Female Gang Members and Prison Misconduct

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

Research on prison misconduct has focused mainly on the adaption of male offenders and the factors that influence their behaviors. Over the past two decades, the rate of incarceration of female offenders has increased substantially. Until recently, females had been largely neglect within the literature due to their small numbers in prisons. As such, researchers are still attempting to understand how females adapt to prison and whether risk factors of misconduct differ by gender. Numerous factors have been tied to inmate behavior. In particular, the misconduct literature shows that gang membership increases the risk of misconduct. The current study seeks to add to the research on female inmates with a focus on how gang membership influences misconduct. Using data from the 1991 Survey of State Inmates, the current study examines whether there are gender differences in the effects of gang membership on inmate misconduct. Findings suggest that the relationship between gang membership and misconduct may be gendered.

Authors

• Epiphany Storey, The University of Alabama

• Jane C. Daquin, University of Alabama