These lively and stimulating ideas for use in and out of class reinforce active learning. The activities apply to individual or group projects.

9-1:  Compare importation theory with exportation theory.

1. Documentation:  In groups of 3-5, portray importation theory and exportation theory, including likely overlap between the two and how they impact prison subculture. Portray these theories through role playing, diagrams, or outlining examples.
2. Writing:  Imagine you have been incarcerated for a month and are increasingly realizing the pains of imprisonment. In 1000-1200 words, describe how you are adapting to these pains, prison life, and your new reality. Include reflection on your interaction within prison subculture.

9-2:  Discuss the modern inmate subculture standards.

1. Practicum:  The convict code strongly deters snitching and jeopardizes though who come forth to authorities with information about other inmates. Imagine you are a team of administrators who want more information about inmates for security purposes but do not want to jeopardize the safety of those who come forward. In groups of 3-5, devise 5 action points that could help achieve these objectives.
2. Writing:  PREA mandates that BJS review and analyze sexual abuse in prisons. How can policy makers, prison administrators, and prison staff build on the data collected by BJS to reduce rape in prisons? In 800-1000 words, discuss the problem of rape in prisons and potential room for further action to prevent it. 

9-3:  Evaluate the impact of prison culture on corrections staff.

1. Role-playing:  In groups of 4-6, create 2 scenarios demonstrating how a veteran prison officer might use discretion in interactions with inmates, and how a rooking prison officer might aim to use discretion. What are similarities and differences between these scenarios?
2. Writing:  Describe why symbiotic prison relationships emerge in prison, and the opportunities and challenges they present. Discuss in 800-1000 words.

9-4:  Describe the process of Prisonization.

1. Role-playing:  In groups of 4-6, create 3-5 scenarios that demonstrate prisonization and its impacts on prison staff and inmates. Discuss how the scenarios reveal prison subculture’s effects on staff and inmates.
2. Writing:  Imagine you recently became a prison guard and feel your thoughts and interactions are changing. In 500-800 words reflect on how prison subculture might be affecting you and how you feel about these changes.

9-5:  Identify various aspects of guard subculture, including the unique subculture of female correctional officers.

1. Role-playing:  In groups of 4-6, create 3-5 scenarios that demonstrate central tenets of prison guards’ subculture.
2. Writing:  In 500-800 words, discuss specific challenges for women prison guards and how their increasing role in security ranks impacts guard subculture.

9-6:  Discuss the impact that prison gangs have had on prisons, including the traditional prison subculture.

1. Practicum:  Given that there is significant cross-pollination of street gangs and prison gangs, how might local prison administrators and police administrators collaborate to create effective enforcement strategies to control gangs? In groups of 3-5, outline 5-7 action points that might facilitate such collaboration. Consider potential challenges and opportunities with this potential plan.
2. Writing:  Consider the economic backgrounds and opportunities for many people who are engaged in gangs and/or incarcerated. How might the business opportunities and familial-style security appeal to these individuals? What are the effects of prison viewed as a business risk for gang members? Discuss in 1000-1200 words.

9-7:  Explain what prison systems do to control gang problems that occur in their facilities.

1. Documentation:  In groups of 3-5, create a timeline across a map of the U.S. with gang emergence in prisons. Discuss how these gangs interact with historical events, one another, and prison staff, and how prison security tactics and combat these security threat groups.
2. Writing:  In an era with increasing criminal justice reform, gangs inside and outside of prison remain prevalent. In 500-800 words, discuss how reform efforts can potentially address the persistence of gangs.