American Corrections History: Penitentiary Systems and Reform Movements

What was 'The Great Law' of Pennsylvania?

A legal framework adopted by William Penn that emphasized Quaker principles and hard labor as punishment for most crimes.

What significant change occurred to 'The Great Law' in 1718?

It was replaced by the Anglican Code.

What was the purpose of a penitentiary?

To isolate individuals convicted of a crime from society to reflect on their misdeeds and undergo reformation.

Which states added incarceration with hard labor as an alternative to public punishments?

Connecticut (1773), Massachusetts (1785), New York (1796), and Pennsylvania (1786).

Who was Benjamin Rush and what was his contribution to corrections?

A physician and social reformer who helped establish the Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisoners and influenced legislation similar to England's Penitentiary Act of 1779.

What is 'separate confinement' in the context of penitentiaries?

A system where each convicted individual is held in isolation, with all activities conducted in their cells.

What was the Eastern State Penitentiary and its design?

Opened in 1829, it featured cell blocks extending from a central hub like the spokes of a wheel.

What were the principles of the Pennsylvania System?

Individuals would not be treated vengefully; solitary confinement would prevent corruption, allow reflection and repentance, and be economical.

What is the New York (Auburn) System?

A penitentiary system where inmates were isolated at night but worked together during the day under a rule of silence.

What is the 'contract labor system' in prisons?

A system where the labor of convicted individuals is sold to private employers who provide the machinery and raw materials.

What was the implementation method of the Pennsylvania System?

Isolation, penance, contemplation, labor, and silence.

What was the implementation method of the New York (Auburn) System?

Strict discipline, obedience, labor, and silence, with inmates working together in shops.

What were 'Black Codes'?

Laws designed to control newly freed African Americans in the South.

What were the learning objectives of Chapter 3?

Describe 'The Great Law', compare penitentiary systems, discuss the Cincinnati Declaration, identify Progressive reforms, and illustrate the community model.

What was the significance of the Cincinnati Declaration?

It was a statement that called for reform in the corrections system, emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment.

What assumptions does the medical model hold regarding criminal behavior?

It views criminal behavior as a result of underlying psychological or physical issues that can be treated.

How did the community model reflect the values of the 1960s and 1970s?

It emphasized rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society rather than punitive measures.

What forces and events led to the present crime control model?

A combination of rising crime rates, public fear, and political pressures that shifted focus towards strict law enforcement and punishment.

What was the primary impact of vagrancy laws on Black men after the Civil War?

Black men were primarily subjected to the enforcement of vagrancy laws, leading to extremely high unemployment among southern men.

What is the lease system in the context of prisons?

A system where convicted individuals were leased to contractors who provided food and clothing in exchange for their labor, often in harsh conditions.

In which southern states did large-scale penal farms develop?

Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

What event led to the inadequacy of old Spanish jails in the West?

The California Gold Rush of 1849.

Who commissioned the nationwide survey of prisons in 1865?

Enoch Cobb Wines, for the New York Prison Association.

What was the mark system in prisons?

A system where prison residents were assessed marks based on their crime severity and could reduce their sentence through good behavior and achievements.

What significant principles were declared at the National Prison Association meeting in 1870?

Prison operations should focus on reformation, with indeterminate sentences replacing fixed ones, and proof of reformation required for release.

What was the role of clergy in the National Prison Association?

Clergy had a strong influence, emphasizing the moral regeneration of offenders.

What is a reformatory?

An institution for young individuals convicted of crimes, focusing on training, a mark system, indeterminate sentences, and parole.

What are the three elements of reform implemented by Progressives?

Probation, indeterminate sentences, and parole.

What does the positivist school in criminology emphasize?

Human behavior is influenced by biological, economic, psychological, and social factors, and can be studied scientifically.

What is the medical model of corrections?

A model based on the assumption that criminal behavior is caused by social, psychological, or biological deficiencies requiring treatment.

What is community corrections?

A model of corrections aiming to reintegrate convicted individuals into the community.

What major event in 1971 influenced American corrections?

The Attica prison riot.

What is the crime control model of corrections?

A model based on the belief that criminal behavior can be controlled through increased incarceration and strict supervision.

What were the central forces and events that changed the focus of corrections in the last fifty years?

Rising crime rates and critiques of the rehabilitation model.

What is the significance of 'The Great Law' of Pennsylvania?

It is an important historical reform in the context of penitentiary systems.

How do the penitentiary systems of Pennsylvania and New York differ?

They have different basic assumptions regarding prison operations and inmate treatment.

What are the assumptions of the medical model regarding criminal behavior?

Criminal behavior stems from social, psychological, or biological deficiencies that necessitate treatment.

How did the community model reflect the social and political values of the 1960s and 1970s?

It emphasized reintegration and rehabilitation, aligning with the era's progressive social movements.