Overview

Are advantaged offenders defenseless against the harshness of prison life? Based upon a qualitative study of the prison adjustment of advantaged offenders—those who, prior to prison, possessed college degrees and held high status occupations with commensurately high incomes—this book challenges the special sensitivity hypothesis and concludes that these offenders adjust well to incarceration. The author compared a group of advantaged offenders to a similar group of nonadvantaged offenders, both drawn from New York State prisons, and discovered that the advantaged offenders exhibited little (if any) engagement in institutional misconduct. They also adopted effective coping strategies. DeRosia presents a thematic analysis of in-depth, focused interviews with both subsamples, as well as vignettes based upon those interviews. Her findings reveal that advantaged offenders hold a perspective on doing time, including prescriptions for avoiding trouble, and make conscious efforts to avoid trouble by using time beneficially. This study contains the most current statistics available on corrections in the U.S., including its organization, the overcrowding crisis, and prisoner profiles. The nature of life in prison and prior research on adjustment are also examined.

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9780275958954

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Reviews

In her provocative book DeRosia paints a compelling word picture of life behind bars for a significant number of men and women in the late 20th century....This book is an in-depth study of what the author terms advantaged and nonadvantaged inmates and how each of these two groups adapt to the artificial world of incarceration....Her findings are interesting and may also provide a new perspective for policy analysts seeking a solution to the almost intractable problem of the inmates who enter prison with a key deficits in socialization can benefit by association with those whose lifestyles are more advantaged. -Choice ... challenges the special sensitivity hypothesis and concludes that these offenders adjust well to incarceration. -Crime & Justice International DeRosia's important study should stimulate a response to the challenges in both inservice training and continuing education for personnel at all levels within correctional systems. -Professional Development The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education ?...challenges the special sensitivity hypothesis and concludes that these offenders adjust well to incarceration.?-Crime & Justice International ?DeRosia's important study should stimulate a response to the challenges in both inservice training and continuing education for personnel at all levels within correctional systems.?-Professional Development The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education ?In her provocative book DeRosia paints a compelling word picture of life behind bars for a significant number of men and women in the late 20th century....This book is an in-depth study of what the author terms advantaged and nonadvantaged inmates and how each of these two groups adapt to the artificial world of incarceration....Her findings are interesting and may also provide a new perspective for policy analysts seeking a solution to the almost intractable problem of the inmates who enter prison with a key deficits in socialization can benefit by association with those whose lifestyles are more advantaged. ?-Choice .,. challenges the special sensitivity hypothesis and concludes that these offenders adjust well to incarceration. -Crime & Justice International

.,. challenges the special sensitivity hypothesis and concludes that these offenders adjust well to incarceration. -Crime & Justice International

Author Information

VICTORIA R. DEROSIA is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice at Castleton State College where she has taught a wide variety of criminal justice courses over the past seven years. As a practitioner, Dr. DeRosia has worked as a prison teacher, probation and parole officer, crime prevention and grant specialist, and a certified police instructor in crime prevention.

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