UNDERSTANDING INMATES

CULTURE
CULTURE
 Encompasses the values shared by a
group of people and in turn leads to
norms that influence the behavior of
members of that group.
 Can be defined by shared beliefs based on
solutions to problems the group has been
faced.
DETENTION (IMPRISONMENT)
 Detention is the process when a state, government,
or citizen lawfully holds a person by removing their freedom
of liberty at that time. This can be due to (pending) criminal
charges being raised against the individual as part of
a prosecution or to protect a person or property. Being
detained does not always result in being taken to a particular
area (generally called a detention centre), either
for interrogation, or as punishment for a crime (Wikipedia)
INMATES’ CULTURE
 Prisonization
◦ 1940 by Clemmer in his book The Prison
Community. Clemmer defined prisonization as
the assimilation process in prison where
inmates take on “in greater or less degree …
the folkways, mores, customs, and general culture
of the penitentiary” (Clemmer, 1940, p. 299).
Pain of Confinement

 loss of liberty were prisoners experience a limitation of

movement

 Prisons are often the scenes of brutality, violence and stress

 DISTORTED MORAL CODE

( unclear standards of what is right and wrong; inmate silent code; us against them)

> pain of moral rejection implied in confinement

> Sexual deprivation places pressure on prisoners
towards homosexual satisfaction of one’s sexual needs
 DISTORTED MORAL CODE
> Prisoners are faced with incidence of violence and are
always concerned for their safety.
"everyone is afraid. It is not an emotional or psychological fear.
It is a practical matter. If you don’t threaten someone at the very
least, someone will threaten you...Many times you have to "prey"
on someone, or you will be "preyed" on yourself" (A long-term
prisoner named Jack Abbott )

> focuses on important inside issues such as relations

amongst prisoners, and their interaction with staff members.
 Personal Effects of Prisonization
◦ Not all inmates, that is, become prisonized to the same degree.

 Apathy = indifference, lack of concern

 infantile regressions
 Often narcissistic/self centered
 Hopelessness to depression
 Formation of subcultures (gangsterism)
 Victimisation
 Physical
 Psychological (deceived inmates)
 INMATES’ CODE

 Don't Interfere With Inmate Interests. Never rat

on an inmate, don't be nosy, don't have loose lips, and
never put an inmate on the spot.
 Don't Fight With Other Inmates. Don't lose your
head and do your own time.
 Don't Exploit Inmates. If you make a promise, keep it,
don't steal from inmates, don't sell favors, and don't go
back on bets.
 Maintain Yourself. Don't: weaken, whine, cop out. Be a
man and be tough.
 Don't Trust Guards Or The Things They Stand
For. Don't be a sucker, the officials are wrong and the
prisoners are right.
Many Inmates believe-
 External forces caused their fate (they
are innocent, and were not at fault for
their crime)
 They can’t change their criminal ways.
 They need power and control over their
environment to survive in jail.
Inmates have nothing but time-
 Time to observe
 Time to hear
 Time to profit from everything they know
about your job
 Time to become very familiar with their
enclosed environment.
 JAIL ECONOMY

 Inmates aren’t allowed to have actual money;

 family members can load up and buy on commissary
inside jail
 “ Barter” (exchange of goods/service) is the most
common system
 illegal contrabands are “golds” in jail thus, it is
costly and in demand
 CONFRONTATION
◦ Is a usual tension faced by inmates, it primarily
evolved from competition of limited
resources, struggle for power
 RIOTS
◦ a result of unsolved conflicts; conflict is
generated when one person wants another to
exercise power in a specified manner, but the
other person, for whatever reason, does not.
 NOISE BARRAGE
◦ a collective attempt by inmates to seize control over part
or all of a prison as a form of protest, and again try to
over power their oppressors by forcing their ways upon
them
◦ reasons range from inadequate and unwholesome food;
overcrowding in filthy cells; racism; outside agitation; poor
health care; lack of fresh air, exercise and recreation
programs; cruel disciplinary actions, right through to
inadequate channels for complaints to be heard
 HOSTAGE TAKING
 RAPE (HOMOSEXUAL RAPE)
◦ Due to lack of immediate sexual object for gratification,
most inmates forced the weaker (usually gays) for sex
 PRISON SUICIDE
◦ are embarrassed by the disgrace they have
brought upon their families and find their guilt
and debased self-esteem intolerable
◦ sense of helplessness and lack of control over
their lives is intolerable
◦ use suicidal behavior in order to manipulate
others, without the intention of actually
ending their lives
Co-optation with Jail
Officers/Personnel

