In and out of prison: Do importation factors predict all forms of misconduct or just the more serious ones?

• Examined 6 importation factors as predictors of prison and community misconduct.
• Importation variables predicted high/high-moderate severity infractions and crimes.
• Importation variables did not predict moderate severity infractions and crimes.
• Importation model as relevant to community adjustment as to prison adjustment.
• Importation part of a more general theoretical construct of criminal propensity.

PurposeThis study was designed to investigate whether importation factors predict all forms of prison misconduct and recidivism or just the more serious forms.MethodsSix importation factors were examined: age, marital status, street gang affiliation, criminal thinking, prior drug abuse, and criminal history. Count data for two high severity infractions (assault, escape), two high-moderate severity infractions (fighting, possession of intoxicants), two moderate severity infractions (refusing programs, stealing), two high severity crimes (assault, robbery), and two moderate severity crimes (DUI, failure to appear) were regressed onto these six importation variables in samples of 2488 (prison infractions) and 1101 (recidivism) male inmates.ResultsThe importation variables successfully predicted the four infractions that were rated high and high-moderate in severity and the two crimes that were rated high severity but not the two infractions or two crimes that were rated as moderate in severity.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that importation factors are differentially predictive of more serious forms of infraction and recidivism and that the importation model may have as much to offer the study of community adjustment and recidivism as it does the study of institutional adjustment and disciplinary infractions as part of the more general theoretical construct of criminal propensity.