The Relationship between Illness Complaints and Degree of Crowding in a Prison Environment

Abstract
Illness complaint rates were examined in relation to degree of crowding in a federal prison and a county jail. It was found that dorm inmates in the prison had higher complaint rates than those in single cells. In the jail inmates in units of high spatial and social density had higher complaint rates than those in less crowded units. These findings suggest that crowding in prisons may induce psychological stress which can be reflected in an increased level of illness complaints.