Part 1 : Introduction: Cultures of imprisonment: stigma, identity and interaction

In this first section research from Europe, North America and Australia will be presented that explores the impact of incarceration on prison staff and prisoners’ sense of self-identity and the nature of their interactions with one another within the context of prison culture. Each of these chapters considers a specific offender group or element of prison culture, such as sex offenders or concepts of fairness; however, they all draw upon some common theoretical positions. In particular, this section is underpinned by the seminal works of Erving Goffman on stigma (1963) and his study of interactions and adaptations within a closed institution (namely, an asylum) (1961), Donald Clemmer’s work on prison community and culture (1940) as well as John Irwin and Donald Cressey’s (1962) ideas on the formation of prison culture.