2004). The target inmates had participated either in prison fellowship, or Bible studies, and religious seminars. The quasi-experimental research design method used for data collection through a long-term follow -up of offenders who had undergone spiritual practices during the detention period. The follow-up studies took for a period of one to eight years. Data collected analyzed by the use of descriptive statistics research method to provide an in-depth description of the respondents' behavior before and after undergoing religious fellowship.

The study established that inmates who had more exposure and participation in religious studies had a low rate of being re-arrested after release. For instance, offenders who had undergone Bible studies for more than five years had a small percentage of being arrested compared counterparts with less than two years, or no Bible studies. Therefore, religion significantly reduces criminal activities after release from prison.

References

Camp, S. D., Gaes, G. G., Langan, N. P., & Saylor, W. G. (2003). The influence of prisons on inmate misconduct: A multilevel investigation. Justice Quarterly, 20(3), 501-533. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07418820300095601

Duwe, G., & Clark, V. (2013). Blessed be the social tie that binds: The effects of prison visitation on offender recidivism. Criminal Justice Policy Review, 24(3), 271-296. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0887403411429724

Harer, M. D., & Steffensmeier, D. J. (1996). Race and prison violence. Criminology, 34(3), 323-355. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1745-9125.1996.tb01210.x

Johnson, B. R. (2004). Religious programs and recidivism among former inmates in prison fellowship programs: A long-term follow-up study. Justice Quarterly, 21(2), 329-354. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07418820400095831

Tewksbury, R., Connor, D. P., & Denney, A. S. (2014). Disciplinary infractions behind bars: An exploration of importation and deprivation theories. Criminal Justice Review, 39(2), 201-218.https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0734016814529965