CC CH 2

Correctional History: Ancient Times-Colonial Jails

Chapter 2

Introduction: The Evolving Practice of Corrections

• Best and Worst: The history of corrections reflects a mix of noble intentions and serious abuses.

• Gustave de Beaumont and Alex de Tocqueville: Analyzed the American penal system in 1831, addressing law, government, politics, and race relations.

• Intentions: Discussions on the difference between theoretical concepts and operational practices.

Themes: Truths that Underlie Correctional Practice

• Key Themes:

  • Politics and Money: Consistent themes influencing correctional practices.

  • Penitence Philosophy: The creation of prisons based on the belief in penance.

  • Social Control: Use of societal mechanisms to enforce control.

  • Additional Themes: Further elaborated in Chapter 1.

Early Punishments in Westernized Countries

• Tribal Groups: Punishments based on wealth and status.

• Garland (1990): Discusses religious elements and the effects of urbanization on punishment methods.

The First Jails

• Historical References: Documentation of punishment in 2000 B.C. by Johnston (2009) and references in Confucius' writings.

• Biblical References: Mention of punishment in the Old Testament.

• Ancient Greece & Rome: Harsher punishments were predominantly enacted upon slaves. The concept of capitis deminutio maxima (loss of status) in Rome was notable.

Early Gaols

• Influential Figures:

  • Alfred the Great: Established early jailing practices.

  • King Henry II: Contributed to the development of early prison systems.

  • Elizabethan England: Recommended paying for governance through work programs for wealthy citizens.

Influence of the Catholic Church

• Ecclesiastical Courts: Played a pivotal role in shaping Western correctional systems focusing on solitude and penance as reformative methods.

Galley Slavery

• Historical Context: Widely practiced in Ancient Greece, Rome, and later in England.

• Purpose: Under Elizabeth I, employed for various crimes; the labor persisted until its relevance diminished.

Poverty and Other Prison Systems

• Timeframe: Eighteenth century England and the context of feudalism.

• Legislative Changes: Introduction of severe capital punishments under laws like The Riot Act and The Black Act.

• Brideswells: Workhouses emerged, leading to the spread of their use; debtors’ prisons also increased in prevalence.

Transportation

• Concept: Prisoners sold to ship captains, becoming indentured servants.

• Colonial Practices: England transported prisoners to America until the Revolutionary War, then to Australia, New Zealand, and Gibraltar.

• French Practices: Utilization of Devil’s Island.

• Labor Needs: Colonial America needed labor for its development, especially during the Revolutionary War.

Transportation: Australia

• Penal Colony: Norfolk Island established in 1788 as a prominent penal colony by Alexander Maconochie.

• Innovative Ideas: Introduction of concepts like “good time” and parole emerged from observations of prisoner rehabilitation.

Enlightenment: Paradigm Shift

• Major Changes: Secularization and openness in thought regarding crime and corrections during the Enlightenment was significant.

• Key Figures: John Locke (1632-1704) contributed to ideological shifts relevant to corrections.

• Cultural Reference: Star Trek's Spock referenced, signifying new ideas emerging in societal views.

John Howard: Reform Advocate

• Role: Sheriff of Bedford and a notable gaol reformer.

• Advocacies:

  • Abolishing fee systems for prisons.

  • Separation of inmates by gender and type of offense.

  • Advocated for sanitary conditions and nutritional access for inmates.

  • The moral duty of staff to serve as role models.

John Howard’s Contributions

• National Impact: His ideas were promoted throughout England, addressing common epidemics like gaol fever.

• Prison Statistics (1776):

  • Petty crimes: 16%

  • Debtors: 60%

  • Felons: 24%

Bentham and Beccaria

• Philosophers' Contributions: Advocated for a clear understanding of punishment based on certainty, severity, and celerity.

• Beccaria’s Views: Suggested education was the antidote for ignorance concerning punishment.

• Bentham’s Panopticon: Introduced an innovative design for prisons focusing on surveillance, which was never constructed due to political disputes.

William Penn: Reformer and Governor

• Philosophy: Similar sentiments to Beccaria and Bentham, opposing harsh penalties for minor offenses.

• Great Law of 1682: Instituted based on Quaker principles, minimizing the use of corporal punishment.

• Prison Design: Promoted the ideas of nonviolence and reflection.

Colonial Jails and Prisons: Early American Context

• Historical Significance: First jail established in Jamestown, Virginia (1606).

• Barnstable, Massachusetts: Recognized as the oldest standing jail employing a fee system.

Early Colonial Practices

• Features of Jails: Early jails were makeshift structures often designated as “rotary jails” resembling human squirrel cages, dividing prisoners into small cells.

• Newgate Prison: Initially set within a copper mine in Simsbury, Connecticut.

Use of Hulks in England

• Overview: Derelict naval ships converted to prisons during the 1700s-1800s, addressing overcrowding issues.

Early European and British Prisons

• Le Stinche Prison (1290s): Florence, Italy; notable for separating inmates by gender, age, and offense.

• Maison de Force (1773): In Ghent, Belgium; aimed for separation based on offenses.

• Hospice of San Michele (1704): Rome, Italy; focused on isolating juvenile offenders from adults.

Open-Access Student Resources

• Available Materials: Includes quizzes, eFlashcards, Sage journal articles, and multimedia resources accessible at edge.sagepub.com/stohressentials3e.