Cristian Loera-Flores
CJAD 350
Professor Carden
July 4, 2015
Prison Culture
Prison, a place that is always on the news, that is always spoken of with great fear or disrespect, a place that can and will change your life forever if you were so inclined to take part in activities that will send you there. There are a lot of events that can get you into prison, but what it’s like on the inside is a whole different story. From the diverse selection of prison gangs that are separated by race and religion, to the frantic “free market trade” that occurs in every prison system across the United States, prison culture has risen past any staff, director, or officer could have ever imagined. Prison culture has taken a life of its own, so much so, that now the general public has become exposed to the integrate and sometimes brutal culture that has been methodically developed since the early days of imprisonment. Time goes hand in hand with the evolution of this culture, refinement through inmate “research and development” has allowed generations of culture, adapt and survive even through staff struggles to stop them.
Firstly I would like to discuss the progression of prison culture, where it started, how it evolved, what influenced caused this evolution, and where it is now. Although prison culture dates back to the early 13th centuries, there is very little actually known about their culture and would probably not be seen as the same “jailing” that takes place now. The earliest credible information I was able to find dated back to the 1940’s which was a time of great racism, oppression and violence. I had hoped to set back the clock further, but I feel that before the 1900’s, prison would not be relevant to today’s meaning of what a prison is. Prison culture was what you would expect it to be in the 40’s, before any sort of attempt to abolish public racism, colors were torn everywhere, including behind bars. Compared to modern days, where prison is integrated by all colors, it comes with its own set of problems, like gangs that we will discuss later in the paper. Regarding prison in the 1940’s, there was a disgusting amount of racism and unfairness to anyone that was not Caucasian. This included extremely unfair sentencing, if they were lucky to even be alive after committing a crime, and extremely unfair living conditions within the prisons. The only positive thing that I found during my research was the odd but understandable lack of prison gangs or clubs. From the 1940’s to the 50’s there was no gang activity, simply because every one of a separate race stuck by each other, rather than trying to kill each other for reputation like they do now. Blacks were on their side with common harmony, they had to stick together.
Moving to the 60’s on to the 80’s,the obvious events that had affected prison culture the most is the MLK era. At the early front of the 60’s Martin Luther King Jr. was hard at work in his fight to realize his dream of creating equality and peace between all races, this struck a lot of tension and created a clear line between supporting or being against his movement. In prison this was a tough battle, even if you were not part of a racist sect, you had to pretend to be, because if you were not, you would be unjustly classified as an “N***** Lover” and would become an enemy of the white race. During this period, it actually intensified the separation between white and black, more so than in the 40’s, but the only difference was that there was no longer a physical separation, now everybody was thrown into a big melting pot, where there was nothing but trouble awaiting.
Since the trouble during the past racially intense prison culture, thing have changed a little bit, but not necessarily for the better. From the 70’s to current day, there has been a lot of prison reforms, but nothing that has substantially changed the way prison culture operates and its norms. Humane reforms have been at the fore front of the biggest changes in prison and prison culture. Because of the past that that the prison system has been through and the corruption, there was mass concerns about how are prisoners were being treated once they were put into the system. This is a conflict of interest because one of the main points of deterrence is the fact that prison is not a “fun” or “safe” place to be. With reforms put into place in the early 80’s, everything changed, from the quality of food given to the amount of recess time they were allotted.
A small reform that tends to pass through the cracks of media is the rape and violence “extensions”. With rape being such a big issue, laws like Federal Law Public Law 108-79 were enacted to prevent further perversion:
The bill calls for the gathering of national statistics about the
Problem; the development of guidelines for states about how to
Address prisoner rape; the creation of a review panel to hold annual Hearings; and the provision of grants to states to combat the problem.
Unfortunately, in many facilities throughout the country sexual abuse
Continues virtually unchecked," said Stemple. "Too often, corrections
Officers turn a blind eye, or in the case of women inmates, actually
Perpetrate the abuse. We hope federal legislation will not only create
Incentives for states to take this problem seriously, but also give
Facilities the tools and information they need to prevent it (Federal Legislation).

