...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...
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...of corrections. In this paper I will discuss the past, present and future trends of corrections, I will analyze current and future issues facing prisons and prison administrators as well as the role/issues of alternate correction systems as a developing trend. Past Corrections In today’s society the jails and prison pretty much function in the same ways. The history of the State prisons began at the Walnut Street Jail in 1790, it was called the first American penitentiary located in Philadelphia, and the building had been operated as a city jail. Some of the same functions and principles were used in England, also these functions were used in the United States as early as the eighteenth century, in England during that time did very little when it came down to punishment. There was very little difference between the two correction systems in the United States, the punishment was significant, but it was very noticeable that the American’s corrections’ system difference in punishment, for example: the use of capital punishment. Therefore, when it came down to the death sentence, the United States had more criminals sentenced to death than England’s courts. For many, they fought against the conviction of death, and even torture, but at that time that was the law, for the death sentence in a pre-meditated murder cases, but in today’s society, much of that has been lifted, but it is still used today. The main goal of the corrections system is for the...
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...writings “Discipline and Punishment “evaluated how the rise in prisons in the 18th century was a major factor in the formation of the way today’s world views punishment. Philosophers such as Voltaire and Jean Jac Brusseau and Jean Loc made way for social change with their views on human potential, free will and the innate goodness of man. These philosophers voiced their opinion against torture and capital punishment which in their minds represented barbarism. Prison sentences in that age became a way so that judges could not punish those who in their minds were deemed most severe. These views on punishment obviously have changed over time, in my opinion capital punishment serves as a better means as any to punish those who have committed crimes giving those offenders a chance at rehabilitation and redeeming themselves. Prisons in today’s society have gone a long way since prisons in the past, they still may need a little work done to make them a better environment to live in for inmates, but are still an upgrade from how prisons use to be. Prisons or jails in the past were in general the basic understanding of what punishment was defined as in times before. In past times prisons were a lot harsher and more dedicated in the punishment process from days long past. On the other hand today’s jails or prisons seem a little more luxurious. In the past prisons seemed to more desolate and miserable, for inmates having to live there,...
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...Prison Overcrowding In today’s society, crime happens nearly every 5 seconds. Depending on the type of crime determines where an individual is placed either in jail or prison. This leads to an ongoing problem today, prison overcrowding. Prison overcrowding is when the demand for space in prisons in a jurisdiction exceeds the capacity for prisoners in the place. Prison Overcrowding has many dangers that can lead to major destruction to society and those captivated behind bars The dangers of overcrowded prison, is that it can become very toxic for both prisoners and guards. Overcrowded conditions contribute to stronger inmate misconduct, more competition for prison services such as educational or vocational training programs and a lack...
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...Evolution of Life in Prison November 11, 2013 Evolution of Life in Prison The purpose of this essay is to do an analysis on the evolution and perspective of prison life. This essay will explain how the evolution influenced the classification of male and female prisoners over time. Last, this essay will explain how the prison populations in jails compare to the population of prison at the state and federal levels. A person could describe prison life as living with thousands of other men and women, who also have criminal convictions by the judicial system. Prisoners will need to realize that his or her prison sentence is not a vacation; however, it is a punishment for his or her criminal mischief. Some people will not understand the true meaning of life in prison because they will not experience it themselves to pass judgment. As Stanley “Tookie” Williams did say in his Life in Prison book is no life in prison is hard for any individual who has to serve life in prison. Inmates will spend his or her time trying to figure out how he or she can win his or her freedom again (Becnel, 2008). The Evolution and Perspective of Prison Life A convicted felon prison life will change as the nature of the institution itself will change. The 1700s life in confinement is life in jail awaiting trial, sentencing, or punishment. Each prisoner will remain in the same jail together. Those prisoners will sleep in dirty and unhealthy jails. The prisons and jails have epidemics and malnutrition...
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...Parole and probation are what gives inmates in today’s prison system the drive to want to better them. This paper will break down rehabilitation in prison and the origin of where it came from. Also we will discuss how parole differs from mandatory release and how probation differs from other forms of sentencing. We will also discuss community corrections and what it means and furthermore, we will critique the current rehabilitation options and if there are better options or solutions that may be used in today’s prison system. Rehabilitation means "to restore to useful life, as through therapy and education" or "to restore to good condition, operation, or capacity". The thought and purpose behind prison has been, throughout history, to deter criminals from committing crimes. Rehabilitation of prisoners has been classically second to punishing them for their crimes. As our society has changed through various civil rights movements, the rights and treatment of prisoners has become a paramount concern for many people. Classes and rehabilitation programs have sprung up in nearly every prison in the US. These programs however, have not been adequate to rehabilitate prisoners as dire sentences are seeing decreased implementation due to the battle over prisoners’ rights. Rehabilitation as a concept in our prisons needs a massive revision. In conjunction with revisions to rehabilitation, the implementation of dire consequences for repeat offenders could act to further reduce crime. The...
