Crime Case

The 1960 writing of " the inmate social system" by Gresham Sykes, gives us a detailed glimpse of life within the prison system. The writing also gives us a hidden code of conduct among the inmates themselves which must be followed. The hidden code of conduct has a set of rules values and beliefs that must be followed at all times, and if they are broken the end result could be death. According to Sykes there are five major groups that are classified within the inmate code. The different groups among the inmates are no difference than any other group on this earth. There is always going to be a survival of the fittest philosophy, only the strongest survives. This is the normal mentality among people, but when you put some of the worst people in one cage. The philosophy of survival is intensified extremely. On page 429, Mr. Sykes describes the five different groups by character. The first group he describes is the " Rat or Squealer" , According to Sykes this is an "inmate who violates the norm proscribing the betrayal of a fellow prisoner." the result of this violation of snitching on a fellow inmate is death. " Prisoners who exhibit aggressive behavior and who quarrel easily and fight without cause, are often referred to as toughs" thirdly he describes the gorilla of the prisons and these are inmates who " uses violence deliberately as means to gain his ends." the gorillas and the toughs are very similar inside the prisons mainly because they use brutal force to obtain there goals. The Merchant or peddler according to Sykes is described as an " inmate who exploits his fellow inmates not by force but by manipulation or trickery." next you have the weakest of them all , the weakling or weak sister. Their role is a very passive one and if you were in a homosexual relationship within the prison, they would label you as a "fag". Finally Sykes describe the last inmate character as "Right Guy" this inmate is the most loyal, very dependable , always keeps his promise, and will never let you down. These features of the inmate society are valid norms within the society and when you enter prison you have to know what group you would be most comfortable with. Mainly because if you do not choose your self, then the choice will be made for you and you will have to live with that through out the rest of your prison sentence. Violence is an inevitable part of prison life, but according to Sykes