With guards turning blind eyes, laws like this are just wasted efforts, but this problem had its own solution. The solution being very high and strict standards when it came time to hire these guards, stern background checks and determinate contracts with thorough rules and guidelines that must be followed at all times. Looking in retrospect at this reform, nothing has really changed, just new ways to still become an accomplice to prison crime while “flying under the radar” enough to keep you job.
An interesting variable that is not commonly discussed when it comes to prison rape is the countless inmates that are homo sexual, bi-sexual, or transgender. These inmates have become walking targets throughout prison systems worldwide, not just U.S prisons. Many prison systems normally separate these categories of inmates into different sub sectors of the institution to prevent further violence against them. Not surprisingly, a lot of “regular” heterosexual inmates will identify themselves as homosexual to prison authorities so they can be divided into the protected sectors of the prison, simply to avoid being raped or assaulted. This is especially popular among the non-gang affiliated or inmates of a smaller stature.
On the topic of prison culture and the rape that is so closely affiliated with it, one must discuss the dangers that are eminent aside from the physical portion of rape itself. I’m speaking of STD’s, being completely honest, after doing miniscule research on prison “hospitals” and health care facilities, I’m surprised more prisoners don’t die due to illness contracted in prison itself more often. STD’s has become a prevalent issue and has been for the last few decades. Though ignored by prison officials, there is overwhelming evidence that rape and other forms of sexual violence have played a major and vital role in transmitting STDs. Violent forms of unprotected vaginal or anal intercourse have the highest risk of transmitting an STD. Especially for the receiving partner, outcomes of coerced and forced sex have a high chance of tearing the membrane of the anus and cause profuse bleeding. Despite the increasing number of prisoners with sexually transmitted diseases, reliable and trusted statistics on prisoners who have received STDs due to prison rape are unavailable and will much likely remain that way, as there is no way for prisons to monitor that sort of influx. Many reports of sexual abuse of either coerced vaginal or anal intercourse remain unreported for many reasons, like the normal “looks the other way” or simply out of shame.
For the most mainstream and popular part of prison, the prison gangs. Prison gangs really have taken on a life of themselves, there are endless movies, books and documentaries on them, some reality and some fiction, but all based around something that is very real and very threatening to anything opposed to it. By definition a prison gang is an inmate organization that operates within a prison system, that has a corporate entity, exists into perpetuity, and whose membership is restrictive, mutually exclusive, and often requires a lifetime commitment. Although hard to track an exact date as to when gangs became such a prominent part of prison culture, most notable gangs that are still active today were formed during the 1960’s. The most notorious amongst them would be the Aryan Brotherhood for the Caucasians, The Black Guerilla Family, for the African community, and La Nuestra Familia for the Latinos. Most people would name gangs like the Latin Disciples, the Bloods and the Crips, but although these gangs have high street presence, in the prison system, these gangs named above are the ones that rule.
Gangs have become this entity because of their power within the prison systems. Gangs as the one listed are widespread throughout the U.S. This means that no matter if you get transferred to a different facility, or others come to yours, if there in the same gang there are no problems. After watching endless documentaries out of interest throughout my last three college years, I’ve come to find out just exactly what drive people to join these for-mentioned gangs. When prisoners are first entering the system for the first time, they are extremely frightened, nervous and over all on guard, this is the perfect state of mind that recruiting gangs look for. Someone that is vulnerable and have a lot to lose, their integrity and safety, they are the solution. It is very hard to be stuck in a concrete building for years and years at a time. A prison is like a group of friends that you share your lives with, especially in a situation like jail, because when you become associated with a gang, although you have defenses you also become a target for rival gangs. The prisoner went from a target or “jailbait” that is often related to being new and UN associated, to becoming part of a gang war that had been ongoing for decades before you became a part of their ranks.
