Predicting Perceptions of Inmate Sexual Violence in Female Correctional Institutions: Individual Factors Versus Social Climate Factors

Although there has been a lot of research conducted on inmate sexual violence in male correctional institutions, there is a scarcity of published literature on perceptions of inmate sexual violence in female institutions, and in recognizing the differences between individual-related factors and social climate related factors. In this study, survey data from a recent National Institute of Justice funded PREA study were used in classifying several independent variables into two predictive models that were representative of both individual-related factors, such as race, gender, criminal history, etc., as well as a social climate-related factors, such as verbal conflict, economic conflict, staff sexual misconduct, etc. We then examined the predictive abilities of both models on female inmate perceptions of inmate sexual violence in both prison and jail housing units. Results showed social climate factors to be a much better predictor of inmate perceptions of sexual violence. These results suggest that all of the expense and effort to profile and classify inmates is not as critical as attempts to improve the social climate or environment of the institution