Selective Rule Enforcement on Prison Units and Individual Misconduct: A Multilevel Study

Crime & Delinquency, vol. 71, pp. 1079–1101

Abstract

This study examined how selective rule enforcement on prison units is related to individual misconduct. Selective rule enforcement was operationalized as the unit-level discrepancy between self- and officially reported misconduct. Both survey and administrative data were used from 4,123 individuals incarcerated in 197 units in the Netherlands. Findings showed that the level of selective rule enforcement varied greatly across units, irrespective of regime, with averages above zero. Multilevel regression analyses indicated that, after controlling for important covariates, selective rule enforcement on units was consistently related to the odds of displaying misconduct including verbal, physical, property, and contrabands misconduct. These findings demonstrate the importance of contextual differences and the use of discretion by correctional officers for individual behavior in prison.

Authors 3

1. Miranda Sentse corresponding Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University, Netherlands

2. Esther F. J. C. van Ginneken Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University, Netherlands

3. Hanneke M. H. Palmen Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University, Netherlands