The Effects of Physical Victimization in Prison on Perceptions of Personal Safety and Culture of Violence

Abstract

The effects of victimization on residents in prison is an understudied area within the corrections literature. To help fill this gap, we used administrative and survey data on a sample of about 1,600 residents in Minnesota's prison system to examine the relationship between being the victim of a physical attack and perceptions of safety and a culture of violence. The results showed that residents were more likely to report being attacked in prison within the previous year when they were in prison for a sex offense, were younger in age, and had more prior misconducts. Victimization was negatively associated with perceptions of personal safety while, at the same time, positively related to the extent to which residents adopted a culture of violence. Perceptions of decreased safety were also found for women, Black residents, individuals in higher custody levels, and those who reported greater difficulty sleeping. Endorsing a culture of violence was significantly more likely for men, younger residents, individuals with more mental health concerns, and those reporting more problems relating to hunger and sleep.