Enforcing the Convict Code: Violence and Prison Culture

by Rebecca Trammell

Is it possible that a prison's gangs, racial tensions, and underground economy may actually serve to make it a less dangerous place? In this examination of violence behind bars, Rebecca Trammell illuminates the social code that prisoners enforce - in defiance of official rules and regulations - to maintain a predictable order. Trammell also compares the experiences of male and female prisoners, underscoring the role of gender and sexual assault in shaping life behind bars. Equally important, she explores the significance of prison culture for the fate of convicts when they leave the prison environment.

157 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2011

Reviews

[Stephanie Morse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rebecca Trammell offers unique insights into prison culture and prison violence through her interviews of 73 previously incarcerated men and women. These interviews show that violence during incarceration is more instrumental than previously recognized and that the convict code, prison gangs, and underground economies may actually serve as a way to control violence and establish autonomy during incarceration. All of which ultimately suggests that addressing prison violence requires addressing the culture that it comes from and identifying new ways to promote cultures of trust and mutual respect in prison. Though Trammell is unable to account for individuals who are currently incarcerated or the experiences of correctional officers, her exploration of how those who were formally incarcerated controlled their environment offers exciting pathways for future research and correctional policy development.