CRJ 2.2

Colonial Model of Crime

  • Society's View on Crime

    • Crime was viewed as a moral weakness.

    • Belief that crime is an individual choice.

    • Focus on unwanted populations rather than individual reform.

    • Poor and immigrant individuals were often targeted.

    • Use of transportation punishment for those deemed undesirable.

    • Transportation as a method for punishment rather than rehabilitation.

    • Economic revenue derived from the exploitation of these individuals.

Exploitation in Contemporary Corrections

  • Comparison of current inmate labor practices with historical models.

    • Inmates often perform labor for little to no compensation.

    • Example of Alabama where inmates earn $0 per hour.

    • Consequences of leaving prison without financial resources.

    • Reintegration challenges: returning to neighborhoods linked to prior behaviors.

    • Lack of access to amenities and resources inside prison.

    • Arguments for labor reform and the high costs of maintaining a punitive system.

    • Some view exploitation as a form of modern slavery.

Characteristics of Colonial Crime and Punishment

  • Centralization of Punishment

    • Transition from decentralized to centralized punishment.

    • Crime viewed as a violation against the state rather than the community.

  • Outcomes of the Colonial Model

    • Criminalization based on economic status.

    • Transportation punishment involved sending convicts abroad for cheap or no labor.

    • Limited use of traditional jails, primarily pretrial detention centers.

Penitentiary Model

  • Emergence of Modern Prisons

    • Birth of structured prison systems in the U.S.

    • Connection to Enlightenment ideas and Quaker reformist views.

  • Core Beliefs of the Penitentiary Model

    • Isolation is seen as a method for repentance and reform.

    • Rejection of physical punishment in favor of isolation from bad influences.

    • Concerns over the psychological effects of solitary confinement (increased mental illness, suicides).

  • Labor in the Penitentiary Era

    • Silence enforced even during labor; solitary confinement during work hours.

    • Auburn Prison's practices versus Eastern State Penitentiary's complete isolation.

    • Profitability of prisons versus the welfare of inmates.

Reformative and Progressive Models

  • Shift Towards Rehabilitation

    • Introduction of vocational training and education in correctional settings.

    • Early release incentives based on good behavior.

    • Concerns regarding who benefits from rehabilitation programs (e.g., socioeconomic disparities).

  • Progressive Model of Crime Analysis

    • Crime as affected by socioeconomic and environmental factors rather than only individual choice.

    • The concept of collective efficacy and its absence in disorganized neighborhoods.

    • Individualized treatment and alternatives to incarceration became central.

Medical and Community Models

  • Viewing Crime as a Health Issue

    • Crime treated as a pathology needing diagnosis and rehabilitation.

    • Stigmas associated with mental health issues in correctional settings.

    • Indefinite confinements and coercive treatments as problems within this model.

  • Community Model Reinforcement

    • Focused on reducing prison populations and promoting reintegration.

    • Introduced concepts of due process but faced challenges due to societal fear of crime.

Crime Control Model

  • Strong Emphasis on Law and Order

    • Originated from the "tough on crime" rhetoric.

    • Mandatory minimum sentences and three-strike laws reducing judicial discretion.

    • Issue with punitive policies creating increased incarceration rates without addressing correction of behavior.

  • Modern Era Challenges

    • Skepticism regarding rehabilitation due to lack of measurable success.

    • Financial limitations impacting supportive rehabilitation initiatives.

    • The necessity for comprehensive accountability in correctional practices.

Historical Reflection

  • Understanding the roots of current correctional policies

    • Economic and social frameworks that shape punishment.

    • Demographics of incarcerated individuals reflect broader societal inequalities.

    • Historical patterns persist across different correctional models into present-day practices.

Additional Information

  • Reference to Annotated Reading Check due.

    • Further clarification available through communication with the instructor if needed.

The methods of punishment have evolved significantly across the different correctional models:

  • Colonial Model: Punishment was characterized by the "transportation" of convicts, where individuals were sent abroad to provide cheap or free labor. Crime was viewed as a violation against the state, and the system focused on economic revenue through exploitation rather than rehabilitation. Traditional jails were rarely used except for pretrial detention.

  • Penitentiary Model: This model introduced structured prison systems and emphasized isolation as a means for repentance. It rejected physical punishment in favor of solitary confinement to separate offenders from bad influences. Even during labor, strict silence was often enforced.

  • Reformative and Progressive Models: Punishment shifted toward rehabilitation and individualized treatment. Strategies included vocational training, education, and early release incentives based on good behavior. This era also saw a rise in alternatives to incarceration.

  • Medical and Community Models: Under the Medical Model, crime was treated as a pathology, often leading to indefinite confinement and coercive treatments. Conversely, the Community Model focused on reducing prison populations and promoting reintegration into society.

  • Crime Control Model: This model returned to a punitive focus, emphasizing law and order. Punishment is characterized by mandatory minimum sentences and 3-strike laws, which reduced judicial discretion and significantly increased incarceration rates.