...Francisco Lara CJR 240 March 1, 2011 History of the Prison System Prison is an institution for the confinement of persons convicted of criminal offenses. Throughout history, most societies have built places in which to hold persons accused of criminal acts pending some form of trial. The idea of confining persons after a trial as punishment for their crimes is relatively new. During the 15th century in Europe, the penalties for crimes were some form of corporal punishment like whippings for less serious crimes and execution or enslavement for more serious offenses. In early 16th century England, vagrants and petty offenders were committed to correctional institutions known as workhouses. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the government transported convicted felons to the English colonies. The punishment was thought of as the hard labor to which the prisoners were consigned. It wasn't until the 17th century that the idea that persons convicted of crimes could be punished by confinement and released after a period of time. During the 17th century, England and other European countries like Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands began imprisoning debtors, delinquent juveniles, minor misdemeanant, and felons. Early jails were mostly dark, overcrowded, and filthy. Prisoners were herded together indiscriminately, with no separation of men and women, the ...
Words: 3246 - Pages: 13
...History of the United States Prison Marshall Keese Introduction to Criminal Justice CRJ-100-201103 05/14/2011 Instructor: Andrew Blank History of the United States Prison Introduction This research paper is on the history of the prison in America. How it came to be in its present state? Things I will be writing about in this paper are the early history of the prison history in England. I will be talking about early American prisons, the goal of rehabilitation, prison labor, changes in the prison system, rehab programs, population, housing and prison organization we will hit briefly on all those aspects of the history of prisons. The reasoning behind this paper is because many people do not know why prison are the way they are now. In order to know why we have prisons the way we have them today you have to know where they came from. The main findings from my paper are from the internet. Articles that I read for this are Towards a Fair and Balanced Assessment of Supermax Prisons by Daniel P. Mears and Jamie Watson. The textbook Twelfth Edition Introduction to Criminal Justice Author Larry Siegel Chapter 16. Prison Reform in Pennsylvania by Norman Johnston P.H.D Board member Emeritus of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, Wikipedia. The short History of Prison by the Howard League for Penal Reform. These articles helped me to understand how we have the prison system today. I found that...
Words: 1951 - Pages: 8
...Jail and Prisons Comparison Paper Mary Ann Everett CJA/234 Introduction to Corrections 12/15/13 Steven Nance This paper use some information found in the CJi Interactive Multimedia and weeks readings. Have a description of jail’s place in corrections its role throughout history; a summary of the history of state and federal prisons. Comparison of the similarities and differences between security levels in jails, state prisons and federal prisons. Explanation of factors influencing growth in jails, state, and federal prisons. In colonial america where humiliation, workhouses, and corporal punishment to was used to punish criminals by 1790 where penitentiary era begins. In 1786, Pennsylvania Quakers said honest labor was a humane way to deal with convicts and to provided labor for public projects wearing thee ball, chain and bright unstylish clothes to prevent escapes. In other colonies had replaced public humiliation with incarceration and early lockups were under local control with mixing convicts of both genders from petty thieves to violent offenders. Our nation took shape each county and state maintain its own incarceration system where jails were maintain by the local sheriff’s department housed small infractions like loitering to severe crimes like murder until disposition. State or federal authorities in prisons provided confinement for offenders sentenced to over one year of incarceration. Penitentiary Era in 1790, attribute to separate and silent system, sought...
Words: 876 - Pages: 4
...The Purpose and History of Penitentiaries Would you be able to envision what it would be like if we lived in a world where there are no consequences for law and or rules that have been broken? Our current Criminal Justice System is the aftereffect of changes that have occurred over a period of time. Throughout the years, components have been created to uphold rules and regulations and laws as well as punish criminals. Throughout this paper I will discuss the history of punishment and how prisons were developed. The impact and involvement of prison labor overtime and the Pennsylvania and Auburn system. History of Punishment Penology the study of punishment evolved in the 1950s. During this rehabilitation replaced the punishment of offenders and became the main objective. Also during this time the term penology was replaced by the term corrections. Corrections is defined as the supervision and monitoring of offenders, the secure holdings of inmates in prisons, and the treatment of problems such as drug addiction, mental illness and other services (Seiter, 2014, “Chapter 1, The History of Crimes and Corrections, What is Corrections?”). In the eighteen century an Italian theorist founded the classical school of criminology. His first theory of crime causation was linked to appropriate punishments. “Beccaria suggested that the purpose of punishment is utility or the prevention of crime. Included in his principles are that crime is an injury to society, that prevention is more...
