Because there continues to be an “eclipse” in the prison ethnography since incarceration rates began to rise in the late 1970s (Wacquant, 2002), more research on people’s social relations during and post incarceration is needed to understand the psychological and broader social impact of dehumanizing prison conditions. As social beings, human identity cannot be understood as distinct from the social world. Psychological and sociological theories on the development of identity stress how societal moral authority is continuously balanced against personal desire in governing a person’s actions and how they view themselves. A person’s identity is constantly being reshaped throughout their lives, as their interactions with their external environment define how they perceive themselves and find meaning in their lives (Freud, Mead, Durkheim, etc.). For this reason, it is critical to examine the dynamics of people’s social environments when trying to understand human development behind bars. In the era of mass incarceration where millions of people are being imprisoned each year (Prison Policy Initiative, 2015), it is crucial to understand how the prison environment can reshape how people view themselves and how they relate to others. We have begun to investigate the social impact that incarceration has on pre-existing relationships, relationships developed in prison, and post-incarceration relationships. Of particular interest is a person’s capacity to develop and sustain healthy coping skills and relationships within prison and to navigate various social obligations post-incarceration.
Project Overview
From the Inside Out is an action-research-based multidisciplinary project integrating research and strategic, artistic, public programming to advocate for humane treatment, humanizing language, and representative imagery and depictions of people in prison. The project aims to decrease punitive triggers in the criminal legal system as well as improve and preserve the social quality of people impacted by this system through changing negative narratives of the presently and formerly incarcerated.
The primary goal of From the Inside Out is to collaboratively deconstruct degrading and inaccurate narratives by showcasing the true lived experiences of directly impacted people. By providing a platform for impacted individuals to express themselves, we hope to dispel misrepresentations and reframe the conversations surrounding people in prison and our present carceral state. If the public is better able to understand the malpractices of the prison system and view the incarcerated as people rather than criminals, these individuals will have an easier time reentering society and working towards personal development. If the public is informed of and better understands malpractices of the prison system, they are more likely to view the incarcerated as persons rather than criminals. This will facilitate their reentry into society, as well as their efforts at personal development.
The primary goal of From the Inside Out is to collaboratively deconstruct degrading and inaccurate narratives by showcasing the true lived experiences of directly impacted people. By providing a platform for impacted individuals to express themselves, we hope to dispel misrepresentations and reframe the conversations surrounding people in prison and our present carceral state. If the public is better able to understand the malpractices of the prison system and view the incarcerated as people rather than criminals, these individuals will have an easier time reentering society and working towards personal development. If the public is informed of and better understands malpractices of the prison system, they are more likely to view the incarcerated as persons rather than criminals. This will facilitate their reentry into society, as well as their efforts at personal development.
EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
Through empirical studies and the artistic dissemination of their results in publications, through public outreach campaigns and art-based programming, and through media this project aims to produce and exhibit evidence about the detrimental effects of dehumanizing language and misrepresentations of people in jail/prison in three different contexts: public opinion, judicial context, and prison settings. In so doing, this project ultimately aims to sensitize public opinion and criminal justice professionals about the negative consequences that dehumanizing labeling and misperceptions have on the lives of those who are or have been impacted by incarceration.
The research conducted in this project is divided into two parts. First, a statistical analysis of whether negative and dehumanizing stigma attached to the language used to describe people in prison (Language of Dehumanization Project). Second, an investigation into what role prison has on social relationships and experiences (Social Dynamics of Incarceration).
PART 1
The research conducted in this project is divided into two parts. First, a statistical analysis of whether negative and dehumanizing stigma attached to the language used to describe people in prison (Language of Dehumanization Project). Second, an investigation into what role prison has on social relationships and experiences (Social Dynamics of Incarceration).
