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Development of Corrections

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Development of Corrections

Women’s prisons, prior to and during the early 1800’s, were deplorable at best. Women, who committed crimes, from common theft to capital murder, were held in the same cells together, along with their children, until they were tried at trial. Prisons did not provide food, clothing or drinks to the women and children during their stay. Family members had to provide those items themselves. Children also accompanied the women to their trial and executions. Afterwards, many died still in prison. In 1816, Elizabeth Frye founded the association for the improvement of female prisoners, introducing six reform goals: That women should care and guard each other; only communication between them that would discipline and discourage theft after prison; that prisoners should not depend on family for necessities such as food and clothing; prisoners were to be paid for work done in the prison, so they may support the rehabilitation; the women should work and eat together, but sleep separately; and religious instruction for full rehabilitation. The three basic arguments established in the 1800’s that support the separation of juvenile prisoners from adult prisoners are; 1. Penitentiary procedures were too harsh on younger delinquents. 2. Younger prisoners picked-up bad habits and examples from adult prisoners; also, confinement left them bitter after a certain amount of time. 3. Juveniles can be reformed better when placed in a facility among children their own ages, and at an early enough time. If there were no distinctions between juvenile and adult prisons, juveniles would not be able to reform themselves properly and successfully if they were released into the adult prisons. This exposure would not allow them to learn from their past mistakes in order to change, but rather, would help

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