Words: 1567 - Pages: 7
...The Prison System CJS/200 October 24, 2010 Monty Mathis The Prison System History of the prison system Prisons back in the 16th and 17th centuries were used to punish people who could not pay their taxes, and rent among other things they were called Debtor’s prison these were a form of a work house. A public display of punishment for a convicted criminal such as stock’s even branding. In the 18th century this is when the public started opposing the death penalty except for serious crimes such as murder. From the mid 18th century to be imprisoned meant hard labor for those who committed petty crimes. By 1777 John Howard (namesake of the Howard League) chastises the prison system as being filthy, barbaric, and disorganized. (Howard League, 2006) The Great Penitentiary Rivalry involved the state of Pennsylvania and the state of New York. And, each state believed that the system they had in place was the best system to address the constant issue of overcrowding. Pennsylvania constructed two new prisons; the Western Penitentiary and the Eastern Penitentiary. Their system was based on the concept of silence as a virtue (Gaines & Miller, 2009). In Pennsylvania the inmates were kept separate from one another and the only contact they had was with clergyman and staff. New York’s Newgate Prison, built in 1791, was operated the same as those in Pennsylvania except they were able to eat together – in silence. Although there are different types of systems in place today, both...
Words: 1059 - Pages: 5
...History of Prisons CJA/234 February 3, 2014 Robert Bennett This week’s readings reflected the history of prisons and the eras in which they have evolved. Within this document the evolution of today’s prison systems will be discussed, along with the complications of prison overcrowding. Finally the comparison of today’s prison to the prisons of the past. The penitentiary era changed using the Quaker’s system converting the Walnut Street jail into use instead of using the older method of stocks, flogging, and public humiliation. This was a more humane way to deal with the individuals who chose to break the laws set before them. The inmates were able to work on crafts to keep themselves occupied and their sanity level was maintainable. The mass prison era changed the ways of the jail to a prison in which there were more solitude and less rehabilitation. Inmates were not allowed to speak to make contact with each other, but vocational job training was introduced. Not until the reformatory era was the idea of education introduced into prisons to allow children and adults to become educated with incarcerated. Also the ability for early release for good behavior was introduced. The industrial era introduced prison work labor. Inmates within the prison system would create goods for the public for a minimal wage. The punitive era did away with the industrial aspect of prisons. The ability for education became a luxury, and maximum security prisons were built. As the restrictions...
Words: 962 - Pages: 4
...The purpose and history of penitentiaries Nakethia Polycarpe Introduction to Corrections/CJA/234February 16, 2015 Professor Jason Driver The purpose and history of penitentiaries The history and purpose of penitentiaries started during the year of 1700’s, I have learned and read that the first prison was created to house criminals or anyone who committed an act of crime. During this era, criminals while in jail were expected to read the bible and to concentrate on the crimes they committed. Penitentiary which means (a prison for people convicted of serious crimes), began to be use to help to describe the facilities used to hold the prisoners serving sentences or the place to work off the crime. The History of Punishment The purpose and history of penitentiaries The history of penitentiaries started in the eighteenth century. The punishment was known to be extremely brutal which included things such as torture beatings, branding and mutilation. American colonies based their development of punishment of the English criminal codes as well as the incorporation of the Puritan’s matching of crime with sin or wrong doing. Also, I have researched that bolections of expected community were dealt with several using corporal and capital punishment to help stop violence and bad behaviors. British society started to move away from corporal punishment and toward imprisonment with the hope of reforming the mind and body. These changes ultimately helped to form the way for penitentiaries...
