Propensity to support prison gangs: its relationship to gang membership, victimisation, aggression and other disruptive behaviours

Abstract

Propensity to support prison gangs and its association with aggression, victimisation and disruptive behaviour is explored. The sample comprised 423 adult male prisoners from three Canadian prisons. Participants completed the PGB (Propensity to support Gang-related Behaviour scale) and DIPC-R (Direct and Indirect Prisoner behaviour Checklist-Revised). The former indicated gang membership propensity and included a direct question on whether or not participants considered themselves a gang member. It was hypothesised that prison-based aggression would be predicted by a propensity to support prison gangs and by gang membership. It was also hypothesised that aggression and disruptive behaviours would be reported more frequently by gang members than non-gang members. Propensity to support prison gangs was associated with aggression and other disruptive behaviours, as was actual gang membership. Aggression and other disruptive behaviours were reported more frequently by gang members. Prisoners reporting both aggression perpetration and victimisation simultaneously (i.e. ‘perpetrator/victims’) were over-represented as gang members. Gang membership did not appear to protect against being victimised. Propensity to support prison gangs was composed of beliefs that gangs were supportive, well-ordered and protective, and comprised of friends. The importance of accounting for propensity to support prison gangs and not just self-reported gang membership is discussed.

Keywords:

• gangs
• prison aggression
• DIPC
• prison disruption

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from the Canadian Correctional Service (Prairies Region). Acknowledgements to Jennifer Baldhead, Pam Booker, Terry Brown, Giselle Henry, Sherry Leslie, Shawna Maruca, Correne Pedersen, John Shannon, Linda Clarke, Canadian Correctional Service.

Notes

1. This paper was part of PhD study which is, at the point of writing, unpublished. A summary of the results can, however, be obtained from the first author.

2. No establishment reported inmate murders, suicides, hostage-taking incidents or major disturbances in the last 12 months. Significant differences were restricted to the proportion of aboriginal inmates and also gang-involvement; Prison B [medium security] presented with the lowest proportion of aboriginal inmates overall (χ²=16.7 (1, N = 459), p=.0001, Cramers V=.19), and the lowest proportion of gang affiliation when compared to Prison A [medium security] (χ²=12.2 (1, N = 255), p = .002, Cramers V=.21).