Relationship between criminal subculture and violence in custodial settings

Abstract

The article deals with the interconnection of criminal subculture and violence in custodial settings. It is proved that the criminal subculture as a manifestation of violence in custodial settings is characterized by a special type of life of convicted persons in conditions of isolation from society, has its own criminal ideology and substantially influences forms of violence among convicts and personnel of custodial settings.

The author selected signs for detection a criminal subculture in custodial settings, such as: self-organization of convicts in opposition to the inactivity of the administration of penal institutions and a separate group of convicts for committing violence against them and surviving in harsh conditions of custodial settings; regular conflicts among convicts regarding the distribution of spheres of influence (drug sales, alcohol, prostitution, provision of services in the form of «freezing», etc.); the spread of prison lyrics especially for new arrivals for the first time in custodial settings (verification of resistance, psychological endurance, determination of emotional state, etc.); facts of extortion (money, food, clothing, etc.); committing violence (homosexuality, physical and psychological humiliation, oppression, etc.).

It is proved that the criminal subculture and violence in custodial settings are closely interconnected, they are arranged by a certain system of relations between convicts, manifestations of negative values, skillful cultivation of traditions and customs of the criminal environment. And therefore it is clear that criminal groups that are formed in custodial settings and adhere to certain laws and traditions, recognize their way of life.

At the same time, criminal subculture and violence in custodial settings have specific features of influence on convicts. Being in a specific environment, with a common way of life, with similar luck and committed socially dangerous acts (murder, theft, rape, robbery, bodily injuries, etc.) convicts, want or not, actively form informal groups of different orientations.

It is concluded that the criminal subculture and violence in custodial settings are in a complex interconnection with the procedure and conditions of serving punishment, and its manifestation negatively affect the entire penitentiary process.