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History of American Prisons Mrs. Auvil Social Studies 9

History of American Prisons

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History of American Prisons. 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. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: History of American Prisons

History of American Prisons

Mrs. AuvilSocial Studies 9

Page 2: History of American Prisons

VocabularyPenitentiary- from the Latin word

for remorseQuakers- religious group William

Penn was a part of (nonviolent group)

Prison- a public building used for the confinement of people convicted of serious crimes

Page 3: History of American Prisons

400 - 1000 A.D. PunishmentsPeasants (poor people)

couldn't pay finesLed to corporal punishment

WhippingBrandingTorture

Page 4: History of American Prisons

1400’s EnglandKing Henry VIII

started executions, banishment, mutilation, branding, and flogging for criminalsAnywhere from

murderers to robbers

Page 5: History of American Prisons

First PrisonsIn Europe, prisons were only

used to hold people before they went to court

Meant for a short time only

Page 6: History of American Prisons

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”

Page 7: History of American Prisons

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

Page 8: History of American Prisons

James City, VirginiaFirst American jail house in

colonies1600’s

Page 9: History of American Prisons

James 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.

Page 10: History of American Prisons

Original Prisons1820- Walled institutions

“penitentiaries” replaced physical punishment

They were:OvercrowdedDirtyInmates attacked each other regularly

Page 11: History of American Prisons

Original Prisons, contAll 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

Page 12: History of American Prisons

1776Prisons 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!

Page 13: History of American Prisons

Prostitution

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

Page 14: History of American Prisons

Death Penalty for…

MurderDenying “the true God” (going

against religion of state)Homosexual actsKidnapping

Page 15: History of American Prisons

Prison and Fines for…Cheating on a spouseRapeDebtors

Page 16: History of American Prisons

Quaker PrisonsQuakers of

Philadelphia came up with concept of penitentiaryPurpose was to have

criminals reflect on their crime and become truly sorry

Page 17: History of American Prisons

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!

Page 18: History of American 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

Page 19: History of American Prisons

Walnut Street Prison(First Prison in USA!)

Started in 1790Pennsylvania

System of prison design (solitary confinement)

Become overcrowded because of increased industry and cities

Page 20: History of American Prisons

Walnut Street JailReduced crime rate

131 in 1789 to 45 in 1793Reduced escapes to ZERO in first 4

years

Page 21: History of American Prisons

Walnut Street Prison cont.

Had workshop teaching tradesLarge rooms (18 feet square) for

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

Page 22: History of American Prisons

Problem with this system:Solitary confinement caused

Nervous breakdownsSuicides

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

Page 23: History of American Prisons

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

Page 24: History of American Prisons

Auburn 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

Page 25: History of American Prisons

Auburn System SCARY!Punishment with whip

to backInmates helped build

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

no supervision!

Page 26: History of American Prisons

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

Page 27: History of American Prisons

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!)

Page 28: History of American Prisons

Which is better?

Auburn System proves better than Pennsylvania System

Page 29: History of American Prisons

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)

Page 30: History of American Prisons

Elmira Reformatory, NY1888-1920Z.R. Brockway (warden) created

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

Page 31: History of American Prisons

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

Page 32: History of American Prisons

Prisoner RightsIn 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

Page 33: History of American Prisons

Habeas CorpusLaw that protects people from

being put into prison (or locked up) for wrong reasons

Page 34: History of American Prisons

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

Page 35: History of American Prisons

“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