Lecture 4: Theorising prisons: Understanding the ‘hidden’ functions of prisons Flashcards
What does Mathiesen’s “Prisons on Trial” question regarding the effectiveness of imprisonment in meeting its aims?
Questions whether imprisonment effectively prevents future crimes through deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, or solely based on the idea of deserved punishment.
what is Utilitarian and Retributive Theory
¡ Utilitarian Theory: Argue that Punishment is justified on basis of preventing future offending via Deterrence, Incapacitation and Rehabilitation.
¡ Retributive Theory: Punishment is ‘deserved’ by the offender.
What did Durkheim suggest about the function of punishment in society?
The function of punishment = restoring and maintaining social and collective conscience.
According to Durkheim, what is the primary focus of punishment within society?
Durkheim highlighted that the primary focus of punishment is the ‘ritualized reaffirmation of collective values and the reinforcement of group solidarity.’
How did Durkheim view the role of prisons in society and the perception of prisoners?
Durkheim considered prisons as symbolic representations of severe punishment, signifying the greatest condemnation in modern society.
He suggested that individuals not in prison might feel morally superior, being separated from those perceived as a threat to their way of life.
Durkheim noted that prisoners are often dehumanized and socially perceived as ‘othered’ within society.
According to Durkheim, what is the essence of the ‘conscience collective’ in society?
Durkheim’s version of the ‘conscience collective’ is rooted in the concept of shared common values among individuals within a society.
What potential impact does punishment have on societal cohesion, as per Durkheim’s views?
Contrary to promoting solidarity, punishment can sometimes evoke social divisions within a society.
What might be deemed ‘functional’ for one societal group could be perceived as ‘dysfunctional’ for another, potentially hindering cohesion.
How do Chamberlen & Carvalho (2019) differ in their perspective on social solidarity and punishment from Durkheim’s ideas?
Chamberlen & Carvalho argue that strong social cohesion or solidarity isn’t necessary for punishment to have Durkheim’s desired effect.
They suggest that punishment doesn’t necessarily reaffirm collective values but creates an appearance of such bonds, suppressing insecurity and social fragmentation by redirecting turmoil towards crime and criminals.
What is conflict theory Marx
Conflict theory: Certain groups are better positioned in society than others, and these groups are better positioned to advance their own interests - through the law, through the state and govt institutions.
How do Marxists perceive the relationship between crime, laws, and social classes within society?
Marxists view society as divided along economic class lines, where certain groups hold better positions and advance their interests through laws, state, and government institutions.
According to Marxists, laws and crimes serve as mechanisms that perpetuate unequal class relations, with the powerful defining what constitutes a crime while marginalizing certain groups by criminalizing their behavior.
What role do laws and crimes play in the Marxist viewpoint concerning social control and class divisions?
Laws and crimes, according to Marxism, function as tools of social control. Failure to criminalize actions of the wealthy aids the development of capitalism, while mass criminalization of marginalized groups contributes to their exclusion from contributing to society.
Ultimately, laws and crimes ensure that the wealthy and powerful maintain their societal positions by controlling and shaping the perception of crime and justice.
According to Marxism, what role do prisons play in managing marginal groups within society?
Prisons function as a mechanism for disciplining the working class and containing surplus workers, especially those deemed as not fitting the current economic requirements.
They serve to repress and transform the ‘criminalized’ segments of the working class through rehabilitation, resocialization, re-education, work, and discipline.
How does Marxism contribute to understanding prison demographics and the hidden functions of the criminal justice system?
Marxist accounts offer insights into the broader societal factors influencing who gets sent to prison and for what reasons, often emphasizing a class-based analysis evident in prisoner demographics.
Moreover, Marxism highlights the hidden function of prisons as a political vehicle, noting that the growth in prison populations can be linked to the collapse of social welfare systems, reflecting broader societal inequalities associated with class, race, and gender.
What hidden economic function does Marxism associate with the prison system?
Marxism identifies the presence of a Prison-Industrial complex, indicating the interconnection between the Criminal Justice System (CJS), the political system, and the economic system.
The CJS has evolved into a site for substantial private investment, suggesting a growing vested interest of private entities in mass incarceration, thereby creating a system termed as the Prison-Industrial complex.
What hidden purposes does the utilization of prison labor serve according to Marxist perspectives?
The exploitation of prison labor aims to repress and transform criminalized segments of the working class by providing opportunities for rehabilitation, resocialization, re-education, and work, aiming to convert them into ‘wage workers.’
