Futurelessness, Risk Perceptions, and Commitment to Institutional Rules Among a Sample of Incarcerated Men and Women

Abstract

Using self-reported surveys of a sample of 2,927 incarcerated men and women from correctional facilities of varying security levels in the United States, this study explores the interrelationship of futurelessness, perceived certainty and celerity of punishment, and commitment to institutional rules. Incarcerated individuals’ commitment to rules with an adult sample has not been explored with consideration to emotionality. Findings suggest that futurelessness and risk perceptions are directly and significantly associated with commitment to institutional rules after controlling for several importation and deprivation factors associated with institutional misconduct. Contrary to the suggestions of prior research, risk perceptions did not mediate the futurelessness–commitment to institutional rules relationship. Direct quotes from study participants are included to contextualize and frame the policy implications of the findings. Theoretical implications and directions for future research are also discussed.

Futurelessness and Commitment to Institutional Rules Among People in Jail

“…Commitment to institutional rules. Consistent with prior work (Abderhalden et al, 2020), the measure of commitment to institutional rules is made up of a three-item mean standardized index. This involves standardizing each item by subtracting the mean of that item from each individual response then taking the arithmetic mean of the three items by adding them together and dividing by the number of items.…”

“…Perhaps most relevant to the present study, Abderhalden et al (2020) examined futurelessness in relation to commitment to follow institutional rules among a sample of 2,927 people incarcerated in prison. They found that greater perceptions of futurelessness were associated with a weaker commitment to follow institutional rules.…”

“…They found that greater perceptions of futurelessness were associated with a weaker commitment to follow institutional rules. In addition, they tested the mediating relationship of risk perceptions (certainty and celerity), but found no evidence that risk perceptions mediated the association between futurelessness and commitment to institutional rules (Abderhalden et al, 2020). While prisons and jails share some similarities, as discussed above, the institutions and the people they house have different experiences and expectations.…”

“…Recent research highlights the importance of having hope for the future on commitment to following institutional rules in prisons (Abderhalden et al, 2020). However, Abderhalden et al (2020)-similar to prior studies, used a single-item measure of futurelessness capturing a sense of hope for the future.…”

“…Recent research highlights the importance of having hope for the future on commitment to following institutional rules in prisons (Abderhalden et al, 2020). However, Abderhalden et al (2020)-similar to prior studies, used a single-item measure of futurelessness capturing a sense of hope for the future. Other studies (e.g., Piquero, 2016) have also used single-item indicators like expected age at death-with a shorter life-expectancy indicating a greater sense of futurelessness.…”