Prison order through the hyperopticon, collectivism, and atomisation: The surveillance and disciplining of Ukrainian prison officers

Bentham's idea of the panopticon has long influenced the theorisation of prison order. However, this model of control has been applied almost exclusively to prisoners. Drawing on ethnographic work in Ukraine, I argue that the disciplining of prison officers through institutionalised mutual surv...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Symkovych, Anton (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2023
In: Theoretical criminology
Year: 2023, Volume: 27, Issue: 3, Pages: 481-498
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
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Keywords:
penal culture
Prison officers
Ukraine
prison management
polyopticon
Hyperopticon
Description
Summary:Bentham's idea of the panopticon has long influenced the theorisation of prison order. However, this model of control has been applied almost exclusively to prisoners. Drawing on ethnographic work in Ukraine, I argue that the disciplining of prison officers through institutionalised mutual surveillance was just as important to the maintenance of prison order. Broadening the theorisation of prison order by introducing the concept of hyperopticon, I argue that prison order in a Ukrainian prison hinged on two opposites: collectivism of prisoners and atomisation of prison officers, both depending on the system of multifaceted and excessive surveillance.
ISSN:1461-7439
DOI:10.1177/13624806221141423