| The current population of individuals incarcerated in the United States exceeds two million. Time spent in prison does not occur in a vacuum. Inmates' views of self, the situation, and others around them are likely to have a major impact on their imprisonment.;The goal of the current research was to investigate inmate relationship formation, assimilation into the inmate culture, and norms of the current inmate culture. Qualitative investigations were employed to examine and to gain a better understanding of these views. Data collection procedures consisted of open-ended, unstructured interviews with twenty inmates at a medium security prison in Ohio.;Analyses of interview transcriptions suggest that the inmate culture of this institution is built around trust and respect. The key factor in converting an acquaintanceship into a friendship was trust. Hierarchies, norms, and tips for easing one's sentence revolved around the presence or absence of respect accorded by other inmates.;Friendships among inmates provide needed emotional support, which prison staff cannot provide. Prison administrations are encouraged to distinguish between such beneficial friendships and harmful gang affiliations when attempting to regulate relationships among inmates. |
