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Deviant Behavior
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Values, Rules, and Keeping the Peace: How Men Describe Order and the
Inmate Code in California Prisons
Rebecca Trammell a
a
University of Nebraska, Omaha School of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
To cite this Article Trammell, Rebecca(2009) 'Values, Rules, and Keeping the Peace: How Men Describe Order and the
Inmate Code in California Prisons', Deviant Behavior, 30: 8, 746 771
To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/01639620902854662
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01639620902854662
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Deviant Behavior, 30: 746771, 2009
Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
ISSN: 0163-9625 print=1521-0456 online
DOI: 10.1080/01639620902854662
Rebecca Trammell
University of Nebraska, Omaha School of
Criminology & Criminal Justice, Omaha,
Nebraska, USA
For this article, I use interview data to examine
how former male inmates describe how and why
they follow the inmate code. Previous work shows
that convicts use the code to structure and define
informal rules (Bronson 2006). I attempt to explore
this issue from the other direction. I focus on how
inmates describe informal rules and how the code
may or may not fit into these rules. As Howard
Becker (1963) points out, people in any society
form groups and subcultures who create their own
set of rules and norms. The men in my study
describe leaders, called shot-callers, who focus on
illegal businesses such as the drug trade. They use
violence to control their own gangs in order to
reduce the chance of riots. In short, they value
peace and profit. This differs from previous work
that focuses on the inmate identity and how
convicts value the code. The men in my study
value safety and the underground economy as well
as maintaining a solid convict identity.
746
Values, Rules, and Keeping the Peace 747
INTRODUCTION
Scholars describe prison culture and how prisoners create an
inmate code (Cloward 1960; Irwin and Cressey 1962;
Jacobs 1977; Ohlin 1956; Sykes and Messinger 1960; Terry
1997). As defined by Bronson (2006), The code represents
an organization of criminal values in clearcut opposition to
the values of conventional society, and to prison officials
as representatives of that society (62). Prisoners create
and reinforce these norms as a way to defy the goals of the
institution and categorize other inmates. Those who use
the code identify as convicts while those who do not are
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society form groups and subcultures who create their own set
of rules and norms. He outlines how personal values guide
behavior:
how the code may or may not fit into these rules. Previous
research focuses on the inmate code as a set of values that
help control inmate behavior. However, as Becker points
out, this is problematic because the reality of daily life may
influence behavior in a way that does not coincide with
personal values (Becker 1963).
There may very well be an inmate code; however, there
may simply be norms that coincide with the code whereas
others do not. It seems problematic to label prisoners as
inmates or convicts without exploring exactly what the pris-
oner values. Moreover, previous scholars focus how convicts
identify with the ideology of the code (Terry 1997). How-
ever, prisoners may pick and choose their actions based on
factors such as gang affiliation, the underground economy
and loyalty to friends and gang leaders. To be sure, prison
changed drastically since Sykes and Messinger (1960; Sykes
1958) first discussed the inmate code. American prisons now
hold ten times more inmates than they did in 1974 and this
incarceration trend is unprecedented in the history of the
United States (Parenti 1999; Pollock 2004; Wacquant
2001). This being said, I seek to examine how current
inmates describe the inmate code.
