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CHAPTER 3: HISTORY OF PRISONS
Prisons, as we know them, relatively recent. Forms of punishment
historically have included:
1) ostrecization (e.g., banishment)
2) corporal punishment
3) fines
4) death
5) torture
6) ridicule (e.g., stocks; tar & feather)
Prior to Jails:
1) Poor houses
2) Alms houses
Jails prior to 18th century used primarily to
1) keep undesireables out of the way
2) hold people prior to trial
Not until mid 18th century that jails (NOT prisons) became used
specificlaly to PUNISH, and even then, terms were relatively
short.
Jails during this period were largely run by the private sector
(with support from the state).
In colonial period, crimes were punished especially by whipping,
and continued, in fact, into early 20th century, and used until
mid-20th Century in prisons as a control mechanism. BUT: Crime
increased (explain why--give a "structural" explanation) and it
was especially during this period that the "CLASSICAL MODEL" of
criminology influenced how offenders were treated. Our own
system followed the classical model--included:
1) "rational" punishment
2) adherence to law (a "legal" model)
3) Focus on the offender
4) Increase in separating offenders from society
as part of punishment
JAILS: FIRST JAIL: Walnut Street (Philadelphia)
FIRST PRISONS: The PENITENTIARY as we know it came into
existence in the 1820s in Pennsylvania and New York. In
Pennsylvania, for example, criminal laws eliminated the death
penalty and many forms of CORPORAL PUNISHMENT and substituted
imprisonment instead.
We can identify several basic periods in the history of prisons:
1. Early American Prisons: 1790-1830: Mediation by state and
focused on "moral" rehabilitation
2. Discipline model: 1830-1870. This was typified by Penn
and Auburn systems (eg, discipline, religion, judicial
reprieve (probation came into existence during this
period) and solitary/silent systems.
3. Reformatory Era (1870-1900): Vocational training,
education, systematic parole, separation of youths and
older offenders.
4. Industrial prisons (1900-1940)-- the "BIG HOUSE" model
from movies. Prisons focused especially on habits of
industry.
5. "Case work" prisons (1940-1980): Rehabilitation,
classification, etc
6. Human zoos (Warehousing)--1980--present: This may be the
emergence of a new model.
The NATURE of prisons has undergone changes corresponding to
social ideology, needs, structures, etc. To understand prisons,
it's useful to look at THEIR HISTORY.
The TWO BASIC MODELS:
AUBURN MODEL:
1. Originated in NY, and built between 1819-1823.
2. called the CONGREGATE MODEL because prisoners were allowed
to congregate together
3. Fixed sentences
4. Forbidden to converse with other prisoners
5. usually worked together Couldn't exchange glances
6. special clothes, etc
The PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM:
1. Often called the EASTERN MODEL was located in Philadelphia
2. Built with original appropriation of $60,000 and built
largely with convict labor
3. Started in 1818; opened in 1826
4. Prisoners were isolated; Worked on the principle of total
solitary confinement. Prisoners were to eat, work, sleep
and exercise in individual cells
5. prisoners could not see, talk to, or communicate with
other prisoners.
6. Only contact was with guards who brought them meals; most
guards left (in principle) ignorant of who the prisoners
were (mention problems with this)
7. Only a few select visitors
8. Principle was that prisoners should reflect on their
crimes.
9. Worked in cells, given bibles, etc
SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE TWO:
1) Both designed to break the spirit
2) Both popularized "prison as fortress"
3) Both placed maximum emphasis on limiting
prisoner communication, etc
4) Both implied a movement toward moral
correctness (almost theological) and the
work ethic
PROBLEMS:
1) mental health/suicides
2) very costly
3) Many returned, making "penance" value questionable
4) Considered by many to be inhumane
So: The Eastern model simply didn't work. It didn't deter crime
or even manage to end recidism, and this sparked a prison reform
movement.
The PHILOSOPHY of prisons and their goals was debated intensely
during the 19th century. Prisons eventuall became places to:
1) Keep prisoners out of society
2) Punish
3) Work and provide labor
Although the forms varied from state to state, for the most part,
prisons became similar in structure towhat we know today (ie,
thick walls, guards, regimentation, etc).
There were many debates over these models, and continuation of
Eastern model essentially political. It was soon replaced (1829)
with a WESTERN PRISON (pittsburgh) closer to the AUBURN MODEL.
In fact, the "EASTERN MODEL" soon broke down, and prisoners
allowed to congegrate somewhat, and some remodelling occured
allowing more access.
(NOTE ALSO:
1) Prisoners may have communicated in fact
2) Guards may not have been as rigorous to rules
as supposed, making isolation questionable
NOTE: Typical industry during this time was nailmaking, carding
wool and hair, making clothes, stone-sawing, and weaving.
What led to changes?
1. Economics--Auburn model cheaper--required less care of
prisoners, less maintenance, and less room for them
2. Politics/ideology--debates over "which is best" became a
political as well as correctional issue, and took the form
of political debate
3. Ideology/humanitarianism: "reform" groups opposed Eastern
model
4. There was also "unscrupulous" manipulation of statistics
to continue to justify EASTERN MODEL which many found
unconscienable when discovered
5. ideology: Changes in purpose of corrections (pennance or
work ethic)
6. structural: Too many offenders to be easily accomodated by
Eastern model
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