 Jail Officers need the cooperation of

inmates so they will look good to their
superiors, or to minimize hostile
environment. Thus, minor rule infractions
are tolerated in exchange for compliance
with major aspects of the custodial rules.
 Note: Over familiarization bridge to
contempt of rules
SUB CULTURE: GANGSTERISM
 Inmates’ culture arises from the detainees need for
survival from the pain of confinement while in
detention.
 -GANGSTERISM is inmates’ subculture in an
attempt to survive within forced conditions,
maintaining some form of self dignity; tends to be in
direct defiance of most administrative rules
 - is developed and imported by each offender from
their external lives, and is then combined with the
already existent attitudes and behaviors sculptured by
the uniquely limited environment of prison
 - based on race and ethnicity; revolve around the
continuous struggle for power and supremacy
VALUES IN INMATES’
SUBCULTURE
 The inmate subculture is based on two primary values
 First – RESPECT
 Second- SELF INTEREST
 To an inmate respect is determined by ranking. (What can
you do to me? What can I do for you?)
 Inmates respect others who are physically or in other ways
powerful
 Inmates are constantly sizing up other inmates or staff
members by asking themselves “ What can this person do for
me?”
 This value in confrontational atmosphere results in inmates
running cons, scamming, hustling or in other words: “
Playing the Game”
GANGSTERISM
 LIST OF GANGS IN PHILIPPINE JAILS (Prison Gangs and Prison Governance in the
Philippines by Clarke Jones* Australian National University)

Gang Name

Sigue-Sigue Sputnik (SSS)

Genuine Ilocano Gang (GIG)
Batang City Jail (BCJ)
Sigue-Sigue Commandos (SSC)
Happy Go Lucky (HGL)
Batang Cebu 45 (BC)
Batang Mananalo (Batman)
Bahala Na Gang (BNG)
Batang Samar Leyte (BSL)
Batang Mindanao (BM)
Bicol Region Masbate (BRM)
Original Ex-Convict (OXO)
Querna
IDENTIFYING GANG
AFFILIATION
 CRIMINAL TATTOOS
◦ are commonly used among criminals to
show gang membership and record the
wearer's personal history—such as his or her
skills, specialties, accomplishments and
convictions.
◦ used as a means of personal expression
◦ Certain designs have developed
recognized coded meanings
 GANGSTERISM
 CRIMINAL TATTOOS

Sigue-Sigue Commandos (SSC) Sigue-Sigue Sputnik (SSS)

Black Panther with motto do/die

GANGSTERISM
 CRIMINAL TATTOOS

Batang City Jail) Bahala Na Gang (BNG)

GANGSTERISM
 VOCABULARY
-inmates have secret code use to
communicate to each other in language
unfamiliar to outsides but also establishes
an identity which only they can share.
-sign languages were also utilized
during courtships and other secret
communications among gang members.
 JAIL LINGO/SLANG MEANING
(from a study at Tugegarao City
District Jail; October 2013 and others)
A. EXPRESSIONS THAT REFER TO THINGS, PEOPLE, etc.

kapamilya or family Family/TC family

Coop/cooperative Store/project inside jail that may sustain the

daily need of the inmate – may be paid in
cash or credit (e.g.food,money)
kapatid Sibling/co-inmates/fellow residents

Dorm/selda prison cell

pangkat(archaic) An organizational structure to address the

Panunungkulan System. lack of Jail‘s Personnel
Mayor/a Male/Female term for the head of the dorm

Trustees /striker Jail aides/Representatives or inmates who

hold a position in the organization
 JAIL LINGO/SLANG MEANING
(from a study at Tugegarao City
District Jail; October 2013 and others)
Tarima Small Bed

Buyon CR

Dilaw na t-shirt Uniform with a detainee print at the back,

Yellow t-shirt, used for activities e.g.
headcount, meeting
Biyaya Food from the volunteers, visitors

Patakaran Rules and regulations

Responde(archaic)/ Sharing Additional food from the inmates

Parating(archaic)/ Abasto Food from family

B. EXPRESSION THAT REFER TO ACTIVITIES AND ATTITUDES

Meeting convening all detainees in the assembly

place
 JAIL LINGO/SLANG MEANING
(from a study at Tugegarao City
District Jail; October 2013 and others)
Estapa/Estafa Hindi mayos ang pagkaka-gawa

Pwesto Assembly/ formation during headcount

esp.social hall
Buryong Extreme boredom

Pull-ups a fair punishment for detainees committing

a crime/ a form of punishment to a crime
committed or gratuitous actions during
morning meeting
Ugaling laya The attitude of a freeman

Tatakalan A punishment thru hitting/ biting done by

the cell officer/s
Balukol extortion
USING SUBCULTURE TO
DEAL WITH BEHAVIOR
 The Officer-Inmate Relationship
Relationship with inmates must be
Adult to Adult
◦ Ideally it must be, but in the jail your relationship with
inmates not equal relationships
◦ Treat them humanely