For this article, I interviewed former male inmates (n 40)
and six correctional officers living in California and allowed
them to describe current prison norms and how inmates rein-
force these norms. I specifically examined how rules are tied
to the underground economy and the inmate code. Intervie-
wees described leaders, called shot-callers, who control ille-
gal businesses such as the drug trade. They use violence to
control their own gangs in order to reduce the chance of
Values, Rules, and Keeping the Peace 749
Robbery
Pedro 32 Hispanic Grand Theft Auto, Drug 2 Years
Possession
Jimmy 33 White Drug Possession, Parole 3 Years
Violation
Mike 36 White Drug Possession and 16 Mts
burglary
Justin 40 White Parole Violation 9 Mts
Carl 38 White Drug Possession, Assault, 4 Years
Robbery
Jessie 30 White Assault With A Deadly 5 Years
Weapon, Sexual Battery
And Robbery
Jake 45 Black Robbery, Drugs 13 Years
Vincent 32 White Drunk Driving, Absconding 1 Year
Antonio 24 Hispanic Robbery and Grand Theft 8 Years
Auto
Jack 28 Hispanic Robbery and Assault 6 Years
Myles 46 Hispanic Robbery and Assault 5 Years
Richard 29 White Robbery, Rape OneAdult 10 Years
Pat 33 White Assault, Attempted Murder 10 Years
Tim 37 White GTA, Sexual Assault, Car 15 Years
Jacking
Bruce 29 White Assault, Sexual Assault 11 Years
Josh 30 White Robbery 8 Years
Ben 40 Hispanic Robbery 5 Years
Chris 35 Hispanic Drug Trafficking and 9 Years
Attempted Murder
Kelly 35 Hispanic Manslaughter 15 Years
Kirk 29 White Parole Violation, Assault 2 Years
Mac 42 Black Drugs, Assault, Attempted 6 Years
Murder
(Continued )
754 R. Trammell
TABLE 1 Continued
Pseudonym Age Race Offenses Time served
The boys inside, they follow the rules and that means you
work with your own boys and do what they say. Look, there
is a lot of problems caused by the gangs, no doubt. The thing
is, they solve problems too. You want a structure and you
want someone to organize the businesses so the gangs have
their rules. You dont run up a drug debt, you dont start a
fight in the yard and stuff. Gangs are a problem but we took
care of business. There is a code of silence, you dont talk
about all the stuff with others, the cops split up gangs if
theres a big problem so we keep to ourselves and mind
our own business. (Jack)
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Both men describe the code as a set of rules that help regu-
late inmate behavior. In accordance with the code, men
toughen up, refuse to snitch, and follow the rules set up by
gang leaders. Hard time means having a difficult time in
prison and those doing solid time are following the rules
and avoiding problems. Jack explained that gangs organize
business by making rules. Interviewees who were not in a
gang told me that they also follow the code:
You learn the code and you stick by the code. I thought that
most of the stuff, especially about race and stuff, its stupid. I
just want to do my time and get out. Thats easier said than
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done, you have to follow the code even if you know its
stupid. (Donald)
There are so many rules about who goes first in line for meals
and who gets the TV first. If you follow all these rules, you
end up doing easy time. I was a con which means I follow
the code so you have to know the rules and you have to teach
the new guys how to be a con and follow the rules. (Carl)
The races dont officially mix. Thats true but you can buy
drugs from whoever and the leaders control that stuff. Ive
had a cigarette with some white guys and the Mexicans,
the Southerners are mostly good guys, their leaders are, well
some of them are flexible with their boys. Its not as cut and
dry as you think. (James)
The white guys just started the skin-head shit. You know, the
white power stuff. Its all about power now, whos got it and
who doesnt. (Correctional Officer Wesley)
dramatic.
Question: Is it a real consensus or does one guy, the shot-
caller, decide?
Mike: Um, its a consensus but the shot-caller is the main
decision maker. You know, hell talk to everyone
but hes really getting them to see things his way
and he gets final say and shit.
Question: What if the shot-caller decides they fight?
