Overcrowding and Inmate Behavior

Abstract

This report used four prisons of different types in Florida to study the relationships between overcrowding and inmate behavior. Two types of behavior were examined, disruptive and constructive behavior. The results in general confirm previous findings that overcrowding is positively related to disruptive behavior, and the strength of this relationship varies with different types of institutions. Additional findings are that overcrowding and constructive behavior are negatively related, and the strength of this relationship also has various strengths with different types of institutions.