Criminal Justice Practice Exam

What is defined as a constellation of values, norms, and roles that regulate inmate interactions?

1. Convict code

2. Deprivation model

3. Importation model

4. Civil code

The correct answer is: Convict code

The concept referred to as a constellation of values, norms, and roles that regulate inmate interactions is known as the convict code. This unwritten set of rules influences the behavior and social dynamics among inmates within correctional facilities. The convict code encompasses specific expectations surrounding loyalty, respect, and appropriate conduct between inmates, often dictating relationships and hierarchies within the prison environment. The convict code serves to maintain a social order among inmates, establishing boundaries for interactions and guiding them in navigating the complex prison culture. It plays a crucial role in how inmates communicate, ally, and confront each other, reinforcing the idea of solidarity against external systems. In contrast, the deprivation model and the importation model provide frameworks for understanding inmate behavior and prison life but do not specifically denote a code of conduct among inmates themselves. The deprivation model focuses on how the loss of freedom and amenities affects inmate behavior, while the importation model emphasizes how inmates bring their backgrounds and experiences into the prison setting, which influences their interactions. The civil code, typically related to legal frameworks governing rights and obligations in society, does not pertain to the norms specific to inmate interactions within a correctional facility.