Mike: Then they fight. You can tell that something is going
to happen, people start getting into position and
getting ready for the fight and so its all about tim-
ing. And the fights and stuff, it didnt happen like
I thought. I thought wed be fighting all the time
and stuff. Thats not true. We fought but it was
not all the time. I think I had maybe three or four
real fights. The leaders, they control most of the
problems and keep the peace. Its not like they
show on TV, we dont fight hardly ever. We control
the yard and keep the boys in check. (Carlos)
the cell. We slug it out and get things taken care of. I probably
had seven or eight fights in prison. (Marty)
Im not listening to the cops. Screw those guys. One guy tells
me to clean up the TV room after some NLR pricks are in
there. I tell him thats not my job and Im PENI so no way
Im cleaning up after them. He threatens me with a 115 or
worse and I just laugh, what the hell is he going to do to
me? (Josh)
Well, we dont fight in a riot and stuff unless we have to, its
too dangerous. Well go into lockdown which sucks and peo-
ple get killed and stuff. If Im locked down, then Im not work-
ing. You can make some serious bank in prison and
shot-callers hate it when youre in lockdown. And Ive seen
lockdown happen for eight, nine months. We all go crazy
after a while, no one wants that. (Marty)
The gangs cant sell their stuff, drugs and stuff. They dont
want a lockdown, thats true. I was in a lockdown for two
months once. Leaders get pissed if theres a lockdown and
we dont get yard time, I hated it. I was in a serious riot once
and it went on for twenty minutes or so. As soon as we
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These men explained that people get hurt in riots. Also, a riot
is hard to stop, even by the inmates. Therefore, it is easier to
work with leaders to control the violence. This means using
cell-fights to prevent riots or apologizing for disrespecting
other inmates. This is interesting for several reasons. First,
men describe an informal way to avoid serious violence. To
be sure, two men fighting in cell is dangerous. However, this
is a way for men to take care of the daily problems. All too
often, men in prison fight over minor disagreements. Some-
one disrespects someone else or someone steals property
and if they rioted over all of these issues, there would be
chaos. These men want structure and control over their lives.
However, they do not discuss the formal rules and regula-
tions. Nor do they discuss reporting problems to the prison staff.
The inmate code forces them to work outside the formal system
to take care of these problems. The shot-caller is especially
important as a leader and decision maker. They posit the
shot-caller as a negotiator. They often force men to apologize
or make them take it to the cell. This also means using violence
to control others. Anthony tells me how he had to turn over
one of his own men to a rival gang in order to avoid a riot:
Pretty much the cops know who to talk to. Are your people
calmed down now? Are they going to be good? You know,
and then theyll be like okay, yeah, we will and a lot of times
theyll just say yeah, and then theyll go at it again. Just so that
cops can let them out. (Pedro)
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Mac: The problem is that the incident, its not even a real
fight is now going to turn the blacks against the
Mexicans. Theres going to be big trouble, a riot
or something so they cant have that. So two days
later, the blacks come after me. Three guys sucker
punched me and knocked me down and beat me
down.
Question: Were you hurt?
Mac: Broke three fingers and my nose, I thought I might
lose an eye cuz I couldnt see anything when it
started but it was just blood and stuff in my eyes.
They had to do it, it was for the greater good, so
to speak.
Question: Why?
Mac: If they didnt do it then theres trouble between the
blacks and the Mexicans. I cant have that over my
head. I mean [laughs] am I glad I got my ass beat?
No. But it probably saved lives or at the very least,
stopped a lockdown. They had to show the Mexi-
cans that the problem is solved and that I learned a
lesson.
766 R. Trammell
When I first got to prison, I said some shit to this white guy
and the next thing I know, Im told to make it right with
him. I have to man up and take care of my shit. At first I
thought, you gotta be kidding me. No way am I going to tell
this guy that Im sorry. Then they told me that I have no
choice. Thats the rule, you do what youre told. They made
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REFERENCES
Akers, Ronald L., Norman S. Hayner, and Werner Gruninger. 1977.
Prisonization in Five Countries: Type of Prison and Inmate Character-
istics. Criminology 14(4):527554.
Becker, Howard S. 1963. Outsiders: Studies in the Sociology of
Deviance. New York: The Free Press.
Bronson, Eric. 2006. Medium Security Prisons and Inmate Subcultures:
The Normal Prison. The Southwest Journal of Criminal Justice
3(2):6186.
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 2003. California
Code of Regulations: Title 15, Crime Prevention and Corrections.
Sacramento.
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