I have family members who work in prisons, including my brother. My uncle was corrections officer from 1963 till 1991. My brother is one now, in New York state.
Mafia members in prisons have been discussed among us a few times. From what I have concluded listening to their stories, older mobsters doing time in 1960's and 1970's would take leadership roles among white inmates, not due to mob stature, but due to some being very rough men. They would not have absolute power, there is no one Mr. Big in any prison. They would share power, and as they all do today in prison, keep to self for most of the time. They are actually most quiet group, and cause least problems for officers.

Newer Mafia members in prison tend to fit description of suburbanites, and are not as tough as older ones were. They still are able to fight, and have respect. In prisons. No inmates, regardless of where they are from, or what their race or background is, really cares that a guy is from Mafia. How they carry selves is what counts. Today, as in past, they hang out with other white inmates, but will mix just a bit more than in past. They never pay protection. No inmates really do, because of fact that there is no one group able to control all other groups. Protection money would be wasted money. Others would just try to get some off them too.

The story of Gotti paying protection is not believed by anyone I spoke with. Consensus was that he could have done what is common for inmates to do if they have more money than others; they help out others who are around them. In regards to Gotti during his time spent in prison during 1970's for McBratney murder, no one we know remembers him. That would mean he just stayed out of trouble, and kept to self and with some friends. He did not run things, as some admirers of him might claim.