Criminal Psychology - Topic 6: Imprisonment

Question 1

Background Research - Jackson & Gibbs (3)

Answer 1

Compared re-offending rates for 1,151 young offenders (under 18) from Northern Ireland (85% male)

• Custodial sentences - Most - 70.7%
• Community Sentences - 52.1%
• Restorative Justice - Least - 37.7%

Question 2

Key Research - Haney (Aim, Method, Sample, Procedure, Results)

Answer 2

Aim/ Method:

• Lab experiment to study the effect of imprisonment on both prisoners and guards.
• They used observations, interviews and questionnaires.

Sample:

• They used 22 males who volunteered for $15 a day.
• They were middle class and mentally and physically stable.

Procedure:

1. The students were randomly assigned to be guards or prisoners.
2. The guards were told to maintain a reasonable degree of order to allow effective functioning without physical punishment.
3. The prisoners were arrested at their homes and taken to the prison given uniforms and ID numbers which they would now be known by.
4. They were supervised 24 hours a day and given regular roll calls where they would have to line up and be counted by the guards.

Results:

• The experiment had to be stopped after 6 days due to the pathological reactions.
• The prisoners had different coping strategies such as depression and anger or being pretending to be ill or being excessively obedient.
• This lead to the prisoners showing pathological prisoner syndrome which is seen through depression or excessive obedience as this is due to the loss of identity.
• The guards became hostile and had tendency’s to have negative interactions with prisoners.
• The guards developed a pathology of power where they enjoyed and misused their power.
• This was demonstrated through increasing sanctions and demands

Question 3

Application - Features of restorative justice (3)

Answer 3

• Restorative justice brings together victims and offenders in a meeting organised by a RJ facilitator.
• Restorative justice gives victims the chance to tell offenders the real impact of their crime, get answers to their questions and get an apology.
• Restorative justice holds offenders to account for what they have done. It helps them understand the real impact, take responsibility, and make amends.