Federal prisons across the U.S. are in lockdown. The reason? Two inmates were killed, and two were injured during a fight involving members of the notorious street gang MS-13 at the federal prison in Beaumont, Texas. United States Prison (USP) Beaumont is just one of the 122 federal prisons in the U.S. In total, there are over 153,000 inmates in U.S. federal prisons. The concern that sparked the lockdown was the possibility of retaliation for the deaths by other factions of MS-13 located in federal prisons across the country. This lockdown crisis offers us an opening into the topic of total institutions, an isolated group whose goal is to control every aspect of its members’ lives.
Prisons are a type of total institution. Other examples include boarding schools and military boot camps. These institutions work to transform the individual through the process of resocialization, an identity transformation in which social norms and roles are altered or replaced. Resocialization is different from socialization, the process by which one learns the appropriate attitudes and behaviors within a culture.
In prisons, the resocialization process includes molding the inmate to conform to the ways of the institution. This involves losing access to personal belongings, being required to wear a uniform, and being assigned a number. Additional resocialization measures include determining where you will live, what time you wake up and go to sleep, and what time you eat meals. A degradation ceremony, an event, ceremony, or rite of passage used to break down people and make them more accepting of a total institution, is a common occurrence in total intuitions. In prison, the strip search qualifies as a degradation ceremony.
Some people may try to prepare for their experience in a total institution with anticipatory socialization, the process of learning different behaviors or activities in an effort to aspire to group membership. For high-profile or wealthy prison inmates, this may include hiring a “prison consultant” to teach them the ins and outs of prison life. People entering military boot camps may try to prepare themselves ahead of time by developing their mental and physical stamina.
The focus of total institutions varies widely. Prisons are designed for punishment and, ideally, rehabilitation. By contrast, boarding schools are about education, making social connections, and preparation for the future. Regardless of the institution’s goals, there are some features they have in common. First, they include types of peer groups, social groups consisting of members with common interests, social rank, and similar ages. Whether it be posh kids in private boarding schools or MS-13 gang members in federal prison, groups tend to form when people with common interests and social positions come together.
Next, rites of passage are common among members of total institutions. These include a ceremony or ritual used to mark a change in age or social status. Students at a boarding school might have some type of initiation as their rite of passage. For gang members, this might include participating in a brawl like the one that spurred the lockdown.
Lastly, the process of learning from one another in a social context as a result of observation and imitation can be found in all total institutions. Commonly referred to as social learning theory, it helps explain why inmates, students, and military personnel alike learn attitudes, values, and behaviors from those around them.
Total intuitions play a key role in society. Ideally, their resocialization process helps prepare people for the future. With the military, participants can potentially have a long, distinguished career. Boarding school graduates may make connections that propel them to the “right” college and “right” career. Sadly, only time will tell what the future holds for those involved in the ongoing prison lockdown.
Thompson is a co-owner of UITAC Publishing. UITAC’s mission is to provide high-quality, affordable, and socially responsible online course materials.
Images used in this blog:
- “Guard tower” by kabbagesaver is licensed on Pixabay. This image has not been altered.
- “A Person in Orange Shirt with Tattooed Arms” by RDNE Stock project is licensed on Pexels. This image has not been altered.
- “WAYLAND ACADEMY, BEAVER DAM WISCONSIN” by Downspec is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This image has not been altered.
