The Pennsylvania system describes how prison labor has evolved over time in America. The penal system can be traced back in 1682 with the leadership of William Penn; the first stated prison system reformer. The system resulted in the replacement of torture and mutilation as the methods of punishment, with hard labor in the prisons. However, the system of hard labor was not implemented in the Colonial Period, but the Penn code played a large role in evolution of prison labor. The construction of Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia, in 1773 marked the beginning of using hard labor in the jails. The order by Penn to establish workhouses in prisons was revived, where hard labor was to be used as the method of punishment which would be imposed publicly. The workers would be engaged in cleaning the streets and highways and carrying out any repairs that were needed (Clear, Reisig, & Cole, 2018). It was believed that punishment would make the offenders to be disciplined. Work would thus be used as an agent of reform. In 1789, the working inmates were to get payment. Other rehabilitation methods such as weaving, hair work, shoemaking, nail making, carding wool, and picking were introduced through making contracts with involved industries. These rehabilitation methods were adapted to the present, where the inmates are trained on skills they can use after being released from correctional facilities.
Solitary confinement was largely used to the offenders who were considered a danger to other prisoners and themselves. Isolation was also meant to teach the prisoners a lesson if they did not obey the prison laws. However, solitary confinement became a widely recognized problem calling for reforms to stop using isolation as a punishment method due to the effect it had on the prisoners. Policymakers and activists gained interest in the issue indicating that solitary confinement was a moral imperative. It was indicated that depriving prisoners of human contact increased the cases of mental illnesses, suicide levels and caused the feeling of hopelessness. It was argued that the prisons were already a punishment for the offenders and isolation would affect them negatively. Alger’s Incentives in Segregation program was introduced in 2009 allowing the reduction of isolation in the prisons. Since the program was introduced, it has reduced the isolation cases to 20 % by 2013 (Rubin, & Reiter, 2018). Alger program was also a benefit in other measures such as reduction of incidences of physical assaults and rape among the prisoners. The program has also made it easier to note any mental cases and ensure that the prisoners receive the help they require.
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Legal abuse is a common problem carried out by the people in law such as the police officers, incompetent lawyers, and the jury. Legal abuse is responsible for injustice, societal, physical and psychological health issues. Legal abuse can happen in different approaches. The wardens, who are responsible for protecting the inmates, may decide to abuse them physically, sexually or emotionally. Other cases of abuse are coercion, torture, false arrest, harassment and false imprisonment (Douglas, 2018). The prosecuting individuals may also decide to abuse an individual due to their self-interests. An advocate, for instance, may be paid to ensure that a certain person is convicted even if they are innocent. When an individual passes through legal abuse, they feel helpless as they have no one to report to, considering those abusing them are the ones who should offer protection. The people with legal authority have the power of abuse, and that results in post-traumatic stress disorder for the affected individuals.
References
Clear, T. R., Reisig, M. D., & Cole, G. F. (2018). American corrections. Cengage Learning.
Douglas, H. (2018). Legal systems abuse and coercive control. Criminology & criminal justice, 18(1), 84-99.
Rubin, A. T., & Reiter, K. (2018). Continuity in the face of penal innovation: revisiting the history of American solitary confinement. Law & Social Inquiry, 43(4), 1604-1632.
