Prison Sentence Length and the Implication for Inmate Adjustment to the Prison Environment

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Corrections systems are charged with the difficult task of maintaining order and safety in prisons. The punitive turn in the United States has led to a dramatic expansion of the prison system, and has increased simultaneously the size of the inmate population and the length of time inmates spend in prison. Drawing on theoretical arguments about inmate behavior and variations in inmate adaptation to the prison environment, this study systematically examines the relationship between sentence length and in-prison behavior. We use a large statewide dataset of inmates admitted to the prison system to test whether inmates who receive longer prison sentences are more or less likely to be reported for violent and non-violent disciplinary infractions. Findings have implications for theory, research, and policy centered on prison social order and the implications of long terms of incarceration.

Authors

• Elisa Toman, University of South Florida

• Joshua Cochran, University of South Florida

• John Cochran, University of South Florida