History of American Prisons Mrs. Auvil Social Studies 9 Mrs. Auvil Social Studies 9

Vocabulary  Penitentiary- from the Latin word for remorse  Quakers- religious group William Penn was a part of (nonviolent group)  Prison- a public building used for the confinement of people convicted of serious crimes  Penitentiary- from the Latin word for remorse  Quakers- religious group William Penn was a part of (nonviolent group)  Prison- a public building used for the confinement of people convicted of serious crimes

A.D. Punishments  Peasants (poor people) couldn't pay fines  Led to corporal punishment  Whipping  Branding  Torture  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  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  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  This was not a punishment though because they made friends with the Native Americans and had a good life  Between 1717 and 1775, at least 10,000 convicts were sent to the Georgian colony  This was not a punishment though because they made friends with the Native Americans and had a good life

James City, Virginia  First American jail house in colonies  1600’s  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.  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  Walled institutions “penitentiaries” replaced physical punishment  They were:  Overcrowded  Dirty  Inmates attacked each other regularly  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  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

1776  Prisons who were waiting for their trial might have traded their clothes for liquor.  When the trial wasn’t until after winter they froze to death!  Prisons who were waiting for their trial might have traded their clothes for liquor.  When the trial wasn’t until after winter they froze to death!

Prostitution  “Certain” 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  Murder  Denying “the true God” (going against religion of state)  Homosexual acts  Kidnapping

Prison and Fines for…  Cheating on a spouse  Rape  Debtors  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  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!  Their idea was solitary confinement  Hoped criminals would reflect and pray  Called Pennsylvania System  This was the FIRST long-term prison in the world!

Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons  Benjamin Franklin (and some others) started to change the cruel punishments of criminals  Created the Society in 1787  Now called Pennsylvania Prison Society  Benjamin Franklin (and some others) started to change the cruel punishments of criminals  Created the Society in 1787  Now called Pennsylvania Prison Society

Walnut Street Prison (First Prison in USA!)  Started in 1790  Pennsylvania System of prison design (solitary confinement)  Become overcrowded because of increased industry and cities  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  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 occupants  Samuel Wood (first warden)  Closed in 1835  Had workshop teaching trades  Large rooms (18 feet square) for occupants  Samuel Wood (first warden)  Closed in 1835

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

Auburn Prison (in NY)  New system of prisons: “Auburn System”  Inmates work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week  Gives sense of purpose, discipline, and order  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  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 SCARY!  Punishment with whip to back  Inmates helped build Sing Sing Prison, NY in 1825 and NO ONE tried to escape  They slept outside with no supervision!  Punishment with whip to back  Inmates helped build Sing Sing Prison, NY in 1825 and NO ONE tried to escape  They slept outside with no supervision!

Eastern Penitentiary System  Took down a cherry orchard to build it, so located in Cherry Hill, PA.  Opened in 1829 (not finished until 1835)  Promoted EXTREME isolation  Caused suicides  Took down a cherry orchard to build it, so located in Cherry Hill, PA.  Opened in 1829 (not finished until 1835)  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 USA!)  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 USA!)

Which is better?  Auburn System proves better than Pennsylvania System

Civil War Era  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)  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   Z.R. Brockway (warden) created “new penology”  Elementary education for illiterates  Library hours  Elmira College faculty teach inmates  Vocational training shops   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  No more red and white striped uniforms (wore all grey instead)  Mingle around yard for 1-2 hours a day  Got movies and radio  Visitors and mail  No more red and white striped uniforms (wore all grey instead)  Mingle around yard for 1-2 hours a day  Got movies and radio  Visitors and mail

Prisoner Rights  In 1971, the Supreme Court gave prisoners some rights:  Freedom of Speech  Freedom of Religion  Freedom from Restraints and Solitary Confinement due to beliefs, religion, or race  Opportunity to wash, have clean bedding, clothes, heat, cooling, light, and nutrition  In 1971, the Supreme Court gave prisoners some rights:  Freedom of Speech  Freedom of Religion  Freedom from Restraints and Solitary Confinement due to beliefs, religion, or race  Opportunity to wash, have clean bedding, clothes, heat, cooling, light, and nutrition

Habeas Corpus  Law that protects people from being put into prison (or locked up) for wrong reasons

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  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

“Good Time”  This is credit for time served on good behavior  Used to reduce sentence length  One day of “good time credit” for every three days that he/she behaves well  This is credit for time served on good behavior  Used to reduce sentence length  One day of “good time credit” for every three days that he/she behaves well