History of American Prisons

History of American Prisons

Mrs. AuvilSocial Studies 9

Mrs. AuvilSocial Studies 9

VocabularyVocabulary

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

400 - 1000 A.D. Punishments400 - 1000 A.D. Punishments

Peasants (poor people) couldn't pay finesLed to corporal punishment

WhippingBrandingTorture

Peasants (poor people) couldn't pay finesLed to corporal punishment

WhippingBrandingTorture

1400’s England1400’s England

King Henry VIII started executions, banishment, mutilation, branding, and flogging for criminalsAnywhere from

murderers to robbers

King Henry VIII started executions, banishment, mutilation, branding, and flogging for criminalsAnywhere from

murderers to robbers

First PrisonsFirst PrisonsIn 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 GeorgiaThe State of Georgia

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

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

Georgia cont.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, VirginiaJames City, Virginia

First American jail house in colonies

1600’s

First American jail house in colonies

1600’s

James City PrisonJames City Prison

Criminal paid for his crimes by giving up his land and belongingsNo property?

Go to prison and work there until victim is paid off.

Criminal paid for his crimes by giving up his land and belongingsNo property?

Go to prison and work there until victim is paid off.

Original PrisonsOriginal Prisons

1820- Walled institutions “penitentiaries” replaced physical punishment

They were:OvercrowdedDirtyInmates attacked each other regularly

1820- Walled institutions “penitentiaries” replaced physical punishment

They were:OvercrowdedDirtyInmates attacked each other regularly

Original Prisons, contOriginal 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

17761776Prisons 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!

ProstitutionProstitution

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

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

Death Penalty for…Death Penalty for…

MurderDenying “the true God” (going

against religion of state)Homosexual actsKidnapping

MurderDenying “the true God” (going

against religion of state)Homosexual actsKidnapping

Prison and Fines for…Prison and Fines for…

Cheating on a spouseRapeDebtors

Cheating on a spouseRapeDebtors

Quaker PrisonsQuaker Prisons

Quakers of Philadelphia came up with concept of penitentiaryPurpose was to have

criminals reflect on their crime and become truly sorry

Quakers of Philadelphia came up with concept of penitentiaryPurpose was to have

criminals reflect on their crime and become truly sorry

Quaker Prisons cont.Quaker Prisons cont.

Their idea was solitary confinementHoped criminals would reflect and

prayCalled Pennsylvania System

This was the FIRST long-term prison in the world!

Their idea was solitary confinementHoped criminals would reflect and

prayCalled Pennsylvania System

This was the FIRST long-term prison in the world!

Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of

Public Prisons

Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of

Public Prisons1783- Benjamin Franklin (and

some others) started to change the cruel punishments of criminals

Created the Society in 1787Now called Pennsylvania Prison Society

1783- Benjamin Franklin (and some others) started to change the cruel punishments of criminals

Created the Society in 1787Now called Pennsylvania Prison Society

Walnut Street Prison(First Prison in USA!)Walnut Street Prison(First Prison in USA!)

Started in 1790Pennsylvania

System of prison design (solitary confinement)

Become overcrowded because of increased industry and cities

Started in 1790Pennsylvania

System of prison design (solitary confinement)

Become overcrowded because of increased industry and cities

Walnut Street JailWalnut Street Jail

Reduced crime rate131 in 1789 to 45 in 1793

Reduced escapes to ZERO in first 4 years

Reduced crime rate131 in 1789 to 45 in 1793

Reduced escapes to ZERO in first 4 years

Walnut Street Prison cont.Walnut Street Prison cont.

Had workshop teaching tradesLarge rooms (18 feet square) for

30-40 occupantsSamuel Wood (first warden)Closed in 1835

Had workshop teaching tradesLarge rooms (18 feet square) for

30-40 occupantsSamuel Wood (first warden)Closed in 1835

Problem with this system:Problem with this system:

Solitary confinement causedNervous breakdownsSuicides

They thought silence would cause the prisons to not pick up each others bad attitudes

Solitary confinement causedNervous breakdownsSuicides

They thought silence would cause the prisons to not pick up each others bad attitudes

Auburn Prison (in NY)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

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 SystemAuburn SystemThree classes of

prisons:1. Always in solitary

confinement2. 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

confinement2. 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!Auburn System SCARY!

Punishment with whip to back

Inmates helped build Sing Sing Prison, NY in 1825 and NO ONE tried to escapeThey slept outside with

no supervision!

Punishment with whip to back

Inmates helped build Sing Sing Prison, NY in 1825 and NO ONE tried to escapeThey slept outside with

no supervision!

Eastern Penitentiary System

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 isolationCaused suicides

Took down a cherry orchard to build it, so located in Cherry Hill, PA.

Opened in 1829 (not finished until 1835)

Promoted EXTREME isolationCaused suicides

Modern Prison? Modern Prison? Each cell had its own small exercise

yard attachedCentral 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?Which is better?

Auburn System proves better than Pennsylvania System

Auburn System proves better than Pennsylvania System

Civil War Era1861-1865

Civil War Era1861-1865

Harsh and brutalStarted 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 brutalStarted 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, NYElmira Reformatory, NY

1888-1920Z.R. Brockway (warden) created

“new penology”Elementary education for illiteratesLibrary hoursElmira College faculty teach inmatesVocational training shops

1888-1920Z.R. Brockway (warden) created

“new penology”Elementary education for illiteratesLibrary hoursElmira College faculty teach inmatesVocational training shops

Mid-1930’s FreedomsMid-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 RightsPrisoner Rights

In 1971, the Supreme Court gave prisoners some rights:Freedom of SpeechFreedom of ReligionFreedom 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 SpeechFreedom of ReligionFreedom from Restraints and Solitary

Confinement due to beliefs, religion, or race

Opportunity to wash, have clean bedding, clothes, heat, cooling, light, and nutrition

Habeas CorpusHabeas Corpus

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

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

Security First, Rights Second

Security First, Rights Second

Mail may be searchedReading material may be deniedNewspapers 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 searchedReading material may be deniedNewspapers 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”“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