Prisoners' and Prison Workers' Views on the Prison Subculture in Slovenia

Povzetek

This paper addresses the hypothesized problem of prison subcultures in Slovenia. In 2015 and 2016, structured interviews were conducted with 193 prisoners and 151 prison staff in all Slovenian prisons and a correctional home. The analysis of interviews conducted documents the presence of a prison subculture in all prison settings studied. In general, exploitation, distrust, opportunistic friendships, hierarchy and social structure, secrecy, and anti authoritarian stance are common characteristics of the prison subculture present in all Slovenian prison settings. The universal impact of deprivation factors (restriction/lack of safety, autonomy, freedom, heterosexual relations, goods and services, etc.) on prisoners' adaptation to prison life and their commonplace choice to enter the prison subculture was confirmed. Several pre-prison characteristics of prisoners (criminal history, age, gender, etc.) were identified as influential factors on their adaptation to prison life and their decision to enter into the prison's informal society. However, it was also found that behavioural norms that constitute the prison subculture differ significantly across prisons, especially regarding the prison regime (openness of the prison). Furthermore, it was noteworthy that prison staff admitted that they allow the prison subculture to exist within reasonable limits. Informal prison leaders help the staff to maintain order in the prison setting. Implications of these findings for prison management practices are discussed in the paper's conclusion.