“I have been sexually and physically assaulted several times by several inmates. I’m afraid to go to sleep, shower and just about everything else. I’m afraid that when I’m doing these things that I may die at any minute. Please Sir, help me.” 17 year old Rodney Hullin – A state grievance Hullin wrote to TDCJ officials soon before his death by suicide in 1995. Rodney is the type of person that I spoke of, first time in jail, scared to death and in need of anything that can help him, Rodney is prime example as to why prison gangs flourish around the entire world. Sadly there is little that can be done to eliminate these gangs and their activities. Although officials, law makers and even prisoners themselves have tried to put a stop to gangs and gang activity within the prison walls, it’s an effort spent with no reward. These gangs are integrated into the very soul of what prison is. Prison without gangs is just a daycare for shop lifters and car jackers. Gangs are the refuge that makes prison tolerable and “safer” in the sense that you have the emblem, patch or “placa” of a brotherhood that will spill and shed blood for your safety and honor.
Just as Prison Culture has evolved, Gang culture within the prisons has evolved. Starting from the early beginning of simple groups of likeminded or same race people, these groups became violent towards others. This violence became habitual and rivalries were eventually formed as seen today. What stemmed from groups of races turned into integrate networks of trade. Trade not only of supply, but of information and labor, the deadly kind, gangs became notorious for selling and purchasing their services of “hits” on other inmates within the prison and if the gang was powerful enough, hits on members of other prisons. I would not know if I would personally place blame on the prison staff and security, but it is astonishing that gang leaders can still run whole chapters while they under twenty four hour surveillance in a cement sale behind bars, but time and gang culture evolution has shown that there are no limits to what they can or will do.
Finally comes the interesting part, the refinement of their methods, how and why prison culture has become the way it is. Simply put, it was grown because of the necessity to live as a free man, but physically appear to be an encaged and tamed one. Prison culture has risen to be a culture bigger than a lot of nationalities, the most beautiful but yet most tarrying part of this culture is that it is worldwide. Unlike countries separate cultures, prison is generally the same within different countries, of course with their share of unique traits and operations. The reason this is possible is because prison does something to you, it affects the way you think about everything you have ever known. When you are stripped of your humanity and your dignity, your thought process changes and nothing is out of bounds. This feelings and mentality is universal, and is ignited by the way the prison systems have become. The evolution of prison culture has become what it is today because prison has degraded and stripped what humans have become.
Lastly, the under looked part of prison culture, its rehabilitation. There are two sides to this story, just as there are two types of prisoners. Starting with the negative, rehabilitation is almost impossible when you’re entire prison sentence has been spent in cooperation with a prison gang. When you are released from prison, these gangs don’t simply just bid you farewell, as the popular saying goes, “Blood in, Blood out”. For this reason, there is little chance to ever peacefully and legally leave the associations that you form during your incarceration period. Never being to cut the ties that you made and never being to live worry free or with a clean conscience. On the positive side, prison has grown with high hopes in mind, with various educational programs in place to accomplish GED’s and even earn degrees during your imprisonment. All the tools needed to succeed after your release from the institution have been given to you, there is no excuse to not take advantage of them, unless you are part of percentage of inmates discussed above.
From the evolution of prison structures and political events that have happened, to the trajectory that law makers have taken in futile efforts to dismantle the empire that prison gangs have built. Prison Culture, truly has become a force to be admired and hated. Admired for the raw example of what human nature, intuition and ability to adapt can do, and hated for the horrific example of what human greed, hate and animosity can do. The culture inside those walls has shown the public outside of it, what humans are capable of on both sides of spectrum. Although it has done it share of growing, I doubt that it will ever stop, this culture will continue to evolve at the same rate that laws begin to infiltrate their current system and networks. It’s a living and growing entity that cannot be tamed, that has been proven for centuries. The final question asked after consuming this information is, “Does prison really control the inmates, or do the inmates control the prison?”. As time passes, I grow more informed and have come to realize that the inmates are the ones that are in control of not only the culture and its evolution, but the prison and its regression.