| While existing research has examined the representations of inmates in the media, or the relationships between the media and the justice system, communication scholars have largely neglected the function of media in jails and prisons. This study contributes to the scarce literature on media use in correctional facilities by exploring three interrelated areas: (1) inmates' access to media, their consumption practices, and the functions media fulfill for inmates; (2) the role of media in (re)defining prison space; and (3) the role of media in negotiating relationships and power dynamics among inmates.; The study was conducted at three correctional facilities in South Texas: a local county jail in a large city, housing male and female inmates; a state jail located on the outskirts of a metropolitan area, housing exclusively male state jail and prison inmates; and a state prison, located in a rural area, housing exclusively male inmates.; Data were collected through 255 questionnaires (203 male respondents; 45 female respondents) and 64 personal interviews, 14 of which were conducted with female inmates and 50 with male inmates. The questionnaire asked inmates about their media use (television, radio, newspaper, magazines, books, and the Internet) during and prior to incarceration. The quantitative analysis was limited to frequency distributions and cross-tabulations, which served as indicators of potential patterns of media use among inmates related to gender, race, and physical environment. All personal interviews were transcribed and analyzed employing qualitative textual analysis. Recurring themes across interviews were identified through repertoire analysis.; The results of this study confirmed existing research findings on media consumption practices among inmates; that is, media serve as a link to the outside world, provide diversion and entertainment, and provide a basis for discourse among inmates. This study expands the notion of media as tools for inmates to occupy symbolic private spaces and disconnect from their immediate surroundings. It was also found that media play an important role in negotiation of power relationships among inmates. The specific geographical and political location of the facilities added new perspectives on the contextual practices surrounding media use, particularly with regard to race. |
