Violent criminals locked up: Examining the effect of incarceration on behavioral continuity

PurposeThe purpose of the current study was to determine whether, and the degree to which, inmates committing specific types of violent crimes in the community were prone to commit acts of violence while incarcerated.Materials and methodsData were collected from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice on the prison stock population and a restricted admissions cohort serving time during FY 2008.ResultsAfter controlling for pre-prison and post-conviction characteristics, crime of conviction retained a modest degree of influence on inmates’ propensity to commit dangerous rule violations in prison. Inmates convicted of assault, robbery and other miscellaneous violent crimes were more likely to commit dangerous rule infractions than inmates convicted of property crimes, supporting the behavioral continuity thesis. Inmates convicted of homicide were no more likely, and those convicted of sexual assault less likely, to commit dangerous rule violations in comparison to those convicted of property crimes.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that researchers and prison officials should not view all inmates convicted of one of a broad category of “violent crimes” in the community as being equivalent in their propensity for violence while incarcerated.

Research Highlights
► Nearly 15% of inmates were involved in a “dangerous rule violation”.
► Inmates convicted of robbery and assault committed more violations.
► Inmates convicted of homicide committed an average number of violations.
► Inmates convicted of sexual assault committed fewer violations.
► Findings provide mixed support for the behavioral continuity thesis.