Words: 872 - Pages: 4
...Purpose and History Amirah Shepard CJA/234 June 9, 2014 Shawna Olachea Purpose and History American culture has always placed importance on punishing people who commit acts unacceptable to the social norms of society. Because of this need, the development of prisons were constructed to house the individuals, so they can serve their time away from free individuals. Prisons are an intricate part of our history, starting from the late 1700’s up until now our system continues to redefine itself based on the needs of society. I will explore the evolution of punishment, prison system and how prison labor impacts over time. Punishment can be defined as the correctional goal with emphasis on inflicting pain or suffering. (Seiter, 2011) Punishment is used as a form of social control, it is viewed, that, a person will refrain from wrongdoing if the consequences impact their freedom. Since the ancient times of the Code of Hammarbi, banishment, and beheading punishment has been a part of how our culture deals with offenders. We can trace back punishment to the colonial days where punishment was based on community opinion and punishment was publicly displayed to ridicule and deter others from such behavior. This type of punishment started to transform into a more organized structure because of enlightened political philosophy, a more humane approach was sought. Incarceration became the vehicle in which the American justice system dealt with deviant behavior. Sir Alex Patterson...
Words: 893 - Pages: 4
...History of state and federal prisons The histories of the state and federal prison systems have some connections which both systems has something distinctive. The State is usually operated by the state governments and consists of prisoners that are considered blue collar criminals and the federal systems are mainly associated with white collar criminals. Both prison systems have security levels which include minimum, low, medium, and high levels of security. History of punishment dates back to the origin of various civilizations. The former colonial criminal edicts were a inquisitive blend of English barbarity, religion, and pragmatism. Ever since the beginning of the world people have devised ways to punish individuals who commit offensive and intolerable acts. The idea of prisons however came later and the use of jails and detention methods was seen as more humanitarian process when compared to formal corporal methods to punish an offensive individual. In 1700 century the former philosophy of prison was presented and was accepted widely. In 1790 first ever prison was constructed in United States named as Walnut Street Jail. As the time went by the framework and processes of prison systems were devised and by 1930 The Federal Bureau of Prison was developed by congress that was headed by President Herbert Hoover .The original impartial United States prison was an old army penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and started accommodating offenders in 1895 (Keve,1995). In1880s...
Words: 378 - Pages: 2
...Purpose and history of penitentiaries Name Date CJA/234 Introduction to Corrections Instructors Name History of Punishment History of punishment exists since of thousands of years. Though, it is very tough to decide when exactly human civilization started punishment system. There are some records to support the start of punishment system. The earliest legal code may have been that of Ur-Nammu, Founder of third dynasty of Ur at about 2050 BC. In this legal code actually a person will have to pay for something he does wrong. Usually the payment will be done in Silver Mina. Later, In Samarian records there was actually death penalty was given at murder trial. In the “Law of Eshunna” the upper class and lower class were given different punishment. This law use to cover every aspect of social life including marriage, divorce, Loans etc. The punishments were in form of monetary. The code of Hammurabi written around 1750 BC. By this code, abiding principle was Talio which has to do with mutilating the part of the body which has committed crime. In the kingdom, the legal rights and judicial process were available for everyone. But slaves and prisoners of war were not...
Words: 856 - Pages: 4
...consist of counseling, treatment programs, and prisons, concrete and bars. Corrections is one of the final components in the criminal justice system. After a person get arrested and goes through the court process and has received a conviction then it’s off to the department of corrections. History of Punishment All throughout history there have different types of punishments. For example during the time of King Hammurabi, punishment for a crime was very strict. If a person stole something they would get a hand cut off to show everyone in the land that he or she was a thief. Another way of punishment in ancient time to have a person banished from the land. The banishments were temporary periods or permanently. The law of the land had a lot to do with the type of punishment that a person would receive. Historically punishment was painful and shameful. Offenders were placed in stocks and pillories as punishment in front of the townspeople. Today people here in the United States are place in prison, parole, or probation for the different crime that one commits. People at home punish their children by grounding them, taking away something, timeout, or spankings. Punishment is nothing more than try to correct the wrong. For example, murder, murder can be punishable in many different ways. The first the convicted person could receive a lift time in prison, and second a person my receive the death penalty. History of Prison Development William Penn, the governor...
