Date of Conferral

7-15-2024

Date of Award

July 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Criminal Justice

Advisor

Sean Grier

Abstract

Prison is an important component of the criminal justice system. The structure and functionality of prison is tailored towards incapacitation, rehabilitation, and deterrence, which are goals of punishment. However, prison can have unintended consequences which increase the criminogenic risk of offenders causing inmates to become career criminals. This study examined the role of prison socialization, particularly the influence of interpersonal relationships formed while incarcerated on recidivistic behavior. It is important to investigate interpersonal relationships formed while incarcerated so that prison administrators can better realize its goal to rehabilitate offenders and prepare them for reintegration into society. The study was grounded in Sutherland’s differential association theory, which claimed that criminal behavior is learned through the association with other criminals. The qualitative design captured the prison experiences of eight ex-offenders from the Belle Isle Correctional Facility. Interviews were conducted and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified from the data: (a) cellmates imparted good knowledge; (b) cellmates have shaped perspectives on life and crime; (c) experiences in prison motivated ex-offenders to live law-abiding lives; (d) friendships formed in prison have helped persons while incarcerated and after incarceration; and (e) reintegration is difficult in an unforgiving society. The results can lead to positive social change by assisting prison administrators with policy and practice on prison socialization, categorization, and cellmate selection so that the criminogenic consequences of prison are reduced, and inmates’ chances of successful rehabilitation and reintegration are increased.

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