In hierdie studie word die ses Suid-Afrikaanse gevangenisbendes vergelyk met vyftien bendes uit oorsese lande of streke, tw. Amerika, Sentraal- en Suid Amerika, Kanada, Nieu Zeeland en Brittanje. As basis van vergelyking dien hul Oorsprong, Ontstaansdoel, Geslags- en Etniese samestelling, Eienskappe, Gesagstruktuur, Uitkenningstekens en Metodes van kommunikasie. Die verskillende bendes word ook vanuit Penologiese oogpunt beoordeel. `n Spesiale hoofstuk word gewy aan die uniekheid van die sogenaamde "Nommerbendes", tw. die 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 en 23 bendes. Verskeie aspekte soos die ontstaan, rituele en geheimhouding word volledig onder die soeklig geplaas. In die bespreking van die Nommerbendes word `n groot verskeidenheid geheime inligting vir die eerste maal geopenbaar. Die studie word afgesluit met enkele aanduidings van terreine wat roep om verdere navorsing. `n Vyftal bylaes dien om sekere aspekte van die navorsing en gevangenislewe verder toe te lig. / In this study the six South African prison gangs are compared to fifteen prison gangs from foreign countries, namely America, Central and South America, Canada, New Zealand and Britain. The comparison is based on their Origin, Original aim, Gender and Ethnic make-up, Characteristics, Authoritative structure, Gang identifiet·s and Methods of communication. The different gangs are then evaluated from Penological viewpoint A chapter is specially dedicated to the uniqueness of the so-called "Number Gangs", i.e. 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 and 23 gangs. Difierent aspects, such as their common origin, rituals and secrecy, are carefully described. In the discussion of the different Number gangs a large variety of secret information is exposed for the first time ever. The study concludes with some indicators for possible further research. Five Addenda serve to elucidate certain aspects of the contents. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

In 2003, Congress passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act to address the problem of sexual violence in prison. Although research has shed light on the prevalence and incidence of sexual violence in U.S. prisons, few studies examine inmates’ perceptions of rape and safety from rape in prison. This study examined rape perceptions and the likelihood to seek mental health treatment in prison of three distinct groups of male inmates who are at greater risk of sexual victimization or exposure to sexual violence while incarcerated: gay and bisexual inmates, inmates with a juvenile incarceration history, and inmates who were first incarcerated in the adult criminal justice system during adolescence or emerging adulthood. This study examined the relationships between sexual orientation and inmates’ perceptions of the threat of rape and seeking of mental health treatment in prison. Data from 409 incarcerated men residing in 23 maximum security correctional institutions revealed that gay and bisexual inmates were significantly more likely than straight inmates to fear the threat of rape and to voluntarily request mental health treatment in prison. Incarcerated men with a history of childhood abuse were significantly more likely than inmates without an abuse history to fear the threat of rape. Having a history of childhood sexual abuse, identifying as black, and being incarcerated for longer than 18 years also significantly predicted increased likelihood to voluntarily request mental health treatment in prison. Implications for practice and policy are discussed. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

In hierdie studie word die ses Suid-Afrikaanse gevangenisbendes vergelyk met vyftien bendes uit oorsese lande of streke, tw. Amerika, Sentraal- en Suid Amerika, Kanada, Nieu Zeeland en Brittanje. As basis van vergelyking dien hul Oorsprong, Ontstaansdoel, Geslags- en Etniese samestelling, Eienskappe, Gesagstruktuur, Uitkenningstekens en Metodes van kommunikasie. Die verskillende bendes word ook vanuit Penologiese oogpunt beoordeel. `n Spesiale hoofstuk word gewy aan die uniekheid van die sogenaamde "Nommerbendes", tw. die 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 en 23 bendes. Verskeie aspekte soos die ontstaan, rituele en geheimhouding word volledig onder die soeklig geplaas. In die bespreking van die Nommerbendes word `n groot verskeidenheid geheime inligting vir die eerste maal geopenbaar. Die studie word afgesluit met enkele aanduidings van terreine wat roep om verdere navorsing. `n Vyftal bylaes dien om sekere aspekte van die navorsing en gevangenislewe verder toe te lig. / In this study the six South African prison gangs are compared to fifteen prison gangs from foreign countries, namely America, Central and South America, Canada, New Zealand and Britain. The comparison is based on their Origin, Original aim, Gender and Ethnic make-up, Characteristics, Authoritative structure, Gang identifiet·s and Methods of communication. The different gangs are then evaluated from Penological viewpoint A chapter is specially dedicated to the uniqueness of the so-called "Number Gangs", i.e. 28, 27, 26, 25, 24 and 23 gangs. Difierent aspects, such as their common origin, rituals and secrecy, are carefully described. In the discussion of the different Number gangs a large variety of secret information is exposed for the first time ever. The study concludes with some indicators for possible further research. Five Addenda serve to elucidate certain aspects of the contents. / Penology / M.A. (Penology)

