title: Counting down: HIV prison-based peer education programs and their connection to reduced disciplinary infractions.
abstract: Involvement in prosocial prison activities can ameliorate rule-breaking conduct and assist in the reinforcement of conventional behavior. Extant research shows a connection between participation in traditional educational/vocational programs and reduced prison infractions. However, studies that examine a correlation between less traditional prison programs and better institutional conduct are lacking. This study analyzed rates of disciplinary infractions among 49 female prisoners that worked in two HIV prison-based peer programs (AIDS, Counseling, and Education [ACE] and CARE [Counseling, AIDS, Resource, and Education]) as peer educators during their incarceration. These women were unlikely to jeopardize their position by engaging in unlawful or deviant behaviors. Results showed that working in programs like ACE/CARE prevented periods of maladjustment and subsequent disciplinary infractions during incarceration.
authors.affiliation: PACE University, NY, USA kcollica@optonline.net.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Collica-Cox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003415:Crime / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009518:New York; D010379:Peer Group; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012951:Socialization
keywords: HIV peer programs; disciplinary infractions; female inmates; institutional conduct; prison; prison misconduct; rehabilitation