Abstract
Research concerning stress levels in restricted prison environments such as segregation has shown conflicting results. Researchers do not agree whether psychological distress increases when inmates are placed in more restricted environments. Past research is either outdated or dealt with conditions that are not applicable to current prison environments. This study explored psychological distress as measured by the three global indices of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and compared inmates in two levels of restrictive environments against the general population in a medium security federal correctional institution. It was hypothesized that as the level of restriction increased, the level of individual psychological distress also would increase. The hypothesis was supported and the implications of the results are discussed.
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