Two Prison Models
As we study history and things that have happened we always find that the first things that were thought of and used usually did not turn out to be the best, most of the time, and we still see that today in our society with different things that are invented. As you study the history of Corrections you will always find where things were implemented and then were done away with or reworked because they just did not fit or work like they thought it would. We will see in the following paragraphs the penitentiary ideal of what they said it was and the two prison models that came into existence that were used for a number of years. When you think of penitentiary what comes to mind? You think of criminals acting like animals if they are crazy
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The first model was created when the Eastern State Penitentiary was built which implemented the separate system or isolate system. Foster (2006), stated that “The prison featured seven cell blocks radiating like spokes from a central rotunda” (p.23). The prison looked like a Scottish castle from the Middle Ages that had thirty foot high walls enclosing it. Foster (2006), stated that “The design incorporated the principles of Quaker reformative imprisonment the complete isolation of inmates, fair treatment, and opportunity for work, reflection, and reformation” (p. 23). This prison was big with an open atmosphere with wide halls and high walls. The cells were larger than a normal cell that was seven and a half by twelve. Foster (2006), stated that “These cells also had a skylight that represented the eye of God” (p.24). Each cell had their own exercise yard that was about the same size as the cell (Foster, 2006, p. 24). The prisoners never were allowed to see any other prisoner or any part of the prison. The prisoners worked in their cells and were also feed in their cells for all three meals. The ones that created this system felt like this was part of the prisoners’ time to reflect on their actions that brought them to that place and gain penance and to keep them from contaminating each other. The way the prison was ran is why they called it the separate system or isolate
The first model was created when the Eastern State Penitentiary was built which implemented the separate system or isolate system. Foster (2006), stated that “The prison featured seven cell blocks radiating like spokes from a central rotunda” (p.23). The prison looked like a Scottish castle from the Middle Ages that had thirty foot high walls enclosing it. Foster (2006), stated that “The design incorporated the principles of Quaker reformative imprisonment the complete isolation of inmates, fair treatment, and opportunity for work, reflection, and reformation” (p. 23). This prison was big with an open atmosphere with wide halls and high walls. The cells were larger than a normal cell that was seven and a half by twelve. Foster (2006), stated that “These cells also had a skylight that represented the eye of God” (p.24). Each cell had their own exercise yard that was about the same size as the cell (Foster, 2006, p. 24). The prisoners never were allowed to see any other prisoner or any part of the prison. The prisoners worked in their cells and were also feed in their cells for all three meals. The ones that created this system felt like this was part of the prisoners’ time to reflect on their actions that brought them to that place and gain penance and to keep them from contaminating each other. The way the prison was ran is why they called it the separate system or isolate