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Journal article
The importance of social dynamics in a prison environment: Learning from the concerns of incarcerated people
Journal of criminal justice, v 101, 102537
Nov 2025
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
The prison environment requires incarcerated individuals to navigate myriad norms, rules, personal constraints, and informal social dynamics that permeate the carceral experience. While research has gained valuable insights into the lived experience of imprisonment through surveys and interviews, an opportunity arises when incarcerated people are given a chance to voice their concerns firsthand. To better understand the priorities and concerns of incarcerated individuals, this paper employs a qualitative thematic analysis, rooted in grounded theory, of written, optional, open-ended responses to a survey on prison climate amongst incarcerated men in the U.S. (N = 376). When given a chance to reflect on issues that are important to them, participants often focused on negative perceptions of staff stemming from previous communication and interactions. Findings suggest that incarcerated people desire accessibility, support, and humane treatment from staff; when perceived as lacking, the adversarial distance between the two groups may widen. Acknowledging the systemic nature of these dynamics, the study offers avenues to support and encourage prosocial communication in order to improve relationships between staff and those incarcerated.
•Open-ended responses by incarcerated people from the Prison Climate Questionnaire.•Thematic analysis revealed that most participants talked about staff (COs).•Primarily negative descriptors indicate tense relationships and systemic barriers.•Positive comments indicate the importance of prosocial communication.•Results suggest improving relations could aid rehabilitation and benefit staff well-being.
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Details
- Title
- The importance of social dynamics in a prison environment: Learning from the concerns of incarcerated people
- Creators
- Emily Greberman (Corresponding Author) - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseySynøve N. Andersen - University of OsloColleen M. Berryessa - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyJordan M. Hyatt - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of criminal justice, v 101, 102537
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Arnold Ventures
Arnold Ventures.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Criminology and Justice Studies; Center for Public Policy; Center for Science, Technology, and Society
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001603602100001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105019681859
- Other Identifier
- 991022124258104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Criminology & Penology