L’étude qui nous concerne vise à mieux comprendre la violence en milieu carcéral. C’est à l’aide d’entrevues menées auprès de treize hommes incarcérés à l’Unité spéciale de détention, une unité canadienne spécifiquement conçue pour loger des personnes qui ont fait usage de violence intra murale ou sont soupçonné de l’avoir fait, que nous avons tenté d’atteindre l’objectif principal de ce projet. Plus spécifiquement, le point de vue des participants a été recueilli sur l’incarcération, sur les moyens utilisés afin de s’accoutumer aux défis de l’enfermement ainsi que la manière dont les individus justifient l’usage de violence dans ce contexte. Les résultats de nos analyses suggèrent que le milieu carcéral est un monde hostile et imprévisible où les individus se perçoivent constamment vulnérables à de multiples formes d’agression. Placés en hyper vigilance et orientés vers la survie, les détenus font usage de diverses stratégies d’adaptation afin de répondre aux situations difficiles qu’ils rencontrent en contexte de perte de liberté. La violence représente donc un des moyens dont disposent les individus pour survivre à l’intérieur des murs. Les diverses formes d’adaptation violente rencontrées en milieu carcéral peuvent ainsi informer sur les enjeux de survie présents dans un milieu et donc, du risque de violence ou de victimisation dans ce milieu, que cette violence soit interpersonnelle, collective, auto dirigée, axée sur la fuite ou contre les biens. Puisque l’usage de violence par une personne engendre une possibilité accrue de choisir la violence pour une autre, et ce, avec les conséquences qui s’en suivent pour les détenus et les membres du personnel, nous avons tenté d’identifier et de comprendre les diverses logiques d’action qui motivent le choix d’avoir recours à la violence dans les institutions carcérales. Or, il appert que certaines caractéristiques des individus tendent à faire augmenter le risque pour une personne d’avoir recours à la violence carcérale. De même, il semble que certaines institutions sont davantage propices à l’usage de violence que d’autres. De surcroît, des éléments appartenant aux individus et au milieu en interrelation semblent favoriser la possibilité qu’un condamné fasse usage de violence intra murale. Ainsi, le recours à la violence est davantage probable si elle est légitimée par les individus et le milieu, si le niveau d’adhésion aux valeurs des sous-cultures délinquantes des individus est élevé et si la philosophie du milieu en favorise le maintien, si des groupes influents en quête de contrôle et de pouvoir sont présents dans le milieu et qu’un individu désire y être affilié, s’il y a présence de marchés illicites comme réponse à la privation et qu’un individu y participe ou encore, si le milieu et l’individu sont pris dans l’engrenage d’un climat de survie. Par conséquent, une réflexion concernant le sentiment de sécurité préoccupant les reclus, sentiment qui est un besoin fondamental chez tous les êtres humains, un retour sur les divers modèles théoriques en fonction des données que nous avons obtenues ainsi qu’une réflexion portant sur les moyens dont disposent les individus et le milieu afin de diminuer les possibilités que la violence soit utilisée, ont été amorcées en conclusion. / The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of prison violence. To meet this goal, thirteen men were interviewed at the Special Handling Unit, a Canadian unit specifically designed to accommodate the security needs of individuals who have previously used, or are suspected of having used, serious acts of violence within a correctional setting. More precisely, the point of view of these men was collected regarding general prison life, the means they use in order to adapt to imprisonment as well as the way they justify the use of violence in this environment. The results of this research project suggest that prisons are hostile and unpredictable environments. Incarcerated individuals perceive a constant threat of violence to themselves. In a constant state of alert to survive, inmates use different strategies to deal with the difficult situations they encounter within the