The daily experiences of inmates are affected by both the formal prison management and the informal organization between inmates. Criminologists refer to this causal relationship as an inmate subculture. Besides, these relationships are equally influential to how the activities of the prison are run. The subculture of inmates consists of a unique language and distinctive patterns of beliefs, statuses, values, roles, norms, and attitudes. Moreover, subculture gives inmates a different perspective from that of people in the free world (Latzer, 2018) . According to Latzer (2018) , the inmate code, which is a set of beliefs and values, assists in binding the subculture together. However, this code is an unofficial rule, and it depicts prisons as predatory, violent, and chaotic jungles where only the strong ones come out alive. Besides, the inmate code has values that are opposite to those of the prison authorities and the general conventional society. Weak inmates are often manipulated by gang members who dominate the lucrative modern prison ventures, including gambling and drug trafficking. In today’s prisons, swagmen and gang members control the illegal distribution of goods. They use force and intimidate to convert weak inmates into mules that can be used to smuggle illicit drugs into prisons. With the rising prison populations, most prisons are overcrowded. Therefore, managing and protecting inmates has become difficult. The lengthy prison sentences, deteriorating confinement conditions, and overcrowding have led to more suffering of prisoners. Besides, these crowded cells are full of drugs that are controlled by gangs (Latzer, 2018) . As a result, indigenous prison gangs have emerged to defend themselves and reduce their suffering. New groups for sharing and buying drugs have also emerged. Therefore, levels of hopelessness, fear, and violence are accelerated continuously by this informal socialization. Prison gangs play a significant role in promoting violence and misconduct in prisons (Latzer, 2018) . Therefore, prison administrators should find ways of controlling groups to reduce the number of violent activities among inmates. According to Latzer (2018), States should implement gang rehabilitation and treatment strategies. After recognizing a gang member, the classification staff segregates and places him or her in a peer-led training program. The programs are managed by previous gang members who instruct inmates on how to avoid and deal with violence without having to join a gang. The program has facets that include role-playing strategies, utilizing problem-solving skills, and providing rehabilitation for drug abuse. Another alternative can be developing programs for gang members who want to cease being members of violent prison gangs. The programs are specifically meant for inmates who were segregated because of their membership in gangs. After going through the program, segregated inmates are allowed to return to the general prison population. State prisons have programs that teach inmates about the issues associated with sexual and physical violence. The focus of these pieces of training is what violence consists of and how to avoid violence (Steiner et al., 2017) . Further, Steiner et al. (2017) note that the p risoners are given alternatives to engaging in violent activities, such as participating in religious and cultural events, exercise, and sports. Besides, they provide inmates with resources that help them deal with being victimized. The programs encourage inmates to avoid activities that might place them at risk of engaging in violent acts such as illegal drug trafficking and gambling. Since these programs are peer-led, they provide inmates with the first-hand experience of being perpetrators or victims of violence. To sum up, the prison subculture has led to the occurrence of various violent acts in either perpetrating or defending themselves. Therefore, if prison administrators provider human conditions and policies that require strict adherence, prisons will be reasonably safe for both the staff and prisoners.
References
Latzer, B. (2018). Subcultures of violence and African American crime rates. Journal of Criminal Justice , 54 , 41-49.
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Steiner, B., Ellison, J. M., Butler, H. D., & Cain, C. M. (2017). The impact of inmate and prison characteristics on prisoner victimization. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse , 18 (1), 17-36.
