“It'll Never Happen”: Racial Integration in California Men's Prisons

Abstract

For much of its history, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has segregated inmates upon their arrival to a prison reception center according to race category. Inmates also participate in this segregation by maintaining their own and other inmates' adherence to rules known as “politics.” Presently, as a result of a mediated legal agreement, the CDCR agreed to implement the Integrated Housing Program to racially integrate their adult, male inmates in two-man cells. Using logistic regression analysis, this study reveals patterns in the willingness of inmates to racially integrate. Contrary to inmates' and officers' beliefs, results suggest that race category is not a significant predictor of inmates' willingness to integrate. Instead results show that inmates with safety concerns and those who are older are more willing to participate in integration and gang members are less willing to do so. A discussion of the results points to the importance of analyses that include those processed in the criminal justice system. Doing so provides important evidence that can inform criminal justice policy and practice.