Tanita D. Wright
September 13, 2011
What were women’s prisons like before the 1800s? How have they changed?
• Women’s prisons before the 1800’s did not actually exist. The prisons were a mix of men, women, and children all together. In the 1800s woman that were in prison where treated just how the men were treated. The hard labor they had to endure was work such as sewing, cleaning, laundry and cooking. They were expected to act like ladies but where treated like men. The woman believed they were over worked and underfed in these prisons in the 1800s. Since the 1800’s prisons have changed dramatically. Depending on where you were in prison at cells could be little holes in the wall. There were no toilet facilities; you used a bucket and usually one that wasn't emptied often. Some prisoners did not work while in prison, they just sat there and rotted. No cafeterias were established and your food was pushed through your bars in your cell. You were really lucky to get food every day. Today prisoners get 3 meals a day, are offered schooling and jobs within the prison, some are allowed to do work outside of the prison, there is running water with toilets and showers, and most of all the inmates have beds instead of sleeping on the ground.
What are the three basic arguments established in the 1800s that supported the separation of juvenile prisoners from adult prisoners? What would happen if there were no distinction between prisons for juveniles and adults?
• Penitentiary life would be too hard on the youth. They believed that the youth would learn the bad habits from the older inmates and the experience would embittered by the confident. Would have a better chance of being rehabilitated if the youth got treatment by someone who knew how to treat young offenders. If the prisons left the youth with the adults the youth would get schooled on how not to get caught in future crimes they were to