Chapter 11
Punishment for Social Problems
According to the narration by Augustus, the legal system subjected people who were involved in social offences to prison life without offering a better solution. In fact, Augustus began his labors after witnessing a seemingly desperate man almost being sent to jail for being a common drunkard ( Panzarella & Vona, 2006 pg. 306) . Through the narration of Augustus, individuals have the knowledge of how the legal system functioned in the 19th century especially between 1940 and 1950. During that time, people who drank heavily or engaged in other social vices were punished by being sent to jail. Most of those people who found themselves in conflict with the law were women, the poor and children. Children as young as nine were sent to prison. The society did not also encourage brothel business hence; anyone that was caught engaging in such practices had legal action taken against her. One of the disheartening things was that children were also sent to prison while their conduct was defined by adults.
Obstacles to Social Justice
Through the narration of Augustus, it can be deduced that corruption is not a new thing. Perhaps people in the past were more corrupt than today. Seemingly, the objective of the police officers at the time was not to correct the offenders. They were keener on receiving the stipends associated with the arrest of the offenders. Each time a police officer arrested an offender and the case was disposed of, the police officer would receive fees ranging from sixty to seventy five cents (according to the rates of the 19th century) ( Panzarella & Vona, 2006 pg. 309) . The police officers sought to benefit from the system at the expense of the reformation of the offenders. In an attempt to accomplish their objectives, they resorted to use obstructive strategies such as blocking Augustus from attending the court sessions, expediting the cases when Augustus was absent and compelling Augustus to declare his wealth before pledging surety for the offenders.
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Restorative Justice
Augustus demonstrates that restorative justice is better than subjecting individuals to punitive measures. Even though the court would punish individuals for being common drunkards, the individuals would reoffend severally. Nevertheless, Augustus’ efforts were significant in the reformation of the drunkards. The first man who Augustus pledged surety for in court did not drink again. Secondly, women that ran brothels either changed or migrated from the city. Perhaps the most remarkable efforts were witnessed in the reformation of children. Looking at the case of children who were arraigned in court for stealing money, their parents had neglected them, leaving them to fend for themselves ( Panzarella & Vona, 2006 pg. 313 ) . Responsible parents would own up and promise to rectify the conduct of their children and not blame them and recommend that they be put in prison. Augustus’ efforts helped instill good conduct in the children and perhaps it was due to the positive outcomes that individuals in the legal field reconsidered putting children to prison.
Chapter 12
Labor in Prison and Its Outcomes
There was a time in America when people who were sent to jail would be imparted with various skills. Most of the time, they would work in industries to create products that would be sold to members of the public as well as in government institutions. The type of work the prisoners could do was not limited. According to the chapter, prisoners were kept busy by the work in the prisons. At that time, prisons were variously described as “industrial” ( Panzarella & Vona, 2006 pg. 327) . The prisons were helpful because after the expiry of individuals’ jail term, most of the people would have gained invaluable skills which they would use to earn income. As a result, cases of recidivism were greatly reduced.
Adjustment and Deviance
Donald Chamber was interested in the study of criminology because a majority of the students that were under his care came from a community that had high rates of crimes. Chamber was of the idea that the conduct of people is usually shaped by their environment. In the past, the government was focused on integrating the American natives and the immigrants from Europe because of the perception that a united country would have less cases of vices ( Panzarella & Vona, 2006 pg. 326) . The integration and good relationships between different cultures is what is referred to as adjustment. On the contrary, deviance, which implies allowing people to hold to their distinct ideals and identities was perceived to be undesirable. Perhaps it was the reason why individuals in charge of the correction facilities initially created industrial prisons so that the prisoners could work together and build good relationships.
Non-Conformity as an Influence of Running the Prisons
The Nazi takeover of Germany made authorities in the US to reevaluate the manner in which the prisons were run. Germany had previously raised a disciplined generation which obeyed any demand uttered by adults. That culture would have implications of the Second World War. Junior German soldiers would conform to the orders of their superiors to commit atrocities to the Jews. From the lessons leant from the treatment of prisoners in Germany, the US eliminated the industrial prisons. However, the move led to other results; the creation of subcultures in the prisons ( Panzarella & Vona, 2006 pg. 328) . Prisoners with particular identities walk together and even occupy certain positions during meal time. The subcultures have created gangs in prisons which usually engage in confrontations with each other. Overly, the shift in the administration of the prisons has led to idleness, noise and disorder. At the end of the prison sentences, most of the prisoners would not have changed.
References
Panzarella, R., & Vona, D. (2006). Criminal Justice Masterworks: A History of Ideas about Crime, Law, Police, and Corrections. Jay College of Criminal Justice . Carolina Academic Press. Durham, North Carolina
