History of American Prisons

400 - 1000 A.D. Punishments Peasants (poor people) couldn't pay fines Led to corporal punishment Whipping Branding Torture

1400’s England King Henry VIII started executions, banishment, mutilation, branding, and flogging for criminals Anywhere from murderers to robbers

First Prisons In Europe, prisons were only used to hold people before they went to court Meant for a short time only

The State of Georgia Debtors, people who owed money to the king of England (King George), were sent to live in Georgia… our first “prison”

Georgia cont. Between 1717 and 1775, at least 10,000 convicts were sent to the Georgian colony These people made friends with the Native Americans and had a good life

James City, Virginia First American jail house in colonies 1600’s

James City Prison Criminal paid for his crimes by giving up his land and belongings No property? Go to prison and work there until victim is paid off.

Original Prisons 1820- Walled institutions “penitentiaries” replaced physical punishment They were: Overcrowded Dirty Inmates attacked each other regularly

Original Prisons, cont All people together (old, young, black, white, men, and women) Sheriff had a bar with very expensive liquor for them to buy There were fees to have cells locked, unlocked, get food, have heat, and clothes

Prostitution Some women purposely got arrested so they could have access to drunk male prisoners with money

Death Penalty for… Murder Denying “the true God” (going against religion of state) Homosexual acts Kidnapping

Prison and Fines for… Cheating on a spouse Rape Debtors

Quaker Prisons Quakers of Philadelphia came up with concept of penitentiary Purpose was to have criminals reflect on their crime and become truly sorry

Quaker Prisons cont. Their idea was solitary confinement Hoped criminals would reflect and pray Called Pennsylvania System This was the FIRST long-term prison in the world Against capital punishment

Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons 1783- Benjamin Franklin (and some others) started to change the cruel punishments of criminals Created the Society in 1787 Now called Pennsylvania Prison Society – assistance to prisoners & their families

Walnut Street Prison (First Prison in U.S.) Started in 1790 Pennsylvania System of prison design (solitary confinement) Become overcrowded because of increased industry and cities

Walnut Street Jail Reduced crime rate 131 in 1789 to 45 in 1793 Reduced escapes to ZERO in first 4 years

Walnut Street Prison cont. Had workshop teaching trades Large rooms (18 feet square) for 30-40 occupants Closed in 1835

Problem with this system: Solitary confinement caused Nervous breakdowns Suicides They thought silence would cause the prisoners to not pick up each others bad attitudes

Auburn Prison (in NY) 1821- New system of prisons: “Auburn System” Inmates work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week Gives sense of purpose, discipline, and order

Auburn System Three classes of prisons: 1. Always in solitary confinement 2. Allowed to work and have occasional free time 3. Largest group- worked and ate together during the day, separate cells at night

Auburn System Whipping, total silence Inmates helped build Sing Sing Prison, NY in 1825 and no one tried to escape They slept outside with no supervision One of the first prisons to turn a profit for the state

Eastern Penitentiary System Cherry Hill, PA. Al Capone held here Became a model for more than 300 prisons worldwide Opened in 1829 Promoted EXTREME isolation Caused suicides

Modern Prison? Each cell had its own small exercise yard attached Central heating (even before the US Capitol) Flushing toilet in each cell (before the White House) Shower baths (first in the US)

Civil War Era 1861-1865 Harsh and brutal Started two other systems: Contract System- sold inmates work to local businesses Convict-Lease System- sold inmates as slaves to businesses (state gave up supervision and control)

Elmira Reformatory, NY 1888-1920 Z.R. Brockway (warden) created “new penology” Elementary education for illiterates Library hours Elmira College faculty teach inmates Vocational training shops

Mid-1930’s Freedoms Mingle around yard for 1-2 hours a day Got movies and radio Visitors and mail

Prisoner Rights Supreme Court gave prisoners some rights: Freedom of speech (Turner v. Safley) & religion Opportunity to wash, have clean bedding, clothes, heat, cooling, light, and nutrition (8th Amendment)

Security First, Rights Second Mail may be searched Reading material may be denied Newspapers may be edited (meaning cut out so only certain things can be read) Ankles and wrists may be shackled when they are moved