Staff-to-Inmates Relations in a Total Institution: A Model of Five Modes of Association

Abstract

The findings presented in the following paper suggest that contrary to Goffman's description of staff-inmate relations in total institutions, the social relations between prison staff members and prisoners are diverse and not necessarily fixed and/or hostile. The paper describes five relationship prototypes ranging from the Punitive Relations Prototype to the Integrative Relation Prototype. The prototypes are measured by staff perception of the inmates; orientation of the relationship; relation's model; and social distance. The findings were gathered and confirmed by three phases of research: participant observation; staff questionnaire; and inmate interviews.