Essay Jails: Prison and 21 St Century Prison

Submitted By cnolin
Words: 643
Pages: 3

Purpose and History
Caymen Nolin
CJA 234
12/09/2013

A great leader once stated, “America is the land of the second chance - and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life.,” George Bush. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the History of punishment, history of prison development, comparison of the Pennsylvania system and the Auburn system, as well as the impact and involvement of prison labor over time. The history of punishment can be dated way back to the BC years. The early history of punishment started with Gildamesh, the Samarian King of Uruk. In the Ur-Nammu code there were findings of clear statements that if a person does something; he will have to pay a certain price. Punishments were forms of monetary compensation, however some were capital offenses. It usually would have to do with paying a price in silver Mina. There were also some records later in Samarian record that they actually had death penalty given at the murder trial. They covered every aspect of civil life including marriage, divorce, property, loans, inheritance, breach of contract, disputes and problems with harvest and cattle. Throughout the years different approaches of punishment were developed and then later some gotten rid of. Some of these different types of punishments used were banishing, beheading, burning, branding, boiling alive, cold shower, crucifying, duncing cap, electric chair, flogging, gas chamber, hanging, lethal injection, poison, prison, stoning, and slavery. Now punishments that are authorized in the U.S. consist of community service, monetary fines, forfeiture of property, restitution to victims, confinement in jail or prison, and death. Back in the 16th and 17th Century when prisons were first thought of and introduced they were used for the sole purpose of those criminals waiting to be tried for their crimes. They were very rarely used as a punishment of its own right. The sanctions for criminal behavior was usually public events which were designed to shame the person and deter others. Men, wemon, and children were all held together in a local prison. Now currently in the 21st century prison service has become an agency of the government. Prisons presented a comprehensive system for the punishment and treatment of offenders. It is still at the center of the system however, the institutions have taken many different forms including remand centers and detention centers. The Pennsylvania system and Auburn system can be compared in a few different ways. The Auburn prison system, often referred to as the "congregate system," is first implemented in 1819 at the New York State Prison at Auburn. Though it too