ABSTRACT
The words "prison" and "inmate" invoke images of steel bars or electrified fences strung on top with razor wire. First identified by Sykes, prison subculture and inmates' adjustment to incarceration are closely aligned to the conditions of imprisonment, and these circumstances represent all of the kinds of deprivations that inmates face. Inmates are deprived of both material possessions as well as psychological stability. The system provides inmates the benefit of greater quality of life, access to contraband, and/or forbidden services. Inmates argue that wireless phones are less expensive than pay phones for maintaining contact with family as well as offering inmates a means of private communication with minimal oversight by correctional staff. Smith states the concept of "protective pairing" signifies inmates have sex or become involved with someone to protect themselves from a greater harm from other inmates or staff.
