Running Head: PRISON COMPARISON

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The Evolution of the American Prison System Name CJA/234 Date Facilitators Name

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Abstract For the past two hundred years, the United States has used confinement to punish criminals. Committing serious crimes usually results in serving time in prison. Prison terms should represent the seriousness of a crime. Judges order criminals to serve prison sentences proportionate to the harm caused by crimes. Sentences reflect harm endured by both victim and the community in which the criminal resides. However, when compared to 3,800 years of historical humanity, confinement is a new and quite humane form of punishment. Early societies used capital and corporal punishments. Commonly used corporal punishments included burning, branding, beating, whipping, and mutilation. In early Western societies, whipping became "the most prevalent' form of corporal punishment (Foster, 2006, p. 2). Because whipping did not required additional equipment or relocation, punishing criminals took place anywhere. In many cases, the public could watch a criminal's whipping. Furthermore, this punishment was measurable; the seriousness of a crime dictated the number of lashings a criminal received. Capital punishment was also used to punish the most serious offenses. Prior to the 1800s, torturing criminals before killing them was common. Although early societies frequently used corporal punishment, this is no longer acceptable in today's society; corporal punishment is cruel and inhumane. However, capital punishment is a contemporary practice of many countries. In the United States, the federal government and 38 states sentence criminals to death for committing serious degrees of homicide (Foster, 2006).

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The Evolution of the American Prison System In the United States, the 18th and 19th centuries paved the way for current correctional practices. Social and cultural changes and the adoption of humanistic approaches to punishment played a major role in the evolution of prison systems. Theory and Ideal of the Penitentiary In the late 1700s, the penitentiary was without form (Foster, 2006, p. 21). Scholars and reformers used the word penitentiary for more than 20 years, but a physical penitentiarythat reflected those in existence todaywas not yet built. A penitentiary was merely a concept, idea, or set of principles; not a building. Most criminals lived in workhouses, old prisons, or jails. In concept, a penitentiary would serve both spiritual and secular purposes. These institutions would be places of humane, certain, and common punishment of serious offenders. Penitentiaries would not enable physically or spiritual contamination, like other lockups; healthy and clean environments were ideal. During incarceration, criminals could view the penitentiary as a place of penance; leading to reform. The penitentiarys principle goal was for offenders to achieve spiritual transformation; comparable to spiritual transformations seen in associates of the medieval monastery (Foster, 2006, p. 22). Secular purposes associated with the penitentiary could also lead to reformation. By allowing criminals an opportunity to think about their offensive behavior, this may cause them to take steps necessary for change. Incarcerated criminals were frequently isolated from each other. This allowed criminals time to reform. Furthermore, creating

PRISON COMPARISON habits of industry by applying strictly enforced rules would serve social purposes (Foster, 2003, p. 22). Criminals would participate in steady and productive labor; practicing corrective discipline enables new and better learned behaviors (Foster, 2006).

Quakers played a major role in social and legal reforms and changes made to New Yorks penal codewhich affected the treatment of inmates. These groups of religious men and women were the biggest advocates for criminals. Because of these groups, the public degradation of prisoners, unsanitary living conditions, and lack of proper nourishment would end (Foster, 2006). Living in Pennsylvania, another group of Quakers known as the Pennsylvania Prison Society, led a reform that resulted in the designing of the worlds first penitentiary. In downtown Philadelphia, the poorly conditioned Walnut Street Jail was redesigned to inhabit several elements essential to a penitentiary: the carrying out of confinement as punishment, implementing a classification system, containing individual cells, and providing a place for criminals to do penance (Foster, 2006). Prisons during World War II In the United States, the 1930s was a struggle for nearly all citizens. The nation concerned itself with recovering from the Depression. International conflict began growing, which resulted in World War II. This had a serious effect on United States prisons. Because young troubled men were given the opportunity to choose between prison and military duty, this resulted in decreasing prison populations. War industries were booming; many inmates were paroled to work for them. Rules combating prison labor did not apply to inmates working for the war effort. Young criminals endured strong social control from active military servicemen. Because only 10% of prisoners

PRISON COMPARISON worked for industries in 1942, production was down by an estimated two thirds. After modifying federal restrictions, state political officials enabled production to increase by 1943. The war yielded positive effects on the prison. Prison morale was high, the public respected the work of prisoners, and prisoners proved their abilities and national support to the public. However, this would only be for a short time (Foster, 2006). The Trend of Prison Systems since World War II After the war ended in 1945, society lost interest in prisons. Rules were restored,

the prison population increased, and industrial productivity decreased. Similar to old jails and prisons in the early 1700s, prisoners became idle; once again, there was nothing for prisoners to do. Inmates grew increasingly violent toward each other and prison officials, which resulted in death. Inmates began attempting and successfully escaping from prison. Although it was before World War II, riots became an issue as well. Increasing problems in prisons throughout the country led to rehabilitation and the medical model. Over time, prisoners began receiving rehabilitation and medical treatments according to their needs (Foster, 2006). Today, inmates experience the same issues associated with confinement. However, prisons implement many more programs, and the humane treatment of inmates has also evolved. Although they are not yet perfect, correctional systems are on the right path to managing, rehabilitating and reforming criminals. The correction system currently implemented in the United States derived from 19th century conceptions of institutions and alternatives. Because of reformers and advocates for prison reform movements, prisons in the United States operate according to higher standards of humane punishment. Without those historical figures willing to take a

PRISON COMPARISON stand on behalf of criminals, the American corrections system would not observe civil rights.

PRISON COMPARISON References Foster, B. (2006). Corrections: The Fundamentals. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice-Hall, Inc.