1. History of American Prisons

2. 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

3. 400 - 1000 A.D. Punishments Peasants (poor people) couldn't pay fines
Led to corporal punishment
Whipping
Branding
Torture

4. 1400’s England
King Henry VIII started executions, banishment, mutilation, branding, and flogging for criminals
Anywhere from murderers to robbers

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

6. 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”

7. 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

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

9. 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.

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

11. 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

12. 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!

13. Prostitution
“Certain” women purposely got arrested so they could have access to drunk male prisoners with money!

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

15. Prison and Fines for…
Cheating on a spouse
Rape
Debtors

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

17. 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!

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. Walnut Street Prison cont.
Had workshop teaching trades
Large rooms (18 feet square) for occupants
Samuel Wood (first warden)
Closed in 1835

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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!

26. 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

27. 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!)

28. Which is better?
Auburn System proves better than Pennsylvania System

29. 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)

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

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

34. 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

35. “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