Prison gangs in South Africa
A description
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20454975 |
|---|---|
| Authors | J M Lotter (Human Sciences Research Council, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1988 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 67-75 |
| Publication date | 1988-05-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | South African Journal of Sociology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0258-0144 • E-ISSN: 1999-9135 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/02580144.1988.10520085 |
| OpenAlex | W2109593118 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 11 |
Very little has been reported on prison gangs outside the United States of America and, judging from the available literature, prison gangs may be mistaken for a particularly American phenomenon. However, the non-reporting of the phenomenon in other countries does not necessarily preclude its existence in those countries. Prison gangs occur in parts of the South African prison system, particularly among Black and Coloured males in maximum security institutions. In order to make material available for cross-cultural or cross-national analyses, the origins of South African 'number' gangs are traced and the structure and functions of the gangs described. Some comparisons are drawn with American counterparts. It is tentatively concluded that the 'deprivation' (functional) model on patterns of response to imprisonment (or prisoner subculture) is too limited to explain the origin of prison gangs and that the 'importation' model is more appropriate. However, the closed paradigm (functional) perspective may be useful in explaining the maintenance of gangs in prison. Baie min is gerapporteer oor gevangenisbendes buite die Verenigde State van Amerika en geoordeel aan beskikbare literatuur, mag gevangenisbendes verkeerdelik as 'n uniek-Amerikaanse verskynsel beskou word. Die nie-rapportering van die verskynsel in ander lande beteken nie noodwendig dat gevangenisbendes nie daar voorkom nie. Gevangenisbendes kom in dele van die Suid-Afrikaanse gevangenisstelsel voor en veral onder Swart en Kleurlingmans in maksimumsekuriteitsinrigtings. Ten einde materiaal vir kruiskulturele of kruisnasionale studies beskikbaar te stel, word die oorsprong van Suid-Afrikaanse nommerbendes nagespoor en hul strukture en funksies beskryf. Enkele vergelykings met Amerikaanse eweknieë word getref. Daar word tentatief tot die slotsom gekom dat die 'deprivasie' (funksionele) model van patrone van reaksie op gevangenisstraf (of die gevangenesubkultuur) te beperk is om die oorsprong van die bendes te verklaar en dat die 'importasiemodel' meer toepaslik is. Die geslote paradigma (funksionele) vertrekpunt mag bruikbaar wees om die instandhouding van bendes in gevangenisse te verklaar
Criminology · Geography · Prison · Sociology · Legal Issues in South Africa
Studies in the social and economic history of the Witwatersrand, 1886-1914
The Prison Community
Toward a More Inclusive Model of the Inmate Contraculture
The Society of Captives
Stateville
Street Gangs behind Bars
Thieves, Convicts and the Inmate Culture
The Importation Model Perspective on Inmate Social Roles
| Citations per year | 0.07 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 1999 - 2002 (4) |
| Highly cited | No |