ABSTRACT
THE prison, like the Army, has its own crimes, and although its formal social controls—the Prison Rules—exist within the rule of law of the wider community, many prison offences are unique. Refusal to work—a cherished right in the democratic community outside—is a serious offence; 'free speech' can constitute incitement to mutiny, and the right of individuals to enter into contractual economic relations is unlawful inside the prison. The clue to understanding many of the social processes operative in Pentonville lies in the recognition of the fact that the prison is a totalitarian society in microcosm which derives its ultimate authority from the world outside. The problem for Pentonville, however, appears to be twofold:
The rules tend to be so broadly framed that they are prone to arbitrary application.
Those subject to them perceive the authority system as malevolent and capricious, even though capriciousness may be no more than an attempt to introduce an element of equity.
