Overview

This work by Dr. Gorton demonstrates how organizational restructuring centralized control over the managerial process and also provides an in-depth analysis of how a large prison system was restructured in response to rapid growth and increased pressure from outside the organization by civil rights activists practitioners, scholars, and the federal courts. Preface; Many people are fascinated by the dangerous and mysterious world of American prisons. This is not surprising, for contemporary prisons are truly remarkable organizations. Confronted by constantly changing political, cultural and demographic forces, modern prisons are complex organizations that often pursue disjointed goals. On one hand, they administer punitive sanctions against large aggregates of social misfits, many of whom actively resist coercive social control. Making matters more difficult is the requirement that the punitive enterprise comply with ever-changing legal standards that define permissible forms of punishment. On the other hand, most prisons are required to provide services that seek to promote inmates' personal growth. Visit most large prisons and you will discover programs focusing on substance abuse treatment, vocational training, secondary and post-secondary education, domestic violence counseling, psychological treatment, faith-based counseling, and so on. The conflicting goals of treatment and control are complicated by the necessity to safeguard the security of inmates, staff, visitors and the facility itself. Moreover, much of this work is performed by correctional officers whose jobs earn them low salaries and little prestige. Given these complex mandates, it is understandable that social scientists and others have long been interested in prisons. However, even a basic familiarity with the research literature reveals that the most intense focus of this attention has been on prison subcultures. Surprisingly, few scholars have conducted in-depth analyses of prisons as bureaucracies.

Full Product Details

Author:   Joe Gorton
Publisher:   The Edwin Mellen Press Ltd
Imprint:   Edwin Mellen Press Ltd
Volume:   v. 18
ISBN:  

9780773470392

ISBN 10:   0773470395
Pages:   244
Publication Date:   October 2002
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Awaiting stock  
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Table of Contents

Page; Preface i; Foreword v; Acknowledgments vii; Chapter I - Introduction 1; Prior Research 2; Unanswered Questions 11; Theoretical Framework 13; Propositions 20; Chapter II - Methodology 23; Case Study Site Selection and Description 23; Specification of the Post Reform Era 27; Specification of Variables 27; Data Collection 29; Sample 35; Chapter III - Historical Overview 39; Texas Prisons During the Nineteenth Century 40; Texas Prisons From 1900 to 1930 46; The Simmons Administration 49; World War II and The Post War Years: 1948-1972 52; Judicially Mandated Reform: 1972-1990 59; The Ruiz Era Reforms 63; Summary 69; Chapter IV - The Post Reform Environment 71; Prison System Growth 72; Geographic Dispersal of Prison Units 78; The Judicial Environment 79; The Political Environment 81; The Vita Pro Scandal 90; Executive Turnover 92; Advanced Information Processing Technologies 93; Theoretical Context 95; Summary 100; Chapter V - Formalization and Centralization 101; Theoretical Issues 102; Qualitative Findings 104; Quantitative Findings 141; Conclusions 163; Chapter VI - Standardization of Security Actions 169; Qualitative Findings 171; Quantitative Findings 179; Conclusions 186; Chapter VII - Conclusions and Implications 189; Theoretical Conclusions and Implications 189; Implications for Prison Research and Prison Managers 198; Implications for Contemporary Social Organization 200

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