Home Architecture Talk

Do you agree with this view?

“Broad and Varied Social Forces Historically have Influenced Corrections” John Conley: Historian [p 46] It is reasonable to agree with the fact that a continuum of a more humane treatment of prisoners is evident in a linear comparison with our society’s progress, and which is being achieved mainly by present day Institutional Accreditation Criteria, by the implementation of Rehabituative penal programs during the term of incarceration and at post-conviction, and the more prominent application of the Classicist View towards corrections. These are in my opinion the most significant applications towards societal restructuralization in regards to the humane treatment of prisoners and the safety of society, in order to achieve a returning positive citizen instead of a habitual recidivist criminal. The humanist penal reformers and their observations, which stand throughout the history of penal evolutions applications and practices and its transformation, are accredited mostly to the early efforts of John Howard, Jeremy Bentham and Cesare Beccaria. Their thinking and efforts have influenced the Architecture of Prisons in that prisons are built around the population and not a population ‘enhorded’ within, and thereby bringing harmony into the conscience of modern day society. “Perhaps the invention of the Penitentiary represented not the Product of the Humanitarian instincts unleashed by the Enlightenment, but a means of Disciplining the ‘Working Class’ to serve a new Industrial Society” “Apparently reform was brought about as much as the emergence of the middle class as by the ‘humanistic concerns of the Quakers and others. The new industrialist may have been concerned about the existing criminal law because, paradoxically, its harshness was helping some offenders to escape punishment, and at the same time a shortage of exploitable and cheap workforce: Jurors would not convict persons accused of petty offenses for which Death was the prescribed sanction. In petitions to parliament, groups of businessmen asserted that their property was not protected if offenders could escape punishment; however the true underlying cause is a shortage in the work pool. They wanted sanctions that were swift and certain, and their demands fell on the fertile ground of moral indignation. Traditional scholarship has emphasized the humanitarian motives of reformers seeking a system of benevolent justice; however, some revisionist scholars have focused on the underlying economic or social factors that account for this shift in correctional policy.”

Public Comments

1. "Traditional scholarship has emphasized the humanitarian motives of reformers seeking a system of benevolent justice; however, some revisionist scholars have focused on the underlying economic or social factors that account for this shift in correctional policy.” In a way, I do believe with that view. It does seem as if people use to believe in the reforming/ benevolent justice system... they had humanitarian ideas involved, although that is what they claim most of the times... but more recently, it seems that it is looked at more in the terms of economic and social factors. People tend to agree or disagree with it because they either want to benefit from in, in terms of companies making money by running some of their business through prisons, by prisoners... or people against it because they say it is costing the states too much money. People claim that it is for social factors, which I can believe... to a certain extent... to protect society from the dangerous, from the criminals... Yet, they release these prisoners after a long time of being separated from society, with nothing, without being prepared to live in the current society they are going back into. Many times they have trouble finding jobs, staying clear of drugs, and don't have much support, that they just resort back to crime... something that they may be familiar with. That is way, refereeing somewhat to a previous question of yours, it is important that prisons have programs, intended for reforming... the thing is, they have to direct those programs specifically towards those it is trying to reform.. keep in mind that there might be differences such as the programs needed for men and those for women... Most programs are directed towards men, and those sames programs, if offered are offered towards women. Additionally, there should be more halfway houses/programs available for prisoners for when they come out of prison... it gives them a place to live, support, and help, while they readjust to living back in a society they have been away from for some time.
2. some bits yes, but it's a bit biased. Most of the population in prison come from minority groups that suffer a disproportionate level of unemployment, and discrimination in the workforce. In Us most prisons are currently at 190% capacity, this is hardly humane, but is humane treatment of minority groups in the eyes of the upperclass, who incidentally have the most power in society. safety of society is not an aspect that is effectively observed in the current criminal justice system. evidence shows that the majority of prisoners reoffend upon their release, partly because while the population of prisons has escalated in recent years, funding for treatment programs has not raised to match the services required. there is little or no chance of rehabilitating a person without specialist interventions. teh system is stuffed basically. magistrates, police, prison staff, parole staff etc.. all have the power of discretion when dealing with offenders, unfortunately there is still a lot of institutionalised racism in the system. there is little consistency in treatment of offenders. classicist views are so so, they form a base for the criminal justice system but are not necessarily in line with current social issues. for example drug addicts are often victims of social issues (abuse, poverty, discrimination) is it humane to punish the victim? while i am not saying offenders shoould not recieve punishment, i feel that acknowledgement of societies responsibility to the welfare of minority groups has gone largely unnoticed.