Final answer:
Prison gangs use a “code” or “constitution” as their set of rules while incarcerated, which is integral to the social order within prison environments that function as total institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that prison gangs use for the set of rules they follow while incarcerated is often referred to as the “code” or “constitution.” Within the context of total institutions such as prisons, where individuals are cut off from larger society and must adapt to an enforced set of rules, these informal guidelines become central to the operation of prison gangs. Developed and enforced by the inmates themselves, the code governs behavior within the group, establishing a hierarchy of authority, along with rules for interaction with other inmates, prison staff, and the outside world.
The history of jails and prisons in America is marked by various approaches to the treatment of inmates, and the debate about rehabilitation versus punishment continues to this day. Prison gangs might see their codes as necessary for survival in a system that individuals often believe is too lax on prisoners or, conversely, fails to rehabilitate effectively. The Stanford prison experiment and the military's basic training are analogous in their processes of stripping away old identities and implementing strict rules, reflecting the processes of resocialization and identity rebuilding that may also occur in prisons.