Specific Deterrence in Prisons: Does a Finding of Guilty Misconduct Reduce Future Rule Violations?

• In Event: Violence and Misconduct in Carceral Institutions: Patterns, Risks, and Institutional Response

Abstract

Deterrence theorists argue that personal experience with punishment discourages individuals from future criminal activity, as they seek to avoid the pain associated with past punishment, a concept known as specific deterrence. While research on specific deterrence is extensive, particularly concerning the relationship between imprisonment and recidivism, little is known about whether specific deterrence applies within the prison context to disciplinary actions for rule violations. Using administrative data from a western state’s department of corrections, this study employs matching techniques to compare the likelihood of future rule violations between individuals found guilty of misconduct and their counterparts who are not. Overall, the findings do not show a decreased likelihood of future rule violations among individuals found guilty of misconduct, suggesting the absence of specific deterrence in prison discipline. Policy implications on punishment and prison discipline will be discussed.

Authors

• Yiwen Zhang, University of California, Irvine

• Nancy Rodriguez, University of California, Irvine