Ann Goetting

Correlates of prisoner misconduct

Using a nationwide sample of 5586 state-prison inmates, relationships between the frequency of officially reported institutional misconduct (as reported by the inmates) and certain preinstitutional and institution-related inmate traits were examined. Findings indicate that rule-breaking behavior is associated with being young, black, and male, having a relatively high number of prior convictions, having been unemployed prior to incarceration, and having been imprisoned for a relatively long period of time. Furthermore, such misconduct shows no relationship to domestic status, educational achievement, alcohol and drug problems, military service, income level, current offense, interaction with family and friends outside of prison, hours spent outside of cell, and daily activity. Policy implications are addressed. Misconduct is considered within the broad context of interaction among inmate traits, prison-level characteristics, and extrainstitutional factors.

Patterns of Homicide Among Women

The population of 136 women arrested in Detroit, Michigan, for homicides committed during 1982 and 1983 is analyzed in the context of their killings. Analyses include demographic and social characteristics of offenders and victims, demographic and social relationships between offenders and victims, circumstances of offense, and arrest disposition. Where feasible, comparisons are made with sex-general populations of homicide offenders.

Homicidal Wives A Profile

The population of 56 women arrested in Detroit, Michigan, for killing their husbands during 1982 and 1983 is described in the context of their killings. Descriptions include the demographic and social characteristics of offenders and victims and the circumstances of the offenses. Where feasible, comparisons are made with general populations of homicide offenders.

The Elderly in Prison: Issues and Perspectives

The elderly prison inmate is described in terms of a personal profile, social-psychological effects of the prison environment, prison peer relationships and status hierarchy, participation in basic social institutions, and conformity to prison rules and parole. Additionally, results are reported of a recent survey conducted by the author on the existence or lack thereof of special policies, programs, and facilities for elderly inmates in United States prisons. Coverage of these topics is followed by a critique of research methods and recommendations for future research.

Divorce Outcome Research Issues and Perspectives

practical problems. (b) the consequences for social life and intimate relationships, and (c) health and safety. The effects of parental divorce On children are reviewed in terms of (a) cognitive performance and school success, (b) personality, (c) interpersonal relationships, (d) health, and (e) juvenile delinquency. Due to methodological limitations, little can be concluded concerning the long-term effects of divorce. These limitations are discussed and an alternative research design is proposed. It appears that marital discord more than marital structure is an important determinant Of the effects with which we are concerned.

Parental Satisfaction A Review of Research

Parental satisfaction in the United States has been largely ignored by social scientists. This article attempts to review, criticize, and integrate relevant materials into constructive insights and recommendations for researchers committed to explaining the subject, and for practitioners devoted to improving the institution of parenthood.

Patterns of Support Among In-Laws in the United States A Review of Research

Based on a review of research, this article outlines patterns of support associated with in-law relationships in the United States. The analysis is organized in a four-part framework. The first part is devoted to parental aid to married children and indirectly to their spouses. Part two focuses on help patterns directed specifically toward children-in-law. In part three attention shifts to in-law support in later life, and part four addresses the effects of marital dissolution on in-law support. The article concludes with a discussion of how various demographic factors may affect the nature of the in-law support structure.

The Elderly in Prison: A Profile

From a 1979 nationwide self-report survey of 11,397 inmates in state penal institutions, 248 of them aged 55 or older, a profile of elderly inmates based on comparisons with their younger counterparts has been constructed. Areas of analysis include: personal characteristics, current offense and sentence, probation and incarceration history, conformity to prison rules, prison recreation and work activities, and interaction withfamily members andfriends outside ofprison. Recommendations for future investigation are offered.

When parents kill their young children: Detroit 1982-1986

The population of 36 parents or parent figures arrested for killing their children or charges, who were under the age of 6 years in Detroit, Michigan, between 1982 and 1986, are described in the context of their deadly acts. This profile of parent-on-child homicide includes demographic and social characteristics of offenders and victims, circumstances of offense, andarrest and court dispositions.

Women in Prison: A Profile:

indicate that female arrest rates, gravity of offense, and convictions and incarcerations have exhibited greater percentage increases than have those associated with male offenders (lacovetta, 1975:129-130; Lewis, 1974:74). From 1974 to 1982, the proportion of female inmates increased from 3.5 percent to 4.4 percent of the total state and federal prison inmate population in the United States (U.S. Department of Justice, 1982:3). The number of women in prison grew by more than 2,000 to 17,649 during 1982, a 14 percent increase over the previous year (U.S. Department of Justice, 1982, 1983). In spite of these increases, the female prison inmate has continued to maintain a low profile in the criminal justice field and has been-referred toas &dquo;the forgotten offender&dquo; by those who wish tocall attention to her plight and to bring about change in her situation. Several explanations have been offered for the lack of interest in women inmates. Their crimes inconvenience society less than do those of men. Most women prisoners have not been involved with organized crime, with crime involving high losses of property, or with crimes that have endangered large numbers of people. Furthermore, women represent a small proportion of the total inmate population and draw comparatively little attention to themselves in terms of prison disruption and violence (Simon, 1975:64). The purpose of this paper is to describe women inmates in state prisons in the United States. This study provides a profile constructed from information on a random sample of inmates housed in state penal institutions in 1979 and includes information on personal characteristics; current offense and sentence, including parole hearings and anticipated release; probation and incarceration history; conformity to prison rules; prison recreation and work activities; and interaction with family members and friends outside of prison. Previous profiles of female inmates are more narrow in scope in terms of both the population studied and the variables analyzed (Texas Correction Department, 1971; Hendrix, 1972; Kratcoski and Scheurman, 1974; Lewis, 1974; Gattone, et. al., 1976; Foster, 1977; French, 1977; Glick and