The impact of inmate characteristics on perceptions of race relations in prison

Race relations is an issue of great concern to correctional administrators. Prior correctional research has examined only tangentially the impact of race and other sociodemographic variables on inmate perceptions of the institutional experience. Virtually no research has been conducted on Hispanic inmates, one of the fastest growing inmate populations. This research builds on prior research on the impact of race on inmate adjustment patterns, and adds to the literature by including other significant sociodemographic and criminal history variables as well as including a significant number of Hispanic subjects. The authors surveyed 775 recently released Texas inmates, or exmates. Exmates were asked their perceptions of race relations in prison. The relationship between selected sociodemographic and criminal history characteristics and exmate perceptions of race relations is examined.