Words: 870 - Pages: 4
...Purpose and History Chris Souza CJA/234 May 5, 2014 Moore When you think of the purpose of prison, what comes to mind? To house some of the world’s most notorious criminals? To rehabilitate those who has seen the evil of their own ways? Or has America's melting pot of philosophies has made it difficult to manage societal institutions? Throughout this paper the discussion of how the history of prison development was established. The history of punishment for those who committed their crimes will be in focus. We will compare the Pennsylvania system and the Auburn system to each other. Finally, the impact of prison labor overtime shall be discussed. For some the purpose of prison is to protect society from criminals who intend to harm innocent civilians. For others a prison's purpose is to rehabilitate citizens who need skills to become upstanding members of society. Still others believe that a prison provides a way for criminals to be punished and therefore pay their debt to society. Within the correctional system of America there are varying degrees of incarceration. The history of punishment in corrections of prisons can be dated back as far as 1750 B.C. One of the earliest known written codes that specified different types of offenses and punishments was the Code of Hammurabi. The Code of Hammurabi was divided into sections to cover different types of offenses and contained descriptions of the punishments to be imposed to offenders. (Lych, 2014) There were five punishments...
Words: 1041 - Pages: 5
...Punishment and Penitentiaries Punishment and Penitentiaries The History of Punishment The earliest history of punishment began when the founder of the 3rd dynasty of Ur, created the earliest code known as the Ur-Nammu back in 2050 B.C. In the Ur-Nammu code, there were clear statements about if a person does something, what he will have to pay. Usually the payment was in silver and in later years there were records that the death penalty was given to murderers. The Code of Hammurabi was written in 1750 B.C. By this code, the abiding principle was Talio, which had to do for mutilating or amputating the part of the body that had committed the crime. Under the Code of Hammurabi, the death penalty was awarded for crimes such as thievery, selling or receiving stolen goods, kidnapping, assisting fugitive slaves and for the sale of drink or even keeping a disorderly tavern. In the first five books of the Bible, Biblical punishments follow Hammurabi. In later eras, each civilization developed their set of codes and punishments to fit their needs and own beliefs. The Development of Prisons Until the late 18th century, prisons were used mainly for the confinement of debtors who could not meet their obligations, of accused persons waiting to be tried, and of convicts who were waiting for their sentences—either death or banishment—to be put in effect. Imprisonment, later, also became the means of punishing convicted criminals. During the 16th century, a number of houses...
Words: 976 - Pages: 4
...Purpose and History Paper Purpose and History Paper For at least a century, Prisons have always been a part of society. For many decades, penitentiaries have been embedded into our society as form of rehabilitation; or in some cases, a form of order and public safety. Throughout history, penitentiaries had evolved steadily; however, some may say that these facilities have evolved into something that was never intended. With that being said, let’s explore how penitentiaries were originated. Today, Prisons are recognized as a ‘method” of corrections, as well as, a form of deterrence; however, this wasn’t the case many years ago. During the early 1600s, prisons were known as jails. These jails were recognized as temporary rehabilitation facilities for just minor offenders (National Institute of Corrections, 1986). These jail facilities instituted punishments in the forms of shackles, lashings, and hard labor on the minor offenders. Even though these facilities were known to be a huge success, they were still primarily for minor offenders. Serious offenders were still tortured, mutilated, deported, and even executed (Smith, 2006, Chapter 4). During the 1700’s, Europe & North American jails weren't so organized. Jail and workhouse administrators were allowed to anything that they wanted with their inmates. The government was very lenient. Inmates were permitted by jail keepers to do anything they pleased. Inmates were permitted to make up their own rules. While there...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...Jails and Prisons Matthew Holbrook May 28, 2015 University of Phoenix CJA/234 Brenda Barney Jails and Prisons The criminal justice system is made up of three components which are police, courts, and corrections. Corrections are potentially the largest cog in this machine by volume of employees. Corrections are also often considered the most important, because the other two would have nowhere to send offenders if it were not for the correctional sector. The largest portion of corrections can be seen in the operation of jails and prisons in the United States. These two separate entities, which are often confused by the layman, do share similarities, but along with these similarities also come key differences. In order to understand and appreciate the broad level of care that these types of facilities provide, it is paramount to explore their histories, their differences, and common issues that are faced within them. Jails have the longest history of any other penal institution. They have typically served, and still do to this day, as an area where the accused go to trial and the minor criminals serve their time. Early jails in the United States were fairly direct copies of gaols, which were used to detain individuals awaiting either trial or punishment. This was combined fairly early on with the concept of punishing minor criminals as well. Shortly after their introduction, jails experienced reforms at the hands of the figures that sought to remove unsanitary and inhumane...
Words: 1366 - Pages: 6
