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July 13, 2026CriminologyOpen Access

The informal prisoner justice system: Classification, identification, and punishment of sex offenders behind bars

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Authors

LBLuca BerardiJTJustin E. C. TetraultKHKevin D. Haggerty

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Overview

Qualitative analysis uncovers informal justice enforcement in prisons, affecting sex offender treatment, suggesting a need for policy reconsideration.

Key Points

  • This research aims to explore the informal justice system among prisoners and how it impacts the treatment of sex offenders.
  • Conducted 576 interviews with incarcerated men and 131 correctional staff across five Western Canadian prisons.
  • Analyzed processes of classification, identification, and punishment related to sex offenders within the prison environment.
  • Investigated the role of correctional officers in facilitating prisoner governance through selective non-intervention.
  • Identified three core processes of informal justice: classification, identification, and punishment, each mirroring formal legal systems.
  • Demonstrated procedural consistency in justice enforcement across institutions despite lack of formal organization.
  • Revealed the dual authority dynamic where official rules and prisoner governance coexist.

Cite This Study

Berardi et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a548219475c38bf615a5abahttps://doi.org/10.1111/1745-9125.70061
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