CHAPTER ONE
The Correctional System
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, the student will be able to:
2 1. Identify the ideas found within Enlightenment thinking and how they influenced
corrections.
2. Define the early prison reformers and what they contributed.
3. Articulate how the Pennsylvania and Auburn models differ from one another.
4. Explain how reformatories contributed to the rehabilitation model.
5. Discuss the purpose of corrections.
6. Summarize the reasons why we punish.
7. Discuss the theories of punishment.
3
8. Explain the relationship between corrections and the criminal justice system.
9. Describe the extent and consequences of prison overcrowding.
10. Discuss the financial costs of corrections.
11. Explain the importance of professionalism in corrections.
Lesson Plan
LO – 1. Identify the ideas found within Enlightenment thinking and how they influenced
corrections.
I. The History of Corrections
A. Development of formal corrections
1. The first formal legal code establishing crimes and punishments was the Code
of Hammurabi in 1780 B.C.
2. Lex Talionis – an eye for an eye.
Class Discussion/Activity
What are some obvious flows of the Code of Hammurabi? Based on what you know, was the code more
criminal justice or victim justice oriented? Prompt students to discuss.
B. Punishment during the Middle Ages
1. Torture, servitude, banishment, and executions widely used
2. First correctional institutions were developed
a. Monastic confinement
1
, Instructor’s Manual
b. Bridewells
c. Houses of corrections
C. Enlightenment thinkers and the development of corrections
1. Montesquieu- moderate punishments
2. Beccaria- punishment should be public, immediate, and necessary
3. Bentham- law should protect society.
4. Exhibit 1.1 – Theoretical Corrections of the Classical School
LO - 2. Define the early prison reformers and what they contributed.
6 II. The Positivist School and the Development of Corrections
A. The early prison reformers
7
1. Howard- first English prison reformer
8 2. Maconochie- set up the “mark” system to encourage effort
3. Crofton- Irish mark system that influenced parole in United States
9
E. The origins of American corrections
1. The Quakers and Criminal law – Pennsylvania
2. The creation of the Walnut St. Jail – Philadelphia, Pa
3. Pennsylvania Prison Society – sweeping reforms
What If Scenario
Religion?
What if . . . you were contracted to build the first prisons in the New World in what is now
Virginia and Pennsylvania but you are not a Quaker and practice a completely different religion?
Do you foresee the construction of the first prison and the ideologies that come with it to be
drastically changed if the faith-based goals of the prison were Presbyterian, Baptist, Mormon,
or other faiths? Explain.
10 LO- 3. Articulate how the Pennsylvania and Auburn models differ from one another.
11
4. Development of the Penitentiary – Eastern State Penitentiary
a. Pennsylvania model
b. Auburn model
13 5. The New York Penal System
a. Cellblock
b. Silent system
6. The Rehabilitation Movement Begins
a. First Correctional Congress
Media Tool
History of Prisons
“Inside Eastern State Penitentiary”
http://www.history.com/topics/us-states/pennsylvania/videos/inside-eastern-
state-penitentiary
o Short clip from the History Channel on prison construction
o Discussion: After watching the clip, discuss if early prison construction
was flawed for “the time period” and what could be changed if anything?
2
, Chapter 1: The Correctional System
Class Discussion/Activity
Discuss the pros and cons of the Pennsylvania and Auburn Prison styles. In your discussion, address if
either method would be effective today and what legal pressure would there be toward either (or both)
styles?
4 LO- 4. Explain how reformatories contributed to the rehabilitation model.
7. The Reformatory Model at Elmira
a. Zebulon Brockway
8. The Medical Model of Rehabilitation
a. Howard Gill
Class Discussion/Activity
Could reformatories, as envisioned by Zebulon Brockway, be effective today? What types of criminals
would be housed there and what types of “reforms” would be necessary? Explain.
III. Corrections in the Twentieth Century
A. Explosion of Prison Violence
B. Prisoner’s Rights
C. Rise of Modern Management; Increased Use of Technology
E. Turning to Privatization
LