Prisoner Leadership and Drugs

In this chapter we examine the dynamics of leadership in relation to illicit drug trade and recovery processes. By integrating real-life accounts and scholarly criminological analysis, we uncover the multifaceted nature of prisoner leadership, including the external influences brought into the prison, as well as the internal transformations that occur in prison. The analysis focuses on two key dimensions: (1) the leadership that emerges in the context of drug trafficking and (2) the often-overlooked leadership roles associated with drug recovery and rehabilitation. Our findings suggest that prisoner leadership in the area of drugs is fluid, capable of evolving in diverse directions, and holds significant potential for positive impact, particularly with regard to aiding recovery. Most importantly, we identify such positive leadership representations to go considerably beyond monolithic ideas of ‘bad’ prisoner leaders concerned with drug smuggling that so often dominate the literature and the collective imaginary. We conclude the chapter by calling for further research to deepen our understanding of the causal mechanisms and outcomes associated with leadership development in prisons—insights that can also inform the development of more effective criminal justice policies and practices.