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Prison Overcrowding and Disciplinary Problems: An Analysis of the Texas Prison System

Department of Sociology, The University of Texas, Austin.

Dennis M. Barrick

Federal Bureau of Prisons, Otisville, New York.

Lawrence E. Cohen

Department of Sociology, The University of Texas, Austin.

Data on prison overcrowding and disciplinary rates are examined. Trends for the total system, as well as individual institutions within the Texas Department of Corrections are presented. This is followed by analysis of data from individual inmates. Both assault and total disciplinary rates are found to be a function of the age of the inmate population rather than overcrowding. This is consistent with findings from the Federal Bureau of Prisons as well as data from English prisons (Nacci, Teitelbaum & Prather, 1977; Farrington & Nuttall, 1980). Although prison overcrowding may be an important factor in the overall quality of prison life, it is inappropriate to conclude that it has much influence on either the total disciplinary or the assault rates in prisons.

The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, Vol. 19, No. 2, 163-176 (1983)
DOI: 10.1177/002188638301900212


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