ABSTRACT
It has been consistently reported that one response of male prisoners to the pains of imprisonment has been the establishment of a sub rosa social system. The consistent interview comments about inmate roles and behavior which symbolized lack of group solidarity were confirmed by the response to questionnaire items dealing with inmate loyalty. While it is apparent that a high degree of in-group loyalty does not characterize the Frontera prisoner population, there are other areas important to inmate adjustment which are covered by the prisoner code. The code makes clear the appropriate normative orientation for the prisoner. As far as he is concerned there are just two kinds of people in the world, those in the know and the suckers: Prisoners express a variety of maxims that forbid according prestige or respect to the custodians or the world for which they stand: Don't be a sucker.
