1. History of American Prisons

2. 400 - 1000 A.D. Punishments Peasants (poor people) couldn't pay fines
Led to corporal punishment
Whipping
Branding
Torture

3. 1400’s England
King Henry VIII started executions, banishment, mutilation, branding, and flogging for criminals
Anywhere from murderers to robbers

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

5. 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”

6. 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

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

8. 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.

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

10. 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

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

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

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

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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)

26. 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)

27. 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

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

29. 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)

30. 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