Question

What are the main findings of Clemmer's research? In your opinion, based on what you have learned in your CJBS major classes, are these findings still relevant today?

Answer 1

The main findings of Clemmer’s research were that all men going into prison experience the process of prisonization. However, this process can occur in less to greater degrees based on a multitude of factors related to pre-prison and during prison life.Prisonization is the process of accepting the culture and social life of prison society. It can be described as a process whereby newly institutionalized offenders come to accept prison lifestyles and criminal values. Prisonization forms an informal inmate code.The deprivation model is a theoretical framework for understanding how the custodial environ- ment of prisons and jails can influence inmates' behavior and lead to violence and other forms of institutional misconduct. ... process of assimilation has some effect on every inmate.

Inmate Code (sometimes called "Convict Code") refers to the rules and values that have developed among prisoners inside prisons' social systems. The inmate code helps define an inmate's image as a model prisoner. The code helps to emphasize unity of prisoners against correctional workers.