Aggression as a form of power with the incarceration of youth

Abstract

This thesis examined the use of aggression by youth in Pollsmoor Prison during incarceration. Though the incarceration of children and youth is a problem internationally, it is particularly problematic in South Africa where these prison facilities are overcrowded and result in disturbing social practices. They are often at risk for assault, rape and other violent interactions, often within a structured and hierarchical prison gang system. The gang culture within prisons is a crucial factor contributing to its high levels of violence, and its examination is vital to the understanding of power and aggression as a form of survival in prison.