Time Served in Prison, in-Prison Experiences, and Perceptions of Procedural Justice. (10th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Butler, H. Daniel; Solomon, Starr J.; DeLisi, Matt
• Is Part Of: Justice quarterly. Volume 38:Number 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1519
• Page End: 1541
• Publication Date: 2021-11-10
• Subjects: prisons -- time served -- adjustment -- procedural justice -- restrictive housing; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- United States -- Periodicals; 340.11405
• DOI: 10.1080/07418825.2021.1985159
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-8825

Abstract

Abstract: The coercive nature of prisons is a longstanding topic of academic inquiry. Although correctional staff help incarcerated individuals adjust to prison by enforcing prison rules and providing guidance, incarcerated individuals are confined against their will. Most research on this topic typically does not focus on the role that time served in prison and in-prison experiences may have on perceptions of fairness by correctional staff. In this study, we examine whether in-prison experiences vary in their effect across different lengths of time served on perceptions of procedural justice. The findings from a nationally representative sample of incarcerated individuals reveal that most in-prison experiences, such as confinement in restrictive housing, decreased perceptions of procedural justice and fairness. As correctional agencies develop strategies to help incarcerated individuals adjust to prison, it is important to recognize that the coercive nature of prisons creates difficulties for individuals to perceive treatment by staff as procedurally just.