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...PRISON IN AMERICA Since the beginning of time there has been good and evil, as man developed modern society he found that a need existed to separate the bad from the good. Society needed to find a way to protect the weak and defenseless citizens from the dangers of mankind. The use of confinement to punish offenders began in Europe in the early eighteen century. The concept of incarcerating offenders for long periods of time as a way of punishment for crimes is fairly new development in America. (McShane, Williams 1996) Before 1770’s with a few exceptions serious offenders received fines, corporal punishment, death, and banishment, but they were not incarcerated as a form of punishment. (McShane, Williams 1996) Jails were made to only hold people awaiting trail and minor offenses. This was in accordance with Puritan views that man was born into sin and punishment was God’s way of dealing with sin and evil deeds. This type of thinking was thrown out due to changing ways of criminal behavior. Now enter the modern institution designed to deal with this new breed of criminal behaviors. The first prison in America is supposed to be the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia (1790) There is however another, an abandoned copper mine in Connecticut which was converted into a prison. In 1773 Newgate prison accepted its first inmate by the 1820’s it was closed due to rising costs. (McShane, Williams 1996) This was the first institution designed to incarcerate offenders with...
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...today. Having inmates perform labor during a prison sentence has contributed to the ongoing change over time of the prison system and in a way that has contributed to the rehabilitation of offenders. One might find it quite interesting to see how society and its evolution has greatly changed the system we use to punish offenders. History of Punishment Punishment for wrongful acts have dated back many centuries and could have began shortly after the beginning of the human race. One of the earliest know penal codes dates back to 1780 B.C. and is known as the Code of Hammurabi. This code was established by King Hammurabi during his reign of Old Babylon. The different types of punishment have changed greatly over the centuries. Punishments that were accepted by society in the early centuries are viewed as inhumane in our society today. The earliest responses to crime were brutal when compared to punishments in the society of the 20th century. Punishments such as torture, beatings, branding, and mutilation were accepted centuries ago. Although there are some countries that still accept some of these forms of punishment, most societies today would deem it inhumane. In today's society one is innocent until proven guilty and the punishment rendered must fit the crime committed. The offenders punishment will not include torture or mutilation. Once a person is found guilty of a crime the accused will face a punishment of labor, fines, probation, or time in prison separated from...
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...430 July 3, 2014 Valerie Platt Regulatory Agency Paper The healthcare regulatory agency selected for this article is The Federal Bureau of Prisons also known as (BOP). The role of BOP is to confine statewide offenders in prisons. These criminals are cost-efficient, and secure (BOP). The responsibility of BOP is to help inmates against their future criminal activities. This is done through educating them to stay involved in programs that stand proven to reduce criminal activities. The BOP employees help inmates with programs and services that offer mainstream values. Some other duties of BOP also, include delivering medical treatment to inmates with health care standards. In 2007 the (BOP) healthcare cost was 736 million in health care for providing healthcare to inmates. This agency continues health care services to inmates from medical providers and in-house medical providers employed within the agency. The BOP health care cost remains affordable in comparison to insurance rate with other agencies. There are numerous ways and means the BOP controls the budget to make the health care inexpensive for inmates. The BOP found ways to control the cost of health care by implementing initiatives that provided more effective and efficient inmate health coverage. By implementing new systems it helps the BOP reduce the cost for inmate health care coverage. Some of the strategies consist of selecting convicts to be organizations built on the upkeep degree needed for the convict...
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...In the early years before the great American Revolution, imprisoning of individuals who had done wrong in the United States of America was not possible as the system had not come into effect like other places such as the United Kingdom. When the idea of incarceration came in the US, it came in three major eras, and this was slightly before the beginning of the American Revolution as stated before. “The initial stage or age involved putting into prisons and even rehabilitating persons who were involved in any crime and during this time the American Civil War was still in progress. This era was commonly referred to as the time of Jacksonian (Roth 97)”. It was followed by a period where some new ideas and methodologies became useful, and these changes came immediately after the war. It was known as the Progressive era, an idea such as probation unspecified sentencing came into place. Then significant changes in American Penal continued to be observed up to today. A lot had changed in the US Penal system as compared to what it was in the early years when this practice was being practiced for the first time. “When America was being colonized by the British, the slaves who were brought in the form of prisoners and laborers were shipped in America using the Atlantic Ocean (Rothman 76)”. It became the first major method of imprisoning and it evolved to later being known as the prisoner trade. This was around the 1660s onwards, and thousands of people were moved to America by the English...
