VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP OF FEMALE INMATES: A CASE STUDY

The purpose of this research was to apply the concepts of voluntary association to a population of female inmates. This research examined voluntary associations among female inmates and sought an understanding of the extent to which the female inmates affiliated with associations, and the specific types of association inmates join. More importantly, this study explored whether or not inmates\u27 membership in voluntary associations significantly affected inmates\u27 alienation. Systematic research in this area has not been done. A sample of female inmates incarcerated at the Women\u27s Reformatory, York, Nebraska, were interviewed for this research. It was shown that the inmates did, in fact, join various voluntary associations and they were more likely to join instrumental type associations. It was demonstrated that inmates\u27 levels of alienation were slightly reduced by affiliation in voluntary associations. Moreover, the inmates were more likely to join voluntary associations that were highly ranked by the staff and inmates themselves. The results indicated the important role voluntary association membership plays in the lives of inmates. However, at the time of the study, the institution was in a state of flux and this resulted in fewer voluntary association memberships in the institution. Furthermore, at the time of the study, there were only 37 female inmates in the prison. As such, the present investigation provides important leads for future research on the voluntary association membership of female inmates