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Prison Gangs

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  • Freire, Danilo

    (Brown University)

Abstract

Although widely seen as unruly and predatory, prison gangs operate as quasi-governments in many American correctional facilities. Inmate groups enforce property rights, regulate illicit markets, and promote cooperation when the state is unable or unwilling to act. Prison gangs are relatively new to the United States, and are best understood as unintended consequences of recent shifts in inmate demographics and the gradual erosion of the convict code. The impact of prison gangs on street-level criminal activities and directions for further research are also discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Freire, Danilo, 2017. "Prison Gangs," SocArXiv kuqqx, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:socarx:kuqqx
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/kuqqx
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    References listed on IDEAS

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