The All-pervading Depression and Violence of Prison Life

Thurrell, R.J. , Halleck, S.L. and Johnsen, A.F. : "Psychosis in Prison", Jou. Crim. Law, Criminol. & Pol. Sci., 1965, pp. 271/276.

Newsweek, August 7, 1972, p. 16.

Time, August 7, 1972, p. 16.

See the interesting account by a former inmate -of the notorious Trenton Death Row, Frank Bisignano of the new Leesburg Prison, New Jersey: "From Death Row to the Glass Home", The Village Voice, September 7, 1972, p. 11.

Rado, S. reminds us that: "Persons predisposed to depressions have an intense craving for narcissistic gratification. Trivial provocations reduce their self-esteem, which is not founded on real achievements or values, but on being loved, supported and encouraged." Lewin, Bertram D. : "The Psychoanalysis of Elation", New York, Norton, 1950, p. 35.

The most depressing thought that comes to all prisoners, old and new alike, is the fear of never getting out, of dying in prison. This is a peculiarly depressing and recurrent thought to recidivists.

See the very perceptive article by Sendbuehler, Michael J. and Cormier, Bruno M. "Gate Fever", Excerpta Crimin., Sept./Oct. 1963, pp.. 520/522 at p. 521.

This point is well exemplified by an interview published in "Relación criminológica", Valencia, Venezuela, 1972, pp. 217/228 with an inmate of a Venezuelan prison: see, especially p. 227.

See Cooper, H.H.A. : "Self-Mutilation by Peruvian Prisoners ", Int. Jou. Off. Ther. No. 3 1971 pp. 180/188. A recent American study of mentally disturbed female patients tends to confirm this: Rosenthal , R.J. , Rinzler, C. , Wallsh R. and Klausner, E. , "Wrist cutting syndrome: the meaning of the gesture". Amer. J. Psychiat. , 1972 pp. 1363/1368.

Zimmerman, Isidore : Punishment without Crime, New York, Clarkson Potte, 1964, pp. 154/155.

See Cooper, op cit supra note 9 at page 186.

On this type of offender, see Riemer , Svend H. : "Embezzlement: Pathological Basis", Jou. Crim. Law & Crimin., 1941/2 , pp. 411 /423.

On this tendency, see Train, George G. : "Unrest in the Penitentiary", Jou. Crim. Law Crimin. Pol. Sci., 1953, pp. 277/295 at p. 291.

The Peruvian prison system, while paying lip-service to the ideal of rehabilitation, is simply unable to engage in anything amounting to effective offender therapy: see, Cooper, H.H.A. : "Crime, Criminals and Prisons in Peru", Int. Jou. Off. Ther. No. 2, 1971, pp. 135/148.

Train, op cit supra note 13, p. 291, appropriately points out that man is "a rationalizing animal whose reactions are motivated by 'feeling tone' ".