When Military Uniforms Change Into Prison Uniforms: Military Prison Incarceration Among Ethiopian Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces

In contrast with studies examining the incarceration experience in civil prisons, there is a lack of literature and theory focusing on military prison experience. The present retrospective qualitative study explored 27 Ethiopian-Israelis, an overrepresented population Israeli prison, incarcerated during their service due to desertion offenses. Two main themes developed from interviews: (a) as tool achieve personal goals (b) Self-perception victims system. Findings suggest that may be different civilian incarceration, at times lacking negative psychological described incarceration. On theoretical level, results not universal but, rather, dependent social cultural context meaning for individual involved.