Superior/ Subordinate relationship

◦ You are responsible for their care
◦ As a Superior- treat them as you would want your
superior to treat you, you need to be firm, fair and
consistent and at the same time you need to be
respectful
USING SUBCULTURE TO
DEAL WITH BEHAVIOR
Three Steps-Process to use in working with inmates
 Communicate
◦ Keep your communication simple, direct and to the print when
giving instruction or answer
◦ Make sure that the inmate understand what you are saying
 Motivating Inmates
◦ If you want an inmate to do something, you have to supply
reason in doing it
◦ Convince them of the benefits of either getting something from
you or avoiding something you can do to them
 ISOLATION
◦ If communication and motivation fails; isolation is the best resort
◦ It is effective because Acculturation is a group process and
individual actions feed group support. When you cut off group
contact, you eliminate group’s feedback.
Inmates’ Manipulation and Games
Inmates Play
 Manipulation

◦ An attempt to control or influence another

person to get something wanted or needed.

◦ How an inmate influence a staff members or

guards to do the wrong things or enters to an
unstable and unprofessional relationships.
Games Inmates Play
 Reasons for Game Playing
◦ STATUS = inmates gain status from acting
out with their peers

◦ PROVE INMATE SUPERIORITY = to

prove that a particular officer is unable to
manage inmates or is not as intelligent as
them

◦ COVER-UP = to divert attention from

another more serious incident
Games Inmates Play
 Reasons for Game Playing
◦ BOREDOM/ HUMOR = something to do
to occupy time

◦ WAY OF LIFE = some inmates will play

games without knowing how they are played

◦ PERSONAL GAIN = to obtain extra

items, unauthorized items, special
considerations or favors.
Games Gratification
 EXPLOSION GAME
◦ An inmate would try to make officer lose his
temper
 WATCH ME EMBARRASS YOU GAME
◦ Usually played on the opposite game
 PLAYING ONE OFFICER AGAINST
ANOTHER GAME
◦ Try to get officers angry against another
 “I AM SICK GAME”
◦ Used to get extra item or to get out of work
Games Inmates Play
 HOW INMATES PLAY GAME

◦ They watch and target employees

◦ They identify weak links
◦ They “set-up” employees
◦ They gain confidence
 The “Set-up”
 Purpose:
◦ Determine who is and who is not
susceptible to manipulation

◦ Once a susceptible employee is identified, the

set-up is applied for the purpose of causing
that employee to supply inmate with
contraband.
 Characteristics of potential Staff-Victim
◦ Employee susceptibility traits:
 Easily befriended
 Naïve to intentions or hidden messages
 Overly friendly or overly familiar with most people
 Share personal problems
 Have a trusting nature, and no confidence
 Mentally Stressed
 Low Self-esteem
 New employee
 Complacent
 Detection:
◦ Inmates take special care not to be detected,
but they can be detected if you have been
trained to recognize the sign

◦ Depending on officer’s susceptibility level, set-

ups can occur in just a few weeks

◦ Statistics show that no one (employee) is

exempted
 Recognize attempts by inmates to
manipulate others
◦ Signs of manipulation
 Sympathy with staff
 Comments aimed at dividing staff
 Over-willingness to become an informant for a
particular employee
 Over friendliness
 Excessive praise and compliments; and
 Excessive dependency
 The Set-up Team
◦ OBSERVERS = watch and listen to a potential
victim. Paying special close attention to officers using
jail slang or ignoring/breaking minor jail rules.
◦ TURNERS = be friend the employee and use that
friendship to coerce them (employee) into breaking
the rules.
◦ CONTACTS = supply information about employees,
they asks subtle questions about officers or they hear
(about) your conversations.
◦ POINT MEN = stands guard when an employee is
in the process of granting illegal favors, violating rules
or is being compromised or harmed.
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 1: OBSERVATION PROCESS
 Manipulation of the potential victim (jail staff) takes
place
 Movements, words, and actions of the potential
victim are monitored to gather vital information
such as answers to seemingly harmless questions
 Body language- the manner and method in which a
staff carry himself give off strong messages to the
“set-up team”.
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 1: OBSERVATION PROCESS
 Listening/Observing – conversations are constantly
monitored. It is important for the “set-up team” to
know the staff’s likes and dislikes
 Verbal Observation – The Turner engages the
potential victim (staff) in conversations and closely
watches the reactions and looks for signs of signs of
approval or disapproval
 Action Observation – The Runner actually violates
 a “jail rule” to determine if he will get the reaction
(of staff) anticipated
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 2: SELECTION OF A VICTIM
 Intentional Selection – The Observers take special
notice to employee who is extrovert, friendly, and
naïve. When the observers suspect a weakness in
the behavior of the staff, intentional manipulation.
 Accidental Selection – Any trait possessed by the
staff that fits the needs of the “Set-up team” is
construed as a weakness
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 2: SELECTION OF A VICTIM
 Three (3) categories being watched in the person
of the staff by the “observers”:
 Soft = very trusting, sympathetic, desire to help, inability to
say NO
 Hard = Strictly by the books
 Mellow = Knows when to be soft, and when to be hard
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 3:TEST OF THE LIMITS AND
FISH TESTING
 Test of the limits – is a process of bending, pushing,
breaking minor rules to tests the staff’s reactions
 Fish testing occurs when :the set-up team” requests
minor items that are not supposed to be issued.
Team members try to make the staff feels obligated
to do the violation.
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 4: SUPPORT SYSTEM
 A series of subtle praises designed to be friend and
develop a sense of togetherness
 Beginning Verbal Support – comments to another
inmate praising staff’s ideas. Also, comments from
other staff praising the potential victim (staff)
 A good manipulator will go out of his way to please
the staff
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 4: SUPPORT SYSTEM
 Pledge of devotion and trust is manifested by the
inmate-manipulator to the staff.

