Comparison of attitudes about incarceration: Evidence from a survey of incarcerated people and staff

• In Event: Issues and Challenges in the Carceral Environment

Abstract

Research about the United States prison system has historically focused on either the experiences of those directly experiencing detainment and incarceration, or staff working in carceral facilities. Yet, there are fewer studies that compare how these two populations perceive the purpose of prison and facility conditions. For example, are there differences in how staff and incarcerated people perceive use of segregation, or the goal of incarceration? This study analyzes data from concurrent surveys of staff and incarcerated people in four facilities located in different state departments of corrections, designed and collected by research partners in the Prison Research and Innovation Initiative. It focuses on responses to several batteries of attitudinal questions to assess these populations’ perspectives on the prison environment. The results of this study can be used to understand where perspectives differ and converge across staff and incarcerated people, a first step in leveraging both populations’ perspectives to improve facility conditions overall.

Authors

• Evelyn McCoy, Urban Institute

• Alice Galley, Urban Institute