Purpose and History of Penitentiaries

Introduction 

The criminal justice system in the United States has undergone tremendous changes (Roth, 2010). One of the elements of the system that has changed significantly is punishment. New forms of punishing offenders are being developed while other forms that have proven ineffective or inhumane are abandoned. For example, there are some states in the US that have abolished capital punishment as it is thought to be inhuman and unusual. The issue of punishment and the correctional system in the United States is the focus of this essay. The essay begins with a look at the history of punishment before proceeding to discuss prison development and other matters. 

History of punishment 

The foundations of punishment in the United States can be traced back to colonial America. In the colonial era, the Christian faith which had been imported into the country by the British colonial masters served as the basis for all punishment (Cox, 2003). Autocracy also played a role in determining how punishment was meted. Those in the lower social classes bore the brunt of punishment as they were required to abide by the rules that had been laid down by the ruling elite (Cox, 2003). To understand how religion impacted punishment and the administration of justice, an example is necessary. In colonial Virginia, slave owners were known to deny slaves food when they missed a church service. This example underscores the fact that religion was used as a basis for punishment. Before the US gained independence, those found guilty of certain crimes faced cruel punishment. For instance, branding and hanging were common forms of punishment for such crimes as burglary (Cox, 2003). Forced labor, corporal punishment and ostracism were the most common forms of punishment (“Prison History”, n.d). As the US broke free from the colonial masters, it redefined the criminal justice system and new forms of punishment were introduced. The country did away with the cruel punishments that characterized the colonial era. New forms of punishment that placed focus on crime reduction and rehabilitation were developed. For example, the correctional system that centered on prisons (incarceration) was adopted (O’Connor, 2014). The nation also began a dialogue about the death penalty. Today, the United States continues to reform its criminal justice system in an effort to improve justice delivery. 

History of prison development 

The American prison system has kept up with the changes that the concept of punishment has undergone over the years. The earliest forms of prisons in the US were referred to as penitentiaries (“Prison History”, n.d). These facilities housed individuals who were found to have sinned. As noted above, religion played an important role and this is role becomes even clearer when one considers the fact that individuals were held in the penitentiaries for sinning. These facilities were characterized by hazards, overcrowding and filth. The nation embarked on a campaign to reform its prisons. The prisons were envisioned as facilities that would rehabilitate inmates through the provision of educational opportunities and counseling services (“Prison History”, n.d). These reforms were followed by greater focus being placed on the rights of prisoners. The gains that the US had made in reforming the prison system have been eroded by the appalling conditions and the inhumane treatment of inmates (“Prison History”, n.d). While encouraging progress has been made in improving the conditions of inmates, the prison system is still plagued by such challenges as overcrowding. 

Pennsylvania system vs. Auburn system 

The Pennsylvania and the Auburn systems are two of the models that have been adopted for correctional institutions in the US. The characteristic feature of the Pennsylvania system is the focus that was placed on solitary confinement (“The Evolution of the New”, n.d). It was believed that solitary confinement would provide inmates with an opportunity to reflect on their sins and reform. Various measures were taken to ensure that there was no contact among prisoners. Solitary confinement was also a feature that defined the Auburn system. As opposed to the Pennsylvania system in which measures were instituted to ensure isolation of prisoners, the key focus of the Auburn system was silence (“The Evolution of the New”, n.d). Special arrangements for sitting during meals and separation of cells are some of the measures that were instituted in this system to ensure silence at all times. 

Impact and involvement of prison labor 

It is common practice for correctional institutions across the globe to turn to inmates for their labor needs. The US is among the countries that turn to their prisoners for labor. This practice has a long history. In the years leading up to the Civil War and as the nation tried to reconstruct, more prisons were set up. These prisons were mostly occupied by the members of the black community (Benns, 2015). These prisons set up large plantations in which the prisoners were required to work. In other prisons, programs through which prisoners were leased for labor were set up (Benns, 2015). These programs offered companies and owners of farms a cheap source of labor since slave labor was costlier. Today, prisoners still provide labor. Companies have developed partnerships with correctional facilities in which they enjoy the cheap labor provided by the prisoners (Benns, 2015). Over the years, prisoners have contributed to building the economy by providing labor. Most of the impacts of prison labor have been negative. For example, unscrupulous individuals have set up private prisons in an effort to cash in on the cheap labor offered by the prisoners (Pelaez, 2016). 

Conclusion 

The current state of the American correctional system is wanting. This is despite the long history of the system. In its initial years of development, the system was influenced heavily by aristocracy and religion. Today, the law is the key force at play in the system. The Auburn and the Pennsylvania models also marked key developments in the criminal justice system. It is encouraging that these models have been abandoned in favor of the ones that are currently in use which place focus on the rights of inmates. If the US wishes to lower crime, it needs to invest more to improve the conditions in correctional facilities. 

References 

Benns, W. (2015). American Slavery, Reinvented. Retrieved 30 th October 2016 from http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/prison-labor-in-america/406177/ 

Cox, J. A. (2003). Colonial Crimes and Punishments. Retrieved 30 th October 2016 from http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/spring03/branks.cfm 

O’Connor, R. (2014). The United States Prison System: A Comparative Analysis. Retrieved 30 th October 2016 from http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6282&context=etd 

Pelaez, V. (2016). The Prison Industry in the United States: Big Business or a New Form of Slavery. Retrieved 30 th October 2016 from http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-prison-industry-in-the-united-states-big-business-or-a-new-form-of-slavery/8289 

Prison History. (n.d). Retrieved 30 th October 2016 from http://www.adpsr.org/home/prison_history 

Roth, M. P. (2010). Crime and Punishment: A History of the Criminal Justice System. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. 

The Evolution of the New York Prison System (Part 1). (n.d). Retrieved 30 th October 2016 From http://www.correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/state/html/nyprisons.html