prison walls. Violence is only one of the means used by inmates to adapt to their environment and has many different forms such as interpersonal violence, collective violence, self-directed violence, escapism or destruction. Such violent acts may serve as signs that violence and victimization are taking place in an environment. Since the violent conduct of an individual tends to increase the risk of using violence for another, with the subsequent consequences to inmates and correctional personnel, we attempted to comprehend the different logics that support violent action within prisons. As such, it appears that certain individual traits tend to increase the likelihood that a person will resort to violence as a solution. The data also suggests that violence is a more common response in some institutions rather than in others. Furthermore, this study has found relationships between individual and prison environmental characteristics that tend to highly increase the possibility that an inmate will choose violence. More precisely, it is more probable that violence will be used by a person: if it is legitimized by that individual as well as the environment; if the individual’s level of compliance to the values of delinquent subcultures is high and these subcultures are supported by the philosophy of the environment where he is placed; if influential groups seeking power and control are present within the institution and the individual wishes to associate with such groups; if illicit markets were created in the prison as a response to deprivation and the inmate has involvement in such markets; and if both the individual and the environment are in a state of helplessness due to their focus on survival. In conclusion, a reflection concerning the inmate’s need for safety, which is a common basic need for all human beings, an overview of the data obtained in this project pertaining to theoretical models offered by past literature on prison violence as well as thoughts on strategies available to inmates and prisons to limit the risk of violence being used are presented.

Prison gangs are currently rife in South African correctional centres. Correctional officers and fellow offenders are frequently attacked by gang members, facilities are damaged and inmates are injured or killed in fights or during fires in correctional centres. Severe gang violence occurred at the Polls moor and Rustenburg correctional facilities at the end of 2016 and inexperienced correctional officers lacked the expertise to suppress the violence. This state of affairs necessitates further study into the management of prison gangs. Given the above background, this study aimed to examine how correctional facilities can suppress gang activity. The study provides an overview of the history of gangs in South Africa and shows how community gangs spread to prisons. This is followed by a meticulous documentation of the different elements of gang culture by means of observation in an effort to arm future correctional officers with knowledge regarding gangs. The findings of the observation revealed that gangs each have a unique way of greeting, using hand gestures, tattoos and verbal greetings. These communicative acts can be used as part of a strategy to prevent new offenders from becoming involved in gang activity. The observational research was confirmed by means of qualitative research. The experiences of gang members were examined by means of questionnaires to better understand the dynamic. The qualitative study was conducted at four correctional facilities, namely a maximum, medium A and medium B facility and a town youth facility. These different facilities ensured that all age groups were represented. Questionnaires were distributed to offenders who voluntarily consented to participating in the research. The literature study showed that South Africa has good legislature and policies in place, but that they have to be implemented more strictly and that the correctional officers have to be empowered by an increase in human resources and funding. In addition to capacity building, the strategic framework presented as part of the study suggests that supervision of gang members should be sharpened by for instance reconsidering the lay-out of correctional facilities. Gang members should be involved in rehabilitation programmes, which are frequently available, but not implemented. Correctional officers should be trained to manage gang members and legislation and policies should be revised frequently, as criminals tend to adjust their modus operandi continuously. The suggested framework can be of great value to the Department of Correctional Services, as managing gang activity in correctional centres can greatly change the efforts of the department to rehabilitate offenders. / Corrections Management / M. Tech. (Correctional Services Management)