Links to the past:
Prisons have undergone lots of changes.
We have already looked at various models (see history discussion).
John Irwin has identified three (3) basic models in this century:
1. THE BIG HOUSE: convicts lived and constructed a world with social
divisions, lots of stratification and special informal rules and
meanings, and their own set of enterprises.
2. CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS: ESPECIALLY AFTER WW II: BASIC PREMISE WAS
"RE-HAB," AND THAT "HUMAN NATURE" CAN BE "TREATED."
3. CONTEMPORARY PRISONS: CHARACTERIZED BY "DRIFT," WAREHOUSING, "LOCK-EM
UP," NO REHAB, BUT MANY PROGRAMS STILL IN PLACE.
THE POINT: WE MUST UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT WE INTEND TO ACCOMPLISH BY
IMPRISONMENT AND WHAT HAPPENS IN PRISON, AND WE MUST STOP DOING ALL
THE UNNECESSARY THINGS THAT DEGRADE, EMBITTER, CRIPPLE AND DEHUMANIZE
PRISONERS.
GOALS OF INCARCERATION (see chapters 3 and 4):
(question: How do these goals reflect the mission of
deterence, public safety, rehabilitation, and punishment?)
CUSTODIAL MODEL: EMPHASIZES SECURITY, DISCIPLINE AND ORDER.
REHABILIATION MODEL: EMPHASIZES TREATMENT AND REFORM
REINTEGRATION MODEL: EMPHASIZES OFFENDER'S TIES TO FAMILY AND
COMMUNITY AS METHOD OF REFORM, AND ATTEMPTS TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO
FACILITE RE-ENTRY INTO SOCIETY.
NOTE: EACH OF THESE "MODELS" (OR GOALS) MAY NOT ALWAYS CORRESPOND TO
MODELS OF PRISON OR PRISON MANAGEMENT. (DISCUSS
TENSIONS/CONTRADICTIONS)
The text reminds us that there are two gov't divisions of prisons in the
US:
1. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (created in 1930 by Congress).
In Illinois, we have three: Pekin (central); Greenville (south/central)
and Marion (South)
2. State prisons: Disparate
NOTE: FOR FUN (a good essay for the midterm): Compare federal and
state prisons (use homepages)
CURRENTLY, IT HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED THAT THE ARCHITECTURE OF PRISONS MAY
ALSO CORRESPOND TO EITHER OUR GOALS OF ADMINISTRATION OR OUR
PHILOSOPHIES OF PUNISHMENT.
(NOTE: The book identifies only 4, but there are more):
A) RADIAL DESIGN
B) FORTRESS MODEL
C) TELEPHONE POLE DESIGN
D) COURTYARD STYLE
E) CAMPUS STYLE (MINIMUM/DWIGHT)
F) PANOPTICON (STATEVILLE, BUT CHANGING)
G) K-STYLE
H) X-STYLE
PRIVATE PRISONS ARE A NEW CONCEPT: (DISCUSS)
KNOW THE TRENDS AND THE VARIOUS INCARCERATION STRATEGIES (and the
ideologies they reflect)
(These are scattered throughout the text, so we'll combine now):
1. NULL STRATEGY: "NOTHING SHOULD BE DONE, PRISONS ALLOWED TO BECOME
CONGESTED. "SERVES THEM RIGHT," IS THE ETHOS. POLITICALLY POPULAR
BECAUSE IT COSTS LITTLE.
2. SELECTIVE INCAPACITATION STRATEGY: MAKE OPTIMUM USE OF EXPENSIVE
AND LIMITD PRISON SPACE BY TARGETTING FOR INCARCERATION THOSE WHOSE
INCAPACITATION WILL DO THE MOST TO REDUCE CRIME.
3. POPULATION REDUCTION STRATEGY: REDUCE NEW ADMISSIONS BY DEVELOPING
ALTERNATIVES TO PRISON.
4. POPULATION-SENSITIVE FLOW-CONTROL STRATEGY: LINKING SENTENCING TO
AVAILABLITY OF PRISON SPACE, RELEASE PRISONERS WHEN PRISONS ARE
CROWDED, ETC.
5. CONSTRUCTION STRATEGY: MORE PRISONS TO CONTAIN CROOKS.
WHO'S IN PRISON?
Elderly = over 10 pct
Violent = 46.6 pct; property about 1/4; drugs, 21.3;
Race: White= 35 pct; Hispanic=17 pct; black=46 pct
HIV positive= 2.3 pct
Mentally Ill (unknown for sure)
Males: about 93 percent
Education: 8th grade or less: 14 pct; some highschooo: 26 pct
High school gard: 50 pct; some college: 11 pct
Long term: about 25 pct doing 20 years or more
NOTE: For "who's in prison" in Illinois, go to the latest IDOC
ANNUAL REPORT and scroll toward the end.
Page maintained by: Jim Thomas - jthomas@math.niu.edu