WEEK 7 DISCUSSION

docx

School

American Military University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

CMRJ 316

Subject

Sociology

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by BrigadierMorningSquirrel6

In prisons and jails, organized groups of prisoners known as Security Threat Groups (STGs) participate in actions that jeopardize the safety, security, and order of the prison or jail environment. These organizations function within prisons and often have traits that are comparable to those of gangs in free society. Characteristics of STGs include: Structure and Hierarchy: STGs comprise associates, members, and leaders in a hierarchical framework. They could have rigorous regulations controlling behavior and membership, initiation ceremonies, and severe codes of conduct. Criminal Activity: Street Gang members are involved in a range of illegal activities while incarcerated, such as drug trafficking, extortion, assault, intimidation, and the smuggling of illicit goods. Distinctive Symbols and Language: Like street gangs, STGs often employ symbols, tattoos, hand signals, and coded language to identify themselves and communicate with one another. Territorial Control: To instill a feeling of territoriality and power among its members, some STGs try to take control of certain locations within prisons or jails. Conflict with Other Groups: Within the institution, STGs may get into power struggles, rivalries, and confrontations that become violent and cause disturbances. Recruitment and Expansion: To increase their numbers and influence, STGs aggressively seek out new members, often weaker or more susceptible prisoners. STGs present serious risks to prison security and safety, necessitating aggressive steps by administrators to detect, track, and lessen their effects. Reasons for Inmates Joining STGs in Incarceration: Even though they may not have been part of gangs in a free society, some prisoners may decide to join Security Threat Groups (STGs) when they are behind bars for a variety of reasons. Protection: Becoming a member of an STG may provide security and protection from other prisoners or competing groups in a turbulent and sometimes hazardous prison environment. Being a part of a group lowers the chance of victimization by fostering support and friendship.

Resources: Within the jail, STGs can restrict access to important resources like narcotics, contraband, or other illegal products. Inmates may be able to access these resources or take part in profitable illicit operations by joining an STG. Social Identity and Belonging: In the sometimes dehumanizing and alienating prison environment, inmates may join STGs to develop a feeling of identity, belonging, and purpose. Being part of a group gives one access to a peer network, acceptance, and recognition. Power and Influence: Becoming a member of an STG may give prisoners a feeling of authority, prestige, and influence inside the prison system. Holding leadership or authority positions within the group may improve an inmate's perceived status and ability to manage others. Retaliation or Vengeance: Prisoners who have been subjected to abuse or disregarded by their peers may choose to join an STG to exact vengeance or retribution. Being a group member allows one to establish authority and exact revenge on those seen as opponents. In general, convicts may be forced to seek affiliation with STGs as a coping mechanism for the difficulties and reality of imprisonment due to the complicated social dynamics, survival instincts, and constraints of prison life. Strategies to Control and Monitor STGs in Correctional Facilities: Correctional administrators use a range of tactics to manage and keep an eye on Security Threat Groups (STGs) within their institutions, such as:  Implementing thorough methods for collecting information can help identify and monitor the leadership, members, and activities of STGs operating inside the institution. This might include working with law enforcement, using informants, using surveillance methods, and examining communication routes.  Classification and Segregation: To avoid grouping STG members and reduce their effect, convicts are classified according to their connections, behaviors, and risk factors. Separating recognized STG members from the broader public might lessen their capacity to recruit new members and maintain control over weaker prisoners.  Taking proactive steps to address the root causes of STG participation, such as social isolation, opportunity gaps, and criminal histories, by implementing programs for education, counseling, and rehabilitation. Reducing recidivism and fostering rehabilitation may be achieved by offering alternatives for prisoners to leave STGs and reintegrate into society.

Reaction Protocols: Creating quick and efficient reaction plans for situations involving STGs, such as assaults, smuggling illegal goods, and disturbances of law and order. This might include sending out specialist intervention teams, conducting searches, and enforcing disciplinary actions to prevent STG activity and preserve order. Collaboration and Partnerships: Encouraging cooperation and partnerships with outside parties, such as advocacy groups, law enforcement agencies, intelligence services, and community organizations, to exchange resources, knowledge, and best practices in the fight against the spread of STGs and criminal networks. Correctional administrators can control and monitor STGs within prisons, improving inmates' and staff's safety, security, and rehabilitation outcomes. This can be achieved by implementing a multifaceted approach that combines intelligence gathering, preventive measures, response protocols, and collaboration. Within correctional institutions, Security Threat Groups (STGs) are organized groups of convicts who participate in activities that risk the environment's safety, security, and order within the prison or jail. Although they operate inside the boundaries of prisons, these organizations often have features comparable to those of gangs known to exist in free societies. The following are some of the most important characteristics of STGs: Typically, STGs are organized hierarchically, with leaders, members, and associates making up the various levels of the organization. Depending on the circumstances, they could have stringent codes of conduct, rituals of initiation, and internal regulations that control membership and behavior. STGs are involved in a wide range of illegal activities inside the confines of the jail, including but not limited to the following: drug trafficking, extortion, assault, intimidation, and the smuggling of contraband. Identifiable Symbols and Language: Like street gangs, street gangs (STGs) often use symbols, tattoos, hand signals, and coded language to identify themselves and communicate with one another. Several STGs aim to establish authority over certain sections inside the correctional facility or jail to instill a feeling of territoriality and influence among their members. Conflict with Other Groups: STGs may engage in disputes, rivalries, and power struggles with other groups located inside the institution, which can result in disruptions and acts of violence.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

