US Prison Reformatory Reforms Analysis

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Principals of the reformatory improvement
What Historical Forces Led to this Movement?
Was Prison Reform Successful?
Influences of the System on the Correctional System Today
Influences That Have Changed
Roles of Probation and Parole Officers in the Criminal Justice
History of Probation and Parole in Criminal Justice
Theories of Community Corrections
References

Introduction

Over the years, the U.S correctional system endured several reforms that started when the country got its independence in the 18th century. Reformatory reforms have occurred through the history of the U.S from the time when the earliest prison was constructed during the late 1700s. Two U.S federal states namely Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, initiated the reformatory reforms in the U.S. Before the reform, several of the common punishments practices were considered cruel, barbaric, unreasonable, and anti-human rights. The reform agenda that was started in the 1700s saw the creation of prisons as a departure from hanging of offenders, to cruel punishment, to manual labor, to rehabilitation and to current reforms that continue to change the U.S correctional system.

Principals of the reformatory improvement

One of the principals of the reformatory reform was Dorothea Dix. Her notable work included humanizing the living environment of inmates. She won a case against one American jail. This win saw women living surroundings get better to include dirt free and warmed cells. Apart from this case, she traversed the world championing the course of improving living conditions of inmates in Africa, Europe and America (Brown, 1998). Other notable work include plead for human rights to Queen Victoria of England and the Pope. Dorothea, in addition, offered support toward the transformation of the U.S jail system from sign-up manual labor to training (IHAP, 2012).

Dr. J. Galt is another pioneer reformist of the U.S prison system. He established the earliest known psychiatric sanatorium in America around 1841B.C. He was a strong advocate for prisoner’s categorization with regard to their mental health. He proposed this approach because he believed that all people should be treated with dignity. Dr. J. Galt held that, the mentally ill and disabled inmates deserved to be treated with self-respect. He proposed the outpatient option in place for lifelong stays in prison. He also proposed the “talk therapy” approach (IHAP, 2012).

Louis Dwight championed juvenile rights in prison. He proposed the separation of children offenders from mature inmates. He founded the Boston Prison Discipline Society, and facilitated the establishment of prison’s rigorous penal systems.

Francis L. Howe and Samuel G. Howe shared a common purpose with Dorothea. They proposed the creation of libraries and other essential literacy facilities in prisons, discontinuation of beating and whipping of prisoners, besides the separation of juveniles, women and psychologically troubled inmates from other inmate populations.

What Historical Forces Led to this Movement?

While the reformatory reforms were being initiated, the U.S was undergoing major transformations. They included population growth, several battles that saw the conquering of both California and Texas and the concern for slavery. In addition, this era was characterized by people fighting for their civil rights, and women starting to claim the rights they had been denied for several years (Reid, 2012).

This era in the American history was the basis upon which the humane treatment of prisoners was launched. Many Americans used the constitution that had just been established to fight for their rights. During this era, the society began to notice the manner in which detainees were being penalized, and it resolved that habits such as beating and whipping were appropriate for beasts than for human beings. One of the people who discredited the practice of whipping inmate was Benjamin Rush. Benjamin considered whipping as a display of violence that if left unattended could have spread through the society and have a negative effect (Reid, 2012.).

Was Prison Reform Successful?

The prison reforms started in the 1700 were successful. The reforms helped several individuals establish effective new rules that improved the welfare of prison populations. Even though these reforms pioneers concentrated on specific issues, every effective improvement they undertook led to the emergence of an additional improvement. The diverse reforms that came about, allowed new prison facilities to be put together, more compassionate handling of inmates, and separation of inmates. However, because of the vicissitude of viewpoint concerning the purpose and status of penitentiaries, changes will always take place (McShane, 1996).

Influences of the System on the Correctional System Today

Today, penitentiaries not only partition residential areas into cells, but also have numerous professional and learning programs to support the rehabilitation of inmates. Furthermore, the Pennsylvanian structure, which was founded in the 18th century following the reformatory reforms, is still practiced in several penitentiaries in the U.S today. One aspect of this structure entails division of inmates as per crimes committed as well as isolated imprisonment.

Influences That Have Changed

One of the influences is that solitary imprisonment is still a contentious issue in prisons nowadays. The other influence is that the initial stages reformatory reforms were not entirely victorious in abolishing what critics suppose to be bad suffering. In addition, parole was introduced to deal with the problem of overcrowding.

Roles of Probation and Parole Officers in the Criminal Justice

Depending on the system, the responsibilities of these officers may converge or diverge. For instance, in some systems the parole officer is involved in a criminal case after the lawbreaker completes some of his or her sentence-time in jail. On the other hand, a probation officer is involved when a court of law puts an offender under probation. The other roles of these officers include, helping the court sentence convicted criminals, considering offenders criminal evidence by interviewing their friends and relatives, getting involved in pre trial investigations, rehabilitating offenders and arresting probationers or parolees if they break the law. They also help former inmates integrate into the society through helping them find work, housing among other things (Martin, 2005).

History of Probation and Parole in Criminal Justice

Available literature shows that the idea of probation and parole began in England, where the jury or the judge used court’s official pardon to reduce the sentence of those who committed felony. Probation was accepted in the U.S in the 19th century. John Augustus popularized parole and probation in the American judicial system, earning him the name the “Father of Probation” (Siegel, 2010).

Theories of Community Corrections

One of the notable criminal theories is the Labeling theory. The Labeling theory articulates that when a person is labeled a lawbreaker, the public creates an image from which that individual cannot break out. According to this supposition, the likeness formed defines the role of ex-criminals roles in the society. In addition, it incarcerates the labeled individual to a life of crime from which they can never flee. This theory correlates perfectly to the concept of expunging of criminal record as a way of re-integrating criminals back to the society (Hanser, 2010). Other theories include the broken window theory, which correlates to graffiti reduction programs, and the three strikes theory that correlates to the classical school of criminology.

References

Brown, T. J. (1998). Dorothea Dix: New England reformer. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press.

Hanser, R. D. (2010). Community Corrections. Los Angeles: Sage.

Independence Hall Association in Philadelphia. (2012). 26d. Prison and Asylum Reform. Web.

Martin, G. (2005). Juvenile justice: process and systems. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

McShane, M. D. (1996). Encyclopedia of American prisons. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Reid, S. T. (2012). Criminal Justice Essentials. Chichester, West Sussex; Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.

Siegel, L. J. (2010). Introduction to Criminal Justice. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.

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