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Strain & Gain: From Deprivation to Innovation within Restricted Housing Units

ABSTRACT The deprived nature of restricted housing units (RHUs) leaves residents fraught with an innumerable amount of strain. Coupled with a problematic grievance system, the social structure of RHUs can prevent residents from attaining desired goals of basic needs through conventional/formal RHU routines and processes. Framing our data using Merton’s strain theory, we find some residents turn to deviant innovative behaviors as a means of achieving basic goals when they have no legitimate way of attaining them otherwise. Analyzing data from interviews with 44 male residents, our study examines the characteristics of RHU residents’ innovation. Our findings show these innovative behaviors are characterized by the number of actors, the communication style of the behavior, and the degree of violence. These findings begin to unpack how extremely punitive and tightly controlled sanctions may work in counterproductive ways. We also discuss the theoretical and policy implications of this contradictory behavior and what it means for prison administrators.