◦ STEP 5: EMPATHY/SYMPATHY
 Empathy – is a shared understanding, experience,
thoughts or attitudes
 Sympathy – demonstrates a feeling without actually
having the experience, that include the emotion
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 6: PLEA FOR HELP
 Inmate bank on your Ego. “You are the only one who
can help me”
 Delicate situation to handle (Staff has to test the
inmate’s plea if its real or a set-up.
 Real Plea – “Officer John, thank you for talking it over with
that counselor, what did he say? Can I talk to him now?”
 Set-Up Plea – “Thanks for talking to that counselor, but
me and my buddies stayed up all night talking and I’ve got it
worked out now.
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 7: WE/THEY SYNDROME
 The set-up team wants to separate the victim (staff)
from other staffs, so victim (staff) turns to the
inmates for ego support.

 At this stage, the inmates demonstrate the most

subtle of set-ups and pits one staff member against
the other
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 8: OFFER OF PROTECTION
 Inmate willing to take the blame for something you
allowed him to do.
 Inmate appears to protect you from other inmates
(usually stage on drama)
◦ STEP 9: ALLUSIONS OF SEX
 Inmate manipulate staff for sex
 The victim staff develops a trust with inmates vulnerable
to proposition, second insistent and eventually force
 Allusions to sex can be dirty jokes, pornography, or
magazines, inmates try to create a bond or relate
personal information.
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 10:TOUCH SYSTEM
 Inmates (both male and female) create touching
situations and watches on how the staff handles the
inmates’ actions.

 Male, handshake or pat on the back

 Female, less obvious, lint on shirt of staff, straighten

staff’s collar, touch on the shoulder.
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 11:THE RUMOR CLINIC
A rumor completely untrue gets started
Human nature is to spread the rumor
Create trust and distrust among fellow officers
Inmates take victim-staff’s side of issue and build on
trusts and become victim-staff’s friend
Note: Turn-outs = refers to victim-staff who have been
successfully coerced into supplying inmates with illegal
contraband and illicit favors.
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 12:THE SHOPPING LIST
 Inmates start to solicit from the staff-victim
contraband items one at a time

 Refusal for the Staff-Victim is now difficult: the list

of contraband requested usually will be drugs,
alcohol, money, and weapons. For female: sex, is the
first on the list.

 The shopping list exposes the set-up

 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 13:THE LEVER
 Acquired by the inmates when the staff-victim bent
the rules used to force the staff-victim to comply
 If demands are met, lever is not used
 If demands are not met, lever is threatened to
expose the Staff-Victim
 Compliance means Freedom for the Staff-Victim
 The Set-up Process
◦ STEP 14:THE STING
 Wraps up all steps of the Set-up
 Victim must decide to comply or be harmed
 The inmate has won
BE ALERT!!! Look for
the signs of a SET-UP
If victimized in any stages of the
process, NOTIFY THE
SUPERVISOR..INFORM THE
COMMANDER
 Be part of the intelligence team.
 Be always suspicious of inmates on what they
are telling you.
 Always follow rules, procedures and
operational plan.
 Monitor remarks, gestures and actions.
 Communicate with your controller,
operations manager or intelligence officer
when you suspect a problem
 Know your job and perform it well.
 Document and report all incidents
 Learn to say NO and mean it
 Never give or take anything from an inmate
that is not job/operational related
 Address inmates by their correct name and
ensure they address you by your correct
title.
 Recognize attempts to be manipulated by
inmates.
 Listen Up
 Be Positive
 Be friendly, but aware
 Mental Preparation
 Respect given is respect earned
 Foundations for the Future
 This one should go without saying
 Be consistent with inmates
 Its all about character
 Its OK to be scared
 Make sure to always file reports when you have a
concern, and don’t be afraid to voice your opinion
 Your earned your right to wear your uniform
 Being a CO is a very physical job
 Know your facility’s policies and stick to them
 This job isn’t for everyone
 Wear your uniform one size larger than you
usually would