The Reality of Bullying Among Male Prisoners of Restorative and Restoration Centers in Palestine: A Criminal Statistical Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59992/IJLRS.2026.v5n8p7Keywords:
Criminal statistics, bullying phenomenon, prisoners, crime, correctional, rehabilitation centersAbstract
This study, employing applied criminal statistics, aims to estimate the prevalence of bullying among inmates in Palestinian correctional and rehabilitation centers, to test the significance of statistical differences in prevalence rates according to various socio-demographic variables, and to classify the dominant interactive categories (bullies, victims, and bully-victims). The study sample comprised 340 inmates, randomly selected from four correctional facilities, utilizing two distinct scales to measure bullying perpetration and victimization.
The findings revealed the following distribution: bullies accounted for 13.5%, victims for 10.2%, bully-victims for 37.8%, and neutral individuals for 38.5%. The results further indicated significant associations; higher prevalence rates were observed among inmates with a duration of stay of less than one year, unmarried inmates, first-time incarcerants, and convicted individuals. In terms of professional backgrounds, bullies were predominantly self-employed, while victimization rates were higher among employees. Additionally, the bully-victim category showed higher rates among unmarried inmates, first-time incarcerants, those with industrial craft professions, and convicted individuals.
Regarding behavioral patterns, social neglect/ignoring was the most frequently perpetrated behavior by bullies, whereas spreading rumors was the most common form of victimization experienced. Among the bully-victims, name-calling was the most perpetrated behavior, while spreading rumors was the most frequently reported victimization they endured. Overall, these results confirm the widespread prevalence of indirect and non-physical patterns of bullying, underscoring the critical need for correctional policies to implement preventive and rehabilitative interventions that are explicitly tailored to these specific demographic profiles and interactive role dynamics.
References
• Al-Shawiki, R. (2025). The effectiveness of social counseling in reducing inmates' problems in rehabilitation and correctional centers: A study from the perspective of social workers in counseling institutions in the southern West Bank. Journal of the Faculty of Social Work for Studies and Social Research, 38, 301-320. https://doi.org/10.21608/jfss.2025.416039.
• Anguiano-Carrasco, C., & Vigil-Colet, A. (2011). Assessing indirect aggression in aggressors and targets: Spanish adaptation of the Indirect Aggression Scales. Psicothema, 23(1), 146-152.
• Archer, J., Ireland, J. L., & Power, C. L. (2007). Differences between bullies and victims, and men and women, on aggression-related variables among prisoners. British Journal of Social Psychology, 46(2), 299-322. doi:https://doi.org/10.1348/014466606X114083.
• Archer, J., & Southall, N. (2009). Does cost–benefit analysis or self-control predict involvement in bullying behavior by male prisoners? Aggressive Behavior, 35(1), 31-40. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.20283.
• Bsharat, S. (2026). The role of educational technology in reducing the phenomenon of school violence among basic stage students from the perspective of public school teachers in Palestine: A proposed developmental educational vision to activate it. Palestinian Educators Association Journal of Arts, Educational and Psychological Studies, 11(19), 456-480.
• Carlen, P. (2017). A criminological imagination: Essays on justice punishment, discourse Routledge.
• Connell, A., Farrington, D. P., & Ireland, J. L. (2016). Characteristics of bullies and victims among incarcerated male young offenders. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 8(2), 114-123. doi:10.1108/jacpr-12-2015-0200.
• Diamantis, M. (2026). Of Crime and Men.
• Forsyth, J., Shaw, J., & Shepherd, A. (2022). The support and supervision needs of prison officers working within prison environments.An empty systematic review. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 33, 1-16. doi:10.1080/14789949.2022.2085150.
• Hamedl, P., & Monina, G. (2021). Monitoring Prison Violence - A Handbook for National Preventive Mechanisms.
• Han, S. (2025). The strongman phenomenon: unpacking the role of subjective class. Politics, Groups, and Identities, 1-19. doi:10.1080/21565503.2025.2539500.
