Criminal Justice Practice Exam

What theory states that the inmate society arises as a response to the prison environment and painful conditions of confinement?

1. Importation model

2. Tribunal model

3. Crime control model

4. Deprivation model

The correct answer is: Deprivation model

The deprivation model explains that inmate society develops as a reaction to the painful and isolating conditions found within the prison environment. This theory posits that the challenges of confinement—such as loss of freedom, social interaction, and amenities—create a unique social structure among inmates. As a means of coping with these adversities, inmates form their own subcultures, norms, and values that help them navigate prison life. By focusing on how incarceration affects individuals, the deprivation model highlights that inmates are influenced by their environment and the restrictions they face, leading to the creation of distinct social dynamics that differ from those in the outside world. This contrasts with theories such as the importation model, which suggests that inmates bring in their pre-existing social structures and backgrounds into the prison setting rather than forming new ones in response to confinement.