“It Was Nothing Like I Thought”: Prison Adjustment for White-Collar Offenders

• In Event: Offender Pathways: Sentencing, Adjustment, and Perceptions of Powerful Crime

Abstract

Research shows that people who commit federal white-collar offenses come from a different social segment and social stratification than the people who commit other federal offenses. These offenders are mostly older and from a higher social class than other types of offenders. Because of these differences, some officials believe white-collar offenders have a difficult time adjusting to incarceration. However, there is a small body of research that suggests individuals convicted of a white-collar offense may be resilient to the pains of imprisonment, given their social and demographic background. Past studies that examine the incarceration experiences of white-collar offenders in the United States have been limited and based mostly on quantitative prison data. Drawing on qualitative data, this study examines a sample of offenders convicted of both white-collar and non-white collar type offenses who are under federal supervision. The study builds upon the special resiliency theory to contextualize how white-collar offenders adjust to incarceration. Findings reveal that white-collar offenders rely on several factors, such as social support, financial support, and professional skillsets, to help them adjust to prison life. Yet, they also experience challenges and other related sensitivities while in prison.

Author

• Diana Sun, Florida Atlantic University