• Ireland, J., & Qualter, P. (2008). Bullying and social and emotional loneliness in a sample of adult male prisoners. International journal of law and psychiatry, 31, 19-29. doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2007.11.005.
• Ireland, J. L. (2005). Bullying among prisoners: innovations in research and theory. Cullompton, Devon: Willan.
• Kingham, J. D. (2021). Uncontrolled Movements: An Overview of Abdicated Control in Florida’s Prison Food Spaces. Gastronomica, 21(4), 1-8. doi:10.1525/gfc.2021.21.4.1.
• Koiv, K. (2016). A descriptive analysis of bullying in prison: a study of male offenders in Estonia. Eesti Haridusteaduste Ajakiri. Estonian Journal of Education, 4, 165-190. doi:10.12697/eha.2016.4.2.07.
• Larke, I. D. (2004). The relationship between bullying and social skills in elementary school students.
• Monks, C. P., & Smith, P. K. (2006). Definitions of bullying: Age differences in understanding of the term, and the role of experience. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 24(4), 801-821. doi:https://doi.org/10.1348/026151005X82352.
• Olweus, D., Limber, S. P., & Breivik, K. (2019). Addressing specific forms of bullying: A large-scale evaluation of the Olweus bullying prevention program. International journal of bullying prevention, 1(1), 70-84.
• Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2025). Number of detained and convicted in correctional and rehabilitation centers in Palestine by governorate and sex, 2024. https://pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/prison2024_1E.html.
• Palmer, E. J., & Thakordas, V. (2005). Relationship between bullying and scores on the Buss‐Perry Aggression Questionnaire among imprisoned male offenders. Aggressive Behavior: Official Journal of the International Society for Research on Aggression, 31(1), 56-66.
• Rokach, A., & Philibert, G. (2016). Bullying and Victimization in Jail. An Interdisciplinary Journal, 99.
• Sithuga, N. P., & Goliada, N. (2026). Exploring the barriers to offender rehabilitation: The experiences of correctional officers in Limpopo correctional centres. International Journal of Business Ecosystem & Strategy (2687-2293), 7, 486-493. doi:10.36096/ijbes.v7i6.1105.
• Skelly, P. (2025). From A Cell to A Classroom. Adult Education, Identity, and the Teaching Journey After Incarceration in Ireland. National University of Ireland Maynooth.
• South, C., & Wood, J. (2006). Bullying in prisons: The importance of perceived social status, prisonization, and moral disengagement. Aggressive Behavior, 32, 490-501. doi:10.1002/ab.20149.
• Suraj, A., Professor, K., & Wayal, A. (2025). The Influenceof Prison Architectureon Inmate Well-Being: A Studyof Indoorand Outdoor Spaces. Volume XIV, 500-511.
• Syouri, S., & Kh, H. (2026). Criminal Statistics as an Analytical Tool for Evaluating Police Performance under Economic Duress A Longitudinal case study of the Palestinian Police (2019 – 2025). 5, 51-56.
• Syouri, S. T. R. (2026). Crime Statistics as a Tool for Predicting Criminal Behavior in the West Bank: Challenges of the Palestinian Reality and Prospects for Security Planning. An-Najah University Journal for Law and Economics, 9999(9999). doi:10.35552/anujrle.a2774.
• Turner, P., & Ireland, J. L. (2010). Do personality characteristics and beliefs predict intra-group bullying between prisoners? Aggressive Behavior, 36(4), 261-270. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.20346.
• Walters, G. D. (2025). The effect of direct interventions for antisocial cognition on recidivism in antisocial populations: a meta-analysis. Journal of Experimental Criminology, 1-17.
• Wood, J., Moir, A., & James, M. (2009). Prisoners’ gang-related activity: the importance of bullying and moral disengagement. Psychology, Crime & Law, 15(6), 569-581. doi:10.1080/10683160802427786.
