Living on the Edge: Fear in a Maximum-Security Prison

Although the fear of crime among the public has been a topic of interest for researchers since the 1960s, very little is known about the phenomenon inside correctional facilities. This article presents results from a study of fear of victimization among 300 inmates housed in a maximum-security facility in the southeastern U.S. Findings show a comparatively higher rate of fear inside prison than has been documented in the free-world. Those reporting the highest levels of fear inside the prison tended to be young, socially isolated, and more frequent targets of victimization. The implications of the research and suggestions for future research on fear in prison are discussed.