How dark are dark figures? Official and self-report rates of inmate-on-inmate victimization

Inmate-on-inmate victimization rates were examined through official and self-report data. We checked prison records of 219 male inmates from a prison in Portugal, and estimated rates of official inmate-on- inmate victimization during a 12-month period. Of these 219 inmates, 108 agreed to participate in a self-report survey on their inmate-on- inmate victimization experiences in the last 12 months. According to official records 3.2% of the inmates were victimized, contrasting with the 78.5% prevalence rate revealed in self-report data. This high dark- figure highlights the need to implement specific strategies to prevent inmate-on-inmate victimization hence assuring the prison conditions necessary to corrections efficacy.This research was conducted at Psychology Research Centre [Centro de Investigação em Psicologia] (UID/PSI/01662/2013), University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia] and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education [Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior] through national funds and co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE2020 under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007653). The study was also supported by Grant SFRH/BPD/108602/2015 from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology awarded to the second author

Vitimação entre reclusos do sexo masculino: prevalência oficial e autorrelatada

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em PsicologiaThe present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of inmate victimization both through official and self-report data and identify correlates of being victimized. The sample included 219 male inmates from a prison facility in the north of Portugal. Individual prison records were consulted in order to determine whether inmates had been victimized by other inmates in the last 12 months of their reclusion. Of the 219 inmates, 108 agreed to answer a self-report questionnaire regarding their inmate victimization experiences by other inmates. Official records showed a low prevalence of victimization (3.2%), contrasting with the high prevalence rate found in selfreport data (78.5%). Time of reclusion was found to be a correlate of both official and selfreport victimization; a longer time of incarcerated was associated with being a victim of inmate inflicted violence. A marginally significant correlation was found between being in prison for the first time and self-reporting an experience of inmate victimization, which suggests that inexperienced inmates are more susceptible of being victimized by more experienced inmates. The high dark-figure revealed in the present study highlights the need to implement specific strategies to increase detection and prevent inmate inflicted victimization on other inmates.O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a prevalência de vitimação entre reclusos através de dados oficiais e de autorrelato e identificar correlatos de ser vitimado. A amostra incluiu 219 reclusos do sexo masculino provenientes de um estabelecimento prisional situado no norte de Portugal. Consultaram-se os registos oficiais com o objetivo de determinar se os reclusos tinham sido vitimados por outros reclusos nos últimos 12 meses de reclusão. Dos 219 reclusos, 108 concordaram em responder a um questionário de autorrelato sobre as suas experiências de vitimação. Dados oficiais demonstraram uma baixa prevalência de vitimação (3.2%), contrastando com a elevada prevalência obtida no autorrelato (78.5%). Resultados demonstraram uma correlação entre o tempo de reclusão e a vitimação quer nos dados oficiais como no autorrelato; um maior tempo de reclusão foi associado com ser vítima de violência infligida por outros reclusos. Foi encontrada uma correlação marginalmente significativa entre ser um recluso primário e o autorrelato de uma experiência de vitimação por parte de outros reclusos, o que sugere que reclusos inexperientes estão mais suscetíveis de virem a ser vitimados por reclusos mais experientes. A elevada cifra negra revelada no presente estudo sublinha a necessidade em implementar estratégias específicas para reduzir a vitimação infligida por reclusos