History of American Prisons

1. History of American Prisons Mrs. Auvil Social Studies 9

2. Vocabulary • Penitentiary- from the Latin word for remorse • Quakers- religious group William Penn was a part of (nonviolent group) • Prison- a public building used for the confinement of people convicted of serious crimes

3. 400 - 1000 A.D. Punishments • Peasants (poor people) couldn't pay fines • Led to corporal punishment • Whipping • Branding • Torture

4. 1400’s England • King Henry VIII started executions, banishment, mutilation, branding, and flogging for criminals • Anywhere from murderers to robbers

5. First Prisons • In Europe, prisons were only used to hold people before they went to court • Meant for a short time only

6. The State of Georgia • Debtors, people who owed money to the king of England (King George), were sent to live in Georgia… our first “prison”

7. Georgia cont. • Between 1717 and 1775, at least 10,000 convicts were sent to the Georgian colony • This was not a punishment though because they made friends with the Native Americans and had a good life

8. James City, Virginia • First American jail house in colonies • 1600’s

9. James City Prison • Criminal paid for his crimes by giving up his land and belongings • No property? • Go to prison and work there until victim is paid off.

10. Original Prisons • 1820- Walled institutions “penitentiaries” replaced physical punishment • They were: • Overcrowded • Dirty • Inmates attacked each other regularly

11. Original Prisons, cont • All people together (old, young, black, white, men, and women) • Sheriff had a bar with very expensive liquor for them to buy • There were fees to have cells locked, unlocked, get food, have heat, and clothes

12. 1776 • Prisons who were waiting for their trial might have traded their clothes for liquor. • When the trial wasn’t until after winter they froze to death!

13. Prostitution • “Certain” women purposely got arrested so they could have access to drunk male prisoners with money!

14. Death Penalty for… • Murder • Denying “the true God” (going against religion of state) • Homosexual acts • Kidnapping

15. Prison and Fines for… • Cheating on a spouse • Rape • Debtors

16. Quaker Prisons • Quakers of Philadelphia came up with concept of penitentiary • Purpose was to have criminals reflect on their crime and become truly sorry

17. Quaker Prisons cont. • Their idea was solitary confinement • Hoped criminals would reflect and pray • Called Pennsylvania System • This was the FIRST long-term prison in the world!

18. Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons • 1783- Benjamin Franklin (and some others) started to change the cruel punishments of criminals • Created the Society in 1787 • Now called Pennsylvania Prison Society

19. Walnut Street Prison(First Prison in USA!) • Started in 1790 • Pennsylvania System of prison design (solitary confinement) • Become overcrowded because of increased industry and cities

20. Walnut Street Jail • Reduced crime rate • 131 in 1789 to 45 in 1793 • Reduced escapes to ZERO in first 4 years

21. Walnut Street Prison cont. • Had workshop teaching trades • Large rooms (18 feet square) for 30-40 occupants • Samuel Wood (first warden) • Closed in 1835

22. Problem with this system: • Solitary confinement caused • Nervous breakdowns • Suicides • They thought silence would cause the prisons to not pick up each others bad attitudes

23. Auburn Prison (in NY) • 1821- New system of prisons: “Auburn System” • Inmates work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week • Gives sense of purpose, discipline, and order

24. Auburn System • Three classes of prisons: • 1. Always in solitary confinement • 2. Allowed to work and have occasional free time • 3. Largest group- worked and ate together during the day, separate cells at night

25. Auburn System SCARY! • Punishment with whip to back • Inmates helped build Sing Sing Prison, NY in 1825 and NO ONE tried to escape • They slept outside with no supervision!

26. Eastern Penitentiary System • Took down a cherry orchard to build it, so located in Cherry Hill, PA. • Opened in 1829 (not finished until 1835) • Promoted EXTREME isolation • Caused suicides

27. Modern Prison? • Each cell had its own small exercise yard attached • Central heating (even before the US Capitol) • Flushing toilet in each cell (before the White House) • Shower baths (first in the USA!)

28. Which is better? • Auburn System proves better than Pennsylvania System

29. Civil War Era1861-1865 • Harsh and brutal • Started two other systems: • Contract System- sold inmates work to local businesses • Convict-Lease System- sold inmates as slaves to businesses (state gave up supervision and control)

30. Elmira Reformatory, NY • 1888-1920 • Z.R. Brockway (warden) created “new penology” • Elementary education for illiterates • Library hours • Elmira College faculty teach inmates • Vocational training shops

31. Mid-1930’s Freedoms • No more red and white striped uniforms (wore all grey instead) • Mingle around yard for 1-2 hours a day • Got movies and radio • Visitors and mail

32. Prisoner Rights • In 1971, the Supreme Court gave prisoners some rights: • Freedom of Speech • Freedom of Religion • Freedom from Restraints and Solitary Confinement due to beliefs, religion, or race • Opportunity to wash, have clean bedding, clothes, heat, cooling, light, and nutrition

33. Habeas Corpus • Law that protects people from being put into prison (or locked up) for wrong reasons

34. Security First, Rights Second • Mail may be searched • Reading material may be denied • Newspapers may be edited (meaning cut out so only certain things can be read) • Ankles and wrists may be shackled when they are moved

35. “Good Time” • This is credit for time served on good behavior • Used to reduce sentence length • One day of “good time credit” for every three days that he/she behaves well