Michel Foucault in his book ‘’ Discipline and Punishment’’ focuses on treatment of criminals from the past. The book indicates that in the 18 century, criminals were subjected to public torture which involved violent actions towards the criminal. In this case, the criminal suffered physical torture as a way of correcting and punishing the individuals for their crimes. Foucault further indicates that numerous changes have taken place in executing punishment to criminals, the author indicates that the modern day's prisons have slowly emerged from the traditional forms of punishment ( Foucault, 1995) . By discussing the traditional forms of punishment and the modern form of punishment. Foucault argues that both systems of corrections were not based on humanitarian basis as well did not aim at rehabilitating the criminals but rather the two systems influenced by some factors such as power and knowledge aimed and inflicting pain, suffering, and oppression to the crime victims.
Foucault relates the methods of punishment with knowledge and power. In his initial pages, he indicates that the body which is a subject to be acted upon is prone to ‘political technology ( Foucault, 1995) .' The term political technology has been used to refer to the power and knowledge that have from the past dominated punishment and discipline which initially focused on the body as opposed to the soul. For example, the author indicates that during a public execution, the body was always horrifically displayed which in turn lead to the punishment of the body. It is also important to indicate that the execution was carried out by the kings and the society believed that public punishment which was a ceremony aimed at re-establishing the social order and power ( Foucault, 1995) . In this case, power is demonstrated as an essential element in punishment as it influenced how punishment was executed. Additionally, the discipline would not be carried in any other form of corporal punishment aimed at oppressing the victim's body. When the traditional form of punishment is compared with the modern system, it is evidence that in the modern days, the body is subjected to being arranged, supervised and controlled. It is important to indicate that the ancient system of judgment utilized inquisition, torture, and execution of the victim's body in an attempt to arrive at the truth about the crime ( Foucault, 1995) . The victim's body was humiliated and tortured at the presence of the public who were called to be observers for the punishment ceremony. The traditional and modern forms of punishment focus on oppressing the body as opposed to offering rehabilitation to the criminals which are inhuman.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Additionally, Foucault views public torture as a form of the ceremony where the criminal's torture process was given more meaning rather than focusing on behavioral change. For example, the author indicates that the process of public torture involved secrecy whereby, an investigation about the crime and the criminal was carried out, and the investigation findings were not shared or revealed to the crime despite the fact that the findings were used against the person ( Foucault, 1995) . Additionally, the public torture focused on revenging on the victim's body which leads to physical torture, pain, and suffering to the victim. In this case, Foucault demonstrates the ill will of the public punishment as opposed to its intended purpose which aimed at correcting criminals.
It is also important to indicate that the modern prisons focused on time and space. Whereby, the criminals are confined in prison walls, where a person in power closely monitors the prisoners (Smart, 2002). Foucault indicates that despite the numerous changes that took place in the modern prisons, the prisons were a continuation of the traditional form of punishment and despite the fact that the prisons were general, they did not focus on the humanitarian aspect. It is also important to indicate that the changes that occurred in the prisons were far from achieving humanitarian standards as the prisoners were subjected to food rationing, depreciation of sex, corporal punishment, as well as confinement which in turn violated the humanity of the prisoners (Smart, 2002). The new reforms in prison presented a new form of punishment where the victims' bodies were subjected to ubiquitous, supervision, and effective spectacle. In this case, the prisoners under a more knowledgeable and powered individual worked on the society as a way of paying for their crime (Smart, 2002). However, it is important to indicate that this form of punishment did not last long, as it was viewed as lenient on the criminals. Additionally, the argument indicates that the changes that took place in the system of punishment were not humanitarian, but rather they shifted the focus from the body to the soul.
Despite the general argument that Foucault holds on the systems of punishment it is important to indicate that he also appreciates the fact that the modern forms of prisons. The views have been significantly embraced by Barry Smart who also believes that the justice system and prisons have taken a new form. In this case both authors’ views different institutions such as hospitals, educational institutions, military institutions as well as factory focused on providing some form of disciplinary careers for individuals locked up in the institutions (Smart, 2002). In this case, Foucault view of modern prisons is based on scientific authority which revolves around medical, psychological philosophies, as well as criminology knowledge. From this perspective, prisons (institutions) must provide a form of delinquents which in turn aids in developing disciplinary careers. From this view, punishment shifted its focus from the criminal activity to the driving forces towards the criminal activity such as motives, abnormality factors which revolve around matters of the soul which are judged based on the mental-health analysis (Smart, 2002). In this case, the criminal activities that criminal carry out have in the modern system of punishment and judgment become an object of scientific studies. Numerous theorist and psychologies have significantly engaged in the study of behavior which tries to explain the forces behind criminals’ behaviors. The move is a significant change from the traditional form of punishment that focused on inflicting the pain of the victims in an attempt to find the truth about the criminal activity from the criminals (Smart, 2002). As a result, of the scientific study incorporated in the punishment system, Foucault demonstrates the strong relationship between knowledge and how it influences power and mode of punishment.
Conclusively, Foucault, ‘ ’Discipline and punishmen t’’ book offers a history of the judicial system that dealt with criminal activities. It is important to indicate that Foucault argues that despite the numerous changes that have from the past taken place in the punishment department, the system of the judiciary as far from meeting their goals as they lack humanitarian and rehabilitation aspects. Traditionally, the punishment was carried out at a ceremony in public execution, whereby, the criminal was subjected to physical torture in an attempt to get the truth about the criminal activity. Moreover, the criminals were subjected to killing which in turn is not a humanitarian act. It is also important to indicate that power and knowledge significantly influenced the criminal justice system as dictated how punishment was executed. Despite the numerous changes that took place in the criminal justice system it is important to indicate that the 19th systems experienced significant changes. However, they still failed to focus on the humanitarian nature of punishment which aims at rehabilitating the individual, as the system focused on the body as opposed to the soul. Lastly, the modern day prisons have taken a new shape of the system which focuses on the driving forces behind the behavior, as opposed to focusing on the crime. Therefore, focusing on the soul as opposed to the body and as a result though with some challenges attempting to achieve the humanitarian goals of correction institutions.
References
Foucault, M. (1995). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison . New York: Vintage Books.
Smart, B. (2002). Michel Foucault critical assessments . London: Routledge.