PART 1
- Label Impact Study: The study evolved from a body of research which identifies that people in prison are widely perceived as dangerous and manipulative and are therefore dehumanized by way of severe neglect in the form of moral exclusions and disengagement by prison guards and other staff (Haslam, 2006; Blackler, 2015; Gullapalli, 2015). Despite this accumulated knowledge of abuses in a prison context, mistreatment continues to occur. The study hypothesized that widespread dehumanization of the prison population through the language used to describe people in prison and the stigma this language carries could be one reason why a large proportion of society remains silent in the face of mistreatment of people in prison.
- Television Research: This research demonstrates a sense of the urgency to facilitate discourse around dehumanizing labels and stereotypical representation of people in the criminal justice system and to understand how the general public forms perceptions of different groups of people based on the common labels used to reference them.
- (De)humanizing Language in the Courtroom: This study aims to examine the impact of dehumanizing language on punitive attitudes both in lay people and legal experts and to assess whether specific linguistic choices that are commonly used in courtrooms (at the sentencing stage) to describe people who are on trial influence the perception of these people and, consequently, the emotional and punitive attitudes towards them.
PART 2
Due to the serious threat that COVID-19 poses to the health and safety of millions of people behind bars, activists and advocates have been pushing for the decarceration of jails and prisons. Despite these efforts and striking data on the severity of the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons, little action has been taken by policy makers and government officials to reduce the crowding of jails and prisons. We aim to identify obstacles to efforts of decarceration by exploring community perceptions of punishment and release. To address these aims, we have created a survey that examines how people’s past experiences of victimization and neighborhood crime rates influence people’s views on punishment and release. By examining the relationship between exposure to crime and perceptions on punishment and release, we hope to better understand the root of public resistance to efforts of decarceration.
- Because people in prison are isolated from free society, are geographically distanced and may be emotionally distanced from family as a result of their incarceration, considering peer relationships that are formed within prison is a critical part of understanding what social support means for people in prison. This study will investigate questions such as: (1) what impact does prison have on social relationships? How does it have this impact? (2) do the rules and regulations for people in prison within NYS prisons impede healthy relationships for people serving time? And if so, how? (3) does the social environment of NYS prisons impact how people feel about their personal role in society (during sentence and post-incarceration)? And if so, how?
Summer 2020: Continuing SDP Study
Moving forward, we intend to statistically analyze the Psychological Wellbeing Scale that participants filled out during the SDP study prior to being interviewed, to examine the relationship between levels of psychological well-being and other factors, including time since release, employment status, marriage status and time incarcerated. We also hope to conduct further qualitative analyses on how incarceration impacts familial relationships, and to explore how relationships with correctional officers impact relationships between incarcerated people. Lauren also plans to write up an article for publication on social interaction as a process for identity formation behind bars.
Due to the serious threat that COVID-19 poses to the health and safety of millions of people behind bars, activists and advocates have been pushing for the decarceration of jails and prisons. Despite these efforts and striking data on the severity of the spread of COVID-19 in jails and prisons, little action has been taken by policy makers and government officials to reduce the crowding of jails and prisons. We aim to identify obstacles to efforts of decarceration by exploring community perceptions of punishment and release. To address these aims, we have created a survey that examines how people’s past experiences of victimization and neighborhood crime rates influence people’s views on punishment and release. By examining the relationship between exposure to crime and perceptions on punishment and release, we hope to better understand the root of public resistance to efforts of decarceration.
|
|
|
strategic engagment
Our efforts towards ending the crisis of mass incarceration in this country, have been to utilize strategic arts engagement as a primary means of advocacy and creating change. Since 2016, the From the Inside Out project has conducted research at the Center for Justice at Columbia University exploring dehumanization to inform the development of artistic public programming and policy proposals that will be presented to stake . As people who are directly impacted by the criminal justice system, we aim to reframe the negative dehumanizing narratives of individuals, such as myself, with justice system involvement.
The Power of Language to Incarcerate conference, which took place in 2019 explored the different ways that language is used as a tool for injustice. This included: labeling, language exclusion, and language marginalization.
The Power of Language to Incarcerate conference, which took place in 2019 explored the different ways that language is used as a tool for injustice. This included: labeling, language exclusion, and language marginalization.
