Maintaining Order and Following the Rules: Gender Differences in Punishing Inmate Misconduct

Abstract

For this article, we examine gender differences in how staff members address inmate misconduct. Using in-depth interviews with forty-three correctional employees, we focus on how their various disciplinary styles create interpersonal conflict between staff members. We find that over half of interviewees are identified as “formal responders” who consistently punish inmate misconduct with formal sanctions, even if doing so creates conflict within the organization. However, female formal responders also claim that they work closely with male inmates to explain the importance of following the rules. They state that this puts them at odds with their male co-workers who misinterpret this behavior as instigating sexual relationships.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Trammell

REBECCA TRAMMELL, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She studies inmate violence and misconduct. She is currently working with data that focus on the connection between disrespectful behavior and inmate violence.

Jennifer Raby

JENNIFER RABY graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2014. Her primary research interests are the sociology of education and social deviance. She begins graduate school in the fall of 2014.

Alexandra Anderson

ALEXANDRA ANDERSON is an undergraduate student at Metropolitan State University of Denver where she studies Criminal Justice and Criminology. She plans on attending graduate school by the fall of 2015.

Shannon Hampton

SHANNON HAMPTON graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver where she majored in Criminal Justice and Criminology and Psychology. Her research interest focuses on the psychological study of trauma.

Travis Stickney

TRAVIS STICKNEY earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2013. He begins graduate school in the field of Social Work in the fall of 2014.