THE ORIGINS OF PRISON SUBCULTURE

Abstract

“Criminal subculture” is an antisocial, instigating phenomenon that not only differs from, but also opposes the general culture, the dominant values. It is obvious that this subculture is the result of criminal and antisocial activity, which survives and is preserved in the criminal environment from generation to generation, it is one of the most serious obstacles to the implementation of the goals of punishment in penitentiary institutions, with its specific value orientations, norms and rules of behavior, and informal stable bonds of offenders. The nature of the prison subculture is conditioned by the specifics of the type of punishment of imprisonment: the forced isolation of people, their inclusion in same-sex groups, and strict regulation of behavior in all spheres of life. The criminal subculture undermines the legal and moral foundations of society, significantly hinders the activities of law enforcement agencies, and keeps society in an atmosphere of fear and terror.

Knowledge of the specifics of the criminal world and the standards of behavior of convicts can help neutralize or reduce the influence of prison subculture, which will allow the administration of penitentiary institutions to clearly, timely, and objectively analyze the pre-criminal situations prevailing in places of imprisonment, monitor them, and take measures to prevent them. One of the necessary conditions for neutralizing or limiting the negative impact of the criminal subculture is the introduction of more humane institutions in the penal legislation. The transition from punitive, restrictive and non-personal means of influence of the penal system to more humane methods towards offenders implies the development of re-socialization programs with serious substantive changes.