Development of the Prison System - Essay Sample

There is a significant amount of interest centered on the disciplinary actions in our prison system. The peace, security, and order amongst the public are reliant upon the expeditious, and proper punishment of those who are in contravention of the law. It is desirable that the culprits are arrested, reformed, and then restored back into society with minimal expense and exposure to suffering (Seiter, 2016).

Pennsylvania System

The Auburn and Pennsylvania systems dominate the discourse on prison reforms because they are the two main approaches to penal changes in America. Construction of the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia was done in 1773. The constitution of 1776 allowed the use of hard labor to punish the convicted inmates ("The Pioneer in United States Prison Labor", 2018). This labor was administered publicly and disgracefully with punishments such as cleaning highways and streets. The Pennsylvania system, named according to the state it was adopted, worked by confining inmates in a way where there was minimal to no interaction with others. Each prisoner was limited to work by themselves both day and night, and hence it was referred to as the solitary or separate system (Seitz, 2017). The idea was to use hard labor as a way of punishment and instilling discipline. The lack of interaction among inmates is a stand-out advantage since it reduces the chances of inmate disruption, which would impede their repentance.

Auburn System

Around the same time that Pennsylvania was developing solitary confinement, the Auburn State Prison in New York introduced the congregate system (Seiter, 2016). It was a stark opposite to the one used in Pennsylvania since it allowed inmates to interact in common workshops. Under this approach, prisoners socialize during meals, work, and prayer but return to their solitary cells at night. Proponents argued that the ability to congregate in workshops allowed for the use of machinery, which increased productivity. It also gave the inmates a semblance of structure and responsibility.

The Winning Model

The Auburn system was later adopted by most states in America for the obvious reasons. It was the approach that was highly effective in rehabilitating and reforming the inmates ("The Pioneer in United States Prison Labor", 2018). Prisoners must learn that responsibility and teamwork can lead to productivity. The Pennsylvania system separated inmates, and hence they could not gain the vital skills of cooperation.

Reference

Seiter, R. (2016). Corrections: An Introduction (5th ed.). New York: Pearson Education.

Seitz, P. (2017). Review: Prisons Today: Questions in the Age of Mass Incarceration Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Philadelphia, PA. The Public Historian, 39(3), 129-132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1525/tph.2017.39.3.129The Pioneer in United States Prison Labor. (2018). Cor.pa.gov. Retrieved 3 February 2018, from http://www.cor.pa.gov/PCI/Pages/History.aspx