Expansion and Recruitment: To broaden their sphere of influence and increase membership, STGs aggressively seek out new members, particularly those weak or susceptible to influence. In general, sexually transmitted diseases (STGs) provide substantial difficulties to the safety and security of prisons. Accordingly, administrators must take preventative measures to detect, monitor, and minimize the effects of STGs. Some of the Reasons Why Inmates Join STGs While They Are Behind Bars: Even though some convicts may not have been associated with gangs in a free society, individuals may choose to become members of Security Threat Groups (STGs) when they are jailed for a variety of reasons, including the following:  In a prison environment that is turbulent and possibly dangerous, joining a particular treatment group (STG) may provide safety and security against threats from other prisoners or competing groups. There is a reduced likelihood of being victimized when one is a group member since it gives a feeling of support and companionship.  Access to Resources: Specialized Treatment Groups (STGs) can limit access to important resources inside the jail, including narcotics, contraband, and other illegal products. Convicts can access these resources or engage in profitable unlawful operations if they join a particular techniques group (STG).  By participating in STGs, inmates can develop a sense of social identity and belonging and a sense of purpose within the sometimes alienating and dehumanizing prison environment. Membership in an organization provides a social network, acceptability, and recognition among one's contemporaries.  Participation in a Special Task Force (STG) may allow convicts to gain power, position, and influence within the prison hierarchy. When a prisoner is given a leadership role or a position of power inside the group, it might increase their perceived status and ability to influence others. Revenge or vengeance: Convicts harmed or ostracized by other convicts can associate themselves with an STG to pursue vengeance or revenge. You can demonstrate your control as a group member and seek retaliation against your rivals.

Inmates may be compelled to seek affiliation with STGs as a method of dealing with the problems and reality of imprisonment because of the complex social dynamics, survival instincts, and pressures that are associated with life in prison. Methods for controlling and monitoring sexually transmitted diseases in prisons Correctional administrators use many tactics to regulate and monitor Security Threat Groups (STGs) inside correctional institutions. These strategies include the following:  Intelligence collecting involves identifying and monitoring the actions, members, and leadership of STGs inside the facility. This process involves implementing extensive intelligence-gathering tools. Possible ways to do this include working with law enforcement agencies, using informants, employing surveillance tactics, and studying communication routes.  Classifying and segregation is the process of classifying convicts according to their connections, activities, and risk factors to avoid grouping members of the STG and reduce their effect. By separating known members of the STG from the general population, it is possible to reduce the likelihood that they will be able to recruit vulnerable convicts and impose excessive influence over them.  Implementing preventative steps such as education, counseling, and rehabilitation programs to address the underlying issues that contribute to STG participation, such as social isolation, a lack of opportunity, and criminal history, is an example of preventive measures. By providing alternative paths, inmates may be disengaged from participating in STGs and reintegrated into the general community, which can help minimize recidivism and enhance rehabilitation. Response Protocols: The process of developing prompt and effective response protocols to handle occurrences involving STGs, such as acts of violence, the smuggling of contraband, and disturbances to security and order. As part of this process, specialist intervention teams may be deployed, searches may be conducted, and disciplinary penalties may be implemented to discourage STG activities and maintain control. Collaboration and Partnerships: We will create opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with external stakeholders, such as law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies, community organizations, and advocacy groups, to facilitate the exchange of information, resources, and

best practices in the fight against the proliferation of STGs and criminal networks. Correctional administrators can effectively control and monitor STGs within prisons by implementing a multifaceted approach that combines intelligence gathering, preventive measures, response protocols, and collaboration. This approach improves outcomes regarding safety, security, and rehabilitation for inmates and staff. Wooldredge, J. (2020). Prison Culture, Management, and In-Prison violence. Annual Review of Criminology , 3 (1), 165–188. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-criminol-011419-041359 Khokhobashvili, K. (2023, April 15). STG Integration - Family & Friends Services . Family & Friends Services. https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/family-resources/2023/03/29/stg-integration/ Munley, C. J. (2021, June 1). Why you need security threat group intelligence in your jail . Police1. https://www.police1.com/prison-gangs/articles/why-you-need-security-threat- group-intelligence-in-your-jail-sGydj7jYJPMQ98hM/ Kreager, D. A., Young, J. T., Haynie, D. L., Bouchard, M., Schaefer, D. R., & Zajac, G. (2017). Where “Old heads” prevail: inmate hierarchy in a men’s prison unit. American Sociological Review , 82 (4), 685–718. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122417710462 Winterdyk, J., & Ruddell, R. (2010). Managing prison gangs: Results from a survey of U.S. prison systems. Journal of Criminal Justice , 38 (4), 730–736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2010.04.047

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

WEEK 7 DISCUSSION

Related Documents