Understanding the Lee Prison Riot Through the Nation-as-Family Framework

Abstract The study examines the largest prison riot in twenty-five years, which occurred at Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina on 18 April 2018. Utilizing George Lakoff’s ‘Nation as Family’ framework, the research explores the underlying factors contributing to the outbreak of violence and its impact on the incarcerated population. The riot, which resulted in seven deaths and numerous injuries, highlighted severe issues such as understaffing and poor prison conditions. The study is based on in-depth interviews with 25 incarcerated men, aged 25–61 years, revealing common themes of early childhood trauma, societal disconnection, and perceived judicial biases. Findings emphasize the deteriorating relationship between incarcerated individuals and the state, exacerbated by systemic neglect, inadequate staffing, and harsh prison conditions, ultimately contributing to an environment where collective violence became inevitable