Institutionalism In The 1800's
When you think about what has changed between now and the 1800’s there are endless possibilities to mention. Most of the time however these changes have been for the better. When you come across something that hasn’t changed much one can’t help but wonder why. The similarities between institutionalism now and in the 1800’s are eerily similar. “In the 1830’s jail was an all purpose solution for a lot of issues” (Campbell, 2014). Intentional or not I still feel like this is still the case. The people in prison who are confined in solitary either have mental issues, which caused them to end up in solitary confinement, or they made a bad decision causing them to end up in solitary. Whatever the primary mental state of the prisoner, the majority
of them leave with a diminished mental state. Some will probably never leave confinement due to being mentally unstable and a flight risk for the prison. While most of the time you would think these prisoners would be placed in the mental unit of the prison. The mental units in todays prison aren’t meant to be permanent placement they are more of a temporary placement, used to get someone “better” before going right back to where they started. In the 1800’s similar methods of discipline were also used. Dorthea Dix wrote in her memorial to Massachusetts “ I have seen many who, part of the year, are chained or caged. The use of cages all but universal. Hardly a town but can refer to some not distant period of using them; chains are less common; negligences frequent; wilful abuse less frequent than sufferings proceeding from ignorance, or want of consideration.” (Dix, 1843) Today’s conditions are similar to the 1800’s because although the restraints and containment used in the 1800’s is not exactly the same, being placed in the solitary confinement room for 23 hours a day is similar to that of a cage. In fact they are placed in containment areas the documentary called cages for an hour a day for exercise. While I am not sure of a better solution for these prisoners, as I realize they are both a danger to themselves and the rest of the prison, I feel like surely there has to be a better option.
of them leave with a diminished mental state. Some will probably never leave confinement due to being mentally unstable and a flight risk for the prison. While most of the time you would think these prisoners would be placed in the mental unit of the prison. The mental units in todays prison aren’t meant to be permanent placement they are more of a temporary placement, used to get someone “better” before going right back to where they started. In the 1800’s similar methods of discipline were also used. Dorthea Dix wrote in her memorial to Massachusetts “ I have seen many who, part of the year, are chained or caged. The use of cages all but universal. Hardly a town but can refer to some not distant period of using them; chains are less common; negligences frequent; wilful abuse less frequent than sufferings proceeding from ignorance, or want of consideration.” (Dix, 1843) Today’s conditions are similar to the 1800’s because although the restraints and containment used in the 1800’s is not exactly the same, being placed in the solitary confinement room for 23 hours a day is similar to that of a cage. In fact they are placed in containment areas the documentary called cages for an hour a day for exercise. While I am not sure of a better solution for these prisoners, as I realize they are both a danger to themselves and the rest of the prison, I feel like surely there has to be a better option.