Prison gang integration and inmate violence

摘要: Abstract Purpose Gang membership has been linked in a number of prior studies with inmate misconduct; known gang members are more prone than non-gang to act violently behind bars. Theories intergroup conflict suggest, however, there is reason expect that broader within-prison dynamics, not just alone, associated the incidence violence. Methods We collected data on inmates from large southern state and estimated multilevel models inmate-on-inmate Included our were variety common individual-level correlates violent misconduct, among them membership. Substantive prison-level included percentage “gang integration,” latter being measure heterogeneity. Results found modest association between both variables violence, integration most significant two. Conclusions an important correlate but attention prison dynamics clearly necessary. discuss implications this finding for theories