Chapter 11 Corrections: History, Institutions, and Populations

Learning Objectives Understand the meaning of the term “the new penology” Be able to explain how the first penal institutions developed in Europe Explain how William Penn revolutionized corrections Compare the New York and Pennsylvania prison models Chart the development of penal reform

Learning objectives Know how parole developed List the purposes of jails and be familiar with the make-up of jail populations Be familiar with the term “new generation jail” Classify the different types of federal and state penal institutions Discuss prison population trends

History of Correctional Institutions 10th Century England Prisons Used to detain debtors, unemployed, or those awaiting trial 12th Century England County jails were constructed to hold thieves and vagrants before the disposition of their sentence 1301 - Le Stinche prison in Italy Punishment was incarceration Separate cells Segregated by age, gender, mental state, and seriousness of the crime

History of Correctional Institutions 1557 The Brideswell workhouse was built to hold those convicted of relatively minor offenses – serious offenders were held there pending execution 1780s English housed prisoners on hulks (abandoned ships anchored in harbors) Incarceration did not become the norm until 19th century

History of Correctional Institutions The Origin of Corrections in the United States: The modern American correctional system actually started in Pennsylvania under the leadership of William Penn Early seventeenth century: The first American jail was built in James City, Virginia 1773 Newgate Prison opened in Connecticut 1775 Castle Island Prison opened in Massachusetts

History of Correctional Institutions The Development of Prisons: William Penn’s code for prisons was adopted, and a group of Quakers formed the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons The aim of the Society was to bring some degree of humane and orderly treatment to the growing penal system The only models of custodial institutions at that time were the local county jails that Penn had established

History of Correctional Institutions The Development of Prisons: In 1790, the Pennsylvania legislature called for renovation of the prisoner system. A new wing of the Walnut Street Jail was installed The legislation ushered in ten years of reform and attracted worldwide notice The Walnut Street Jail was not a total success; overcrowding undermined the goal of solitary confinement and soon more than one inmate was housed in each cell

History of Correctional Institutions The New York and Pennsylvania Systems: Both experienced challenges in maintaining ever- increasing numbers of convicted criminals 1816 – New York built a new prison at Auburn Many features used in these prisons systems are still in use today

History of Correctional Institutions The Auburn System: Tier system Congregate system The philosophy of the Auburn prison system was crime prevention through fear of punishment and silent confinement Silence and solitude was seen as key Regimentation became a standard mode of prison life Inmates congregate for eating and for work

History of Correctional Institutions The Pennsylvania System: Pennsylvania took the radical step of establishing a prison that isolated each inmate in a single cell for the duration of his sentence The new Pennsylvania State Prison opened in 1826 and was called the Western Penitentiary Its inmates were housed in solitary confinement being allowed out about one hour per day

Pennsylvania vs. New York System Prison Structure Living Activity Discipline Auburn System Tiered Cells Congregate Group Work Silence, Harsh punishment Pennsylvania System Single cells set in semicircle Isolated In-cell work, Bible Study Silence, Harsh Punishment

History of Correctional Institutions Prisons of the Nineteenth Century: The tier system was adopted in all states but Pennsylvania Prisons were overcrowded and the single cell principle was often ignored Prison brutality common Development of prison industry: Contract system Convict-lease system Prison farms

History of Correctional Institutions Reform Efforts: The National Congress Penitentiary and Reformatory Discipline, held in Cincinnati in 1870, heralded a new era of prison reform: Experts called for the treatment, education, and training of inmates Elmira Reformatory (Zebulon Brockway) in New York, individualized treatment, the indeterminate sentence, and parole

History of Correctional Institutions Prisons of the Twentieth Century: Time of contrast in the U.S. prison system Advocate of reform, rehabilitation, education, religion Development of specialized prisons Industrial prisons for hard-core inmates Agricultural prisons for non dangerous offenders Institutions for criminally insane Prison industry evolved

History of Correctional Institutions Contemporary Correctional Institutions: 1960s-1970s: Prisoners’ rights movement Prison riots The medical model emerged 1980s: Inmate violence and gangs emerge Control of inmates essential Incapacitation Punishment rather than rehabilitation

History of Correctional Institutions Contemporary Correctional Institutions: Today: Attempts to improve prison conditions Tighten discipline Build new super-maximum security prisons to house extremely violence inmates Prison overcrowding has stalled improvement attempts

Jails Five Purposes: Detain accused offenders who cannot make bail Hold convicted offenders awaiting sentence Confinement for those convicted of misdemeanors Hold probationers and parolees arrested for violations and waiting for a hearing House felons when state prisons are overcrowded

Jails Jail Populations and Trends: By 2010, 750,000 jail inmates 9 out of 10 inmates are adult males 40% white African American are nearly 5x more likely than whites to have been in jail 7,500 minors held in adults jails each day Minorities are over represented in inmate population

Jails Jail Conditions: Jails are usually a low priority in the criminal justice system Jails are usually administered at the county level Jails in some counties are physically deteriorated, holding inmates that have serious emotional problems Jails are considered a revolving door of the justice system

Jails New Generation Jails: A building boom is underway to alleviate overcrowding and improve effectiveness Direct-supervision: Allow for continuous observation of inmates Indirect-supervision: Allow for continuous observation of inmates, but using communication devices from secure rooms

Types of Prisons Maximum Security Prisons: House the most notorious offenders Fortress-like with high walls and guard towers High tech security measures Armed guards Super-Maximum-Security-Prisons (Super- Max): These house the most predatory offenders Inmates are locked up for 22 to 24 hours per day

Types of Prisons Medium-Security Prisons: Similar in appearance to maximum-security The conditions are less vigilant and less tense than maximum security facilities Promote treatment efforts and allows freedom of movement

Prisons Minimum-Security Prisons: Operate without armed guards and walls House the most trustworthy and least violent offenders These facilities have dormitories or small private rooms for inmates Freedom of movement Utilize work furloughs and educational/vocational training

Alternative Correctional Institutions In addition to prisons and jails, a number of other correctional facilities are opening within the United States: Prison farms and camps Shock incarceration in boot camps Community correctional facilities Private prisons

Inmate Populations Overview: The vast correctional system now contains over 1.6 million inmates 1 in 31 adults in America is under correctional system supervision 90% inmates are young, male, minority, and poor 1 in 36 Hispanic men incarcerated 1 in 12 African American men incarcerated Inmates suffer from social problems, emotional problems, and psychological problems

Imprisonment Rate, 1980-2009

Inmate Populations Growth Trends: Between 1980 and 2006 population skyrocketed, today the numbers have stabilized or declined slightly 1/3 of inmates are held on parole violations Mandatory sentences are holding prisoners longer The nation’s prison population may be maxing out High prison costs have compelled states to utilize cheaper community supervision alternatives