Prison LifeGoffman’s theory of Total institution
Special reference in Kaluthara prison
N.R.opanayakaSabaragamuwa university srilanak
Defining The prison, that darkest region in the apparatus
of justice, is the place where the power to punish, which no longer dares to manifest itself openly, silently organizes a field . . . in which punishment will be able to function openly as treatment.
Michel Foucault, Discipline & Punishment
Total InstitutionsErving Goffman coined the term (1961).
The place where people work, play, eat, sleep, and recreate together on a daily basis.
Examples of total institutions:• Prisons• Concentration camps• Summer camps• Mental hospitals• Seminaries
Characteristics of theory
Life together for an extended proud of lifeIsolation of wider societyInstitution decided daily activities and it
tends to organizational goal.
Prison cultures
formal/official - consists of rules and procedures established by the local, state, or authorities
informal/unofficial - also called prison subculture
Prison hierarchyAAssistant Inspector General of PrisonsDDeputy Inspector General of PrisonsIInspector General of PrisonsPSuperintendent (jail)
Duty of prison staff
Governing prisonersDo their duties
Prison subculture• values and behavioral patterns
specifically characteristic of prison inmates
• develops independently of plans of prison administrators
• often more powerful than formal/official structure
• includes values, roles, and even a special language
Five elements of the prison code:
• don’t interfere with interests of other inmates – don’t rat on others
• play it cool and do your own time • don’t whine – be a man • don’t exploit inmates – don’t break your
word • don’t be a sucker – don’t trust guards or
staff
Two models of prison society:
• deprivation model – Prison subculture is an adaptation to the
situation.• importation model – An inmate
brings with him to prison specific values, roles, and behaviors from the outside world.
Prisoners have the right to:
• food, water, and shelter
A.protection from foreseeable attack
B.protection from predictable sexual attack
C.protection against suicide
Prisoners also have the right to:
Attend services of other religious groups
Receive visits from ministers
Correspond with religious leaders
Observe religious dietary laws
Wear religious insignia
Comparing features
Dress codeTime tableFood patternDifferent cultureRulesDifferent living areasLiving under governing
Dress code
Time table
Food pattern
Different culture
Different living areas
Living under governing
Compare prison and school
We went Kargasthalawa school and check Goffman theory
Isolation Different living place
Uniform Governing staff
Personal growth……
Our perspective (conclusion)
Prison is in made societySchool is not more madePrison live course to mental problemsSchool life some what good than prisonWe think prison is not good methodSchool is good method for children
Limitation Cant get deep detailsVery difficult to get permeation in to prisonTime is limited
Reference
Foucault, M. “The birth of the Asylum” pp.141-167 in Paul Rabinow The Foucault Reader.Penguin Books, 1984.
Hacking, Ian 2004 “Between Michel
Foucault and Erving Goffman: between discourse in the abstract and face-to-face interaction” Economy and Society 33(3):277-302
Thank you
Presented by;10/SL/18110/SL/129