During the 16th century there were prisoners in Europe, which lead to creating jails to keep order. The prisoners were mainly in what we now call jails during the period before their trials. The prisoners were from all ages in the same building from children to adults, unlike now where there are different centers for teenagers and adults: “The facilities weren't maintained, and the prisoners weren't cared for. Many died from disease.” Many of the prisoners died due to illness while they waited for their punishment because the jails were not maintained. Not only were the prisons not maintained, but also the prisoners were kept in stocks called “pillories” where “the pillory was a wooden frame on a pole with holes through which a person's head and hands were placed. The frame was then locked and the person was subjected to humiliation and ridicule.” The prison facilities were abusing their prisoners.
In the 19th century there was more debate on the death penalty. But also the prisoners were now starting to be categorized by age: “the Society for the Prevention of Juvenile Delinquency was advocating the separation of juvenile and adult offenders.” It wasn’t good to be in the same environment and today we have the same organization juveniles in one and adults in another to have more safety. As in the 16th century the cells were described badly they continued to be bad in the 1831 “The prison’s 24 cells contained beds of straw with coverings of blankets and buffalo robes.” This visually states the conditions in which prisoners were taking care of. During the time in England the prisoners had new administration and they had “to be shown the value of working for a living and to have time alone to contemplate the error of their ways.” So they had to set time to make sure the criminals learned from their mistakes so when they were released they not to make those mistakes. The prisoners had access to some education “The rules ensured that prisoners wore uniform, were taught to read and write, were reasonably fed and their health monitored.” The criminals today have been treated the same in the way they had to wear uniforms like when the prisons had recently started to be part of society. Now in the 21st century there are a lot more criminals. According to The People’s Record, “combining the number of people in prison and jail with those under parole or probation supervision, 1 in every 31 adults, or 3.2 percent of the population is under some form of correctional control.” The population under correctional control has increased compared to the 16th century. There is a lot more crime today. In addition, “Illinois' youth prison system is violating the constitutional rights of inmates by failing to provide adequate mental health care and education and by unnecessarily keeping youths in solitary confinement, three court-appointed experts found this week.” This is important because we hardly ever hear any information negatively from prisons. It is usually kept away from media. The prisons should not violate any prisoner’s rights because after all they are humans as well. In the 16th century the prisons were held with resources to the criminals, but in Illinois youth prison they are not offering education or mental health care to have them progress while in prison. Other than having separate building for adults and juveniles the prisons have added a “supermax.” Supermax housing is defined as a free-standing facility or a distinct unit within a facility that provides for the management and secure control of inmates who have been officially designated as exhibiting violent or serious and disruptive behavior while incarcerated.” Not only is this keeping other criminals more safety, but it can also be seen as providing more attention to the supermax because they did commit more serious crimes. If we continue to have separate buildings and sections for those that have committed crimes, but the seriousness is different it can be safe for other prisoner and guards as well because they will know to be extremely more alert with those in the supermax building then those with minor crimes.
|
Prisons have gone a long way in how they have developed. From the way the prisons are set up to how inmates are treated. During the 16th and 17th century inmates would be put to shame or even execute with an audience. There were a variety of different age groups and different sexes all in one prison. According to the history of the prison system, “Evidence suggests that the prisons of this period were badly maintained and often controlled by negligent prison warders. Many people died of disease like gal fever, which was a form of typhus.” Prisons in this era could not care less about the prisoners. All they knew was that the prisoners were criminals, they disobeyed the law so they are worth nothing.
During the 18th century, prisons some what changed. According to the history of the prison system, “There was growing opposition to the death penalty for all but the most serious crimes.” Meaning it was not all the way illegal but still improved for only the worst of the worst. In 1777 a man named John Howard stock up for prisons. He wanted regular paid staff, proper diets for the prisoners, and other basic necessities. In the article HOTPS it started “ In 1799 the Penitentiary ACT specified that there should be one inmate per cell and operate on a silent system with continuous labor.” Instead of having them all crammed up into one. In the 19th century, it changed even more. Capital punishment and shaming sanctions were outdated. “In 1842 Pentonville prisons was built using the Penitentiary design, which is the same prison that is used today. In the 20th century, the prison system continued to develop. The first opened prison was built in 1933, located in New Hall camp. “The 1990s have also seen the introduction of prisons which are designed, financed, built and run by private companies.” Since the 16th century to the 20th century, prisons have greatly improved. They are still improving now. Prisons improving now is important to know because we would like to know that if our family and friends end up behind bars they will receive the help they need to get back into society. |