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...Jail and Prison Paper Tameki Reed CJA/204 05/31/11 Robert White Jail and Prison Paper When it comes to jail and prison, there is a distinctive set of differences. Jail is a place of incarceration that is locally operated, while prisons are conducted by the state government or the federal government. Within the United States, there are about 3,600 jails but there are only about 100 federal prisons or rehabilitation facilities. Jails house inmates who have been convicted of a misdemeanors and their sentence is no greater than two years. In addition, a person may be held in jail while awaiting trial, has an unpaid bond, or was recently jailed. If a person is convicted of a state crime he or she will serve their sentence in a state prison as opposed to federal crimes which lands offenders in federal prisons. A jail’s amenities are very limited because of the light sentence and short periods of time spent there. A county jail offers work release, substance abuse programs, and may provide basic necessities to inmates. Prisons also offer work release programs, vocational training, halfway houses, as well as recreational facilities. Inmates at prisons will serve decades within the facility while others have to serve lifetime sentences behind bars. A major concern of prison staff and administrators is disruptive and violent behavior. Their concerns pertain to the safety of inmates as well as employees of the prison facility. Disruptive and violent behavior is not tolerated in...
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...The Federal Bureau of Prisons job is, “to protect society by confining offenders in the controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities that are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure, and that provide work and other self-improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens”. The prison system contributes to the well-being of inmates and their families. Four main concerns face our legislators regarding our prison system which are, protecting society, education, drug treatment, faith-based programs, gangs and the populations within the prisons. The Legislators need to do more for the prison system because it protects society, it has beneficial programs, separates the gangs and decreases the population of those gangs in society while assisting the inmates to become better citizens....
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...Jails and Prisons Andrew Scott CJA/204 March 12, 2013 Jeff Walters There are many types of prisons found in the United States today. Minimum security prisons have housing similar to college dorms, few staff members relative to the number of inmates, as well as minimal to no fencing around the prison. After minimum security prisons, there are low security prisons. These prisons usually have a double fence and a higher staff-to-inmate ratio. Much like minimum security prisons, low security prisons have dorm or cubicle like housing. Like the low security prisons, medium security prisons typically have a double fence; but to heighten security they add an electronic detection system. Most medium security prisons have cell housing, more staff and offer a wide variety of work and treatment programs. High security prisons are typically referred to as United State penitentiaries. These facilities have the highest staff-to-inmate ration, are often surrounded by walls or reinforced fences and place prisoners in either single or multi-occupant cells. Administrative facilities typically have a special goal in mind; whether it is detaining pretrial offenders, treating inmates with serious illnesses or containing dangerous convicts and escape risks. A lot of prisons also have minimum to low security satellite camps adjacent to the main facility. These facilities help provide labor to their main institution and off-site work programs. The Federal Bureau of Prisons also has a facility...
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...In Pelican Bay prison California A prisoner was once dumped in scalding water so his skin would peel off, other prisoners were sent outside naked in the rain.In Corcoran prison, California guards held their own Roman gladiator games with prisoners against each other much like today's correctional officers in the infamous Rikers Island correctional facility forcing inmates to fight one another. Although these old forms of prisoner abuse have almost all been put out of use, one, however, has prevailed and is still used to this day.This cruel and unusual punishment is solitary confinement. Inmates have been sentenced to solitary for infractions such as refusing to cut their hair for religious reasons or eating an apple incorrectly, which shows how broadly the offenses officially punishable with solitary confinement can be interpreted.The effects of solitary confinement include and are not limited to Nervousness, anxiety, insomnia, Nightmares, Violent thoughts, and Heightened anger. According to the United Nations, the confinement SHU (typically...
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...Jail and Prison Within today’s corrections system, there are prisons of three security levels; minimum-, medium- and maximum-custody. Inmates may move between these custodies depending on their progress in self-control and responsibility, and movement is possibly in both direction, toward leniency and restrictiveness (Schmalleger, 2011, p. 471). The two facilities I chose are the Van Nuys Jail, the largest local jail in my neighborhood and San Quentin State Prison. Van Nuys is a pretty standard jail; it’s not used for any specific types of inmates, but mostly houses inmates that are awaiting their court date or transport to a county jail. San Quentin State Prison has multiple custodial levels within its wall comprised of a maximum security cell block, a medium security dorm setting and a minimum security firehouse. San Quentin State Prison is also the only facility in California to house a gas chamber and death row (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitations, n.d.). The most notable difference between the jail and prison I have chosen lie in size, mission and scope. The Van Nuys Jail is the equivalent in security to a minimum-custody facility. Inmates are only held here until they are released on their own recognizance, post bail or are taken to court for their arraignment (Shouse California Law Group, n.d.). San Quentin, on the other hand, is a much larger facility that houses over 135,000 inmates for all lengths of sentences. The facility provides vocational and...
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