This week’s readings reflected the history of prisons and the eras in which they have evolved. Within this document the evolution of today’s prison systems will be discussed, along with the complications of prison overcrowding. Finally the comparison of today’s prison to the prisons of the past. The penitentiary era changed using the Quaker’s system converting the Walnut Street jail into use instead of using the older method of stocks, flogging, and public humiliation. This was a more humane way to deal with the individuals who chose to break the laws set before them. The inmates were able to work on crafts to keep themselves occupied and their sanity level was maintainable. The mass prison era changed the ways of the jail to a prison in which there were more solitude and less rehabilitation. Inmates were not allowed to speak to make contact with each other, but vocational job training was introduced. Not until the reformatory era was the idea of education introduced into prisons to allow children and adults to become educated with incarcerated. Also the ability for early release for good behavior was introduced. The industrial era introduced prison work labor. Inmates within the prison system would create goods for the public for a minimal wage. The punitive era did away with the industrial aspect of prisons. The ability for education became a luxury, and maximum security prisons were built. As the restrictions became harsher the more riots and escape attempts there were. After the punitive era ended the treatment era began, introducing the need for rehabilitation and treatment for the inmates. The need for re-introduction into society brought about the community-based era allowing the minimum security inmates to leave the prison and work within the community under supervision. After the inmates still continued to return to the prisons the just deserts era brought back the “get tough” type of incarceration giving a harsher sentence based on the severity of the crime committed. This brought back the chain gang and reduced the privileges of the inmates. As you look at the history of state and federal prisons you will find the prison system went from Gaols in England to the Walnut Street Jail then evolving to the Auburn Penitentiary. Jails will continue to evolve as life evolves and crimes committed become more severe the need for more improved prisons will continue. A comparison of the similarities and differences between the security levels in state and federal prisons is best found within The Oakes (N.D) website Both State and Federal prison systems have a first-level security risk – minimum. In both cases, prisoners are not considered a flight risk and are given considerable latitude for movement within and without the perimeter of the facility. In the case of state prisoners, some are trustees permitted to work outside the fences whereas others are those sentenced to half-way houses and work-release programs.
Low-Security is the next level and again, both the State and Federal systems are similar. Security is heightened, with a reduced ratio of convicts to guards; fencing is generally doubled or improved in some similar fashion.
Medium-Security prisons in both cases begin to resemble secure locations: These, house fewer prisoners per guard and the perimeter is sure to be far more secure. Guards may be mounted along the fence and inmate movement is greatly limited.
High-Security prisons are considered more traditional prisons. These are the ones seen in movies and books with the high stone walls and guard towers with spotlights and rifles. With a far narrower gap between the guards to inmate ration, such prisons are clearly more expensive to operate. This helps one to understand how careful criminal justice officials need to be in assigning cases to one prison or another. Budgets are involved.
Finally, both State and Federal systems use a Maximum-security level. In the case of both systems, lifers and death row inmates are sent to such prisons. In the case of the Federal, an AdMax prison takes care of certain federal prisoners of special interest to the United States Government.
Minimum security is rarely seen as a security level due to the lack of supervision over the inmate. Therefore there are only four major tiers of security level.
An explanation of factors influencing growth in jails, state prisons, and federal prisons is best explained by The Sentencing project (N.D) website, Federal prison growth has grown 153% overall since 1990. 57% of federal prisoners are incarcerated for drug offenses, this issue is largely due to the impact of federal mandatory minimum penalties. Another influencing factor is the growth of prison releases is outpacing the rate of admissions, increasing by over 9% at the state and federal level, with over a 20% increase at the federal level.
As we can see the use of the prison systems since the early 17th century has evolved severely. From embarrassment with the use of stocks to the creation of the four major levels of incarceration. From city jails to federal prisons the prison systems are overcrowded, this is one major contributing factor to the issues with prisons today. The conditions of today’s jails to federal prisons have improved through the years though overcrowded there are more methods to entertain inmates. From work release programs to education, and early release for good behavior, these options were not available in the early 17th century.
References
Oakes, C. J. (N.D). State and Federal Prisons: A history of growth. Criminal Justice Law. Retrieved from http://criminaljusticelaw.us/corrections/state-and-federal-prisons-a-history-of-growth/
The Sentencing project. (N.D). U.S. Prison Populations –Trends and Implications. Retrieved from http://www.sentencingproject.org
