Discussion»Questions»Life and Society» Are there any "social norms" that apply in prisons other than the toughest folks OWN those who aren't? Isn't brute strenth all that matters?
1. No "con" (prison lingo for "convict" or "convicted person") ever rats on any other con to the staff. The penalty for violating this can be a beating, or it can be death.
2. In prison, respect is largely defined by the amount of fear one person installs in others. This is true of both inmates and staff members.
3. For an inmate to admit that a staff member deserves respect is a cardinal sin among inmates, even if or when #2 above applies to a staff member.
4. "OGs" (prison lingo for "original gangster", meaning an older inmate whose criminal activities and most likely whose gang membership dates back prior to the dates of birth if many newer inmates) are to be respected at all costs.
5. Among inmates, those convicted of murder garner the highest respect from other inmates, and that's especially true of those who murdeted law enforcement officers.
6. Gang leaders, Mafia dons, criminal kingpins, etc maintain the same or more respect inside of prison as they had on the outside of prison. After #5 above, violent felons usually garner more respect than non-violent felons.
7. Felons who committed crimes against children are pariahs.
8. Acts of revenge against inmates by other inmates must be approved by the in-prison gang hierarchy. To act without it endangers the gangs' powers and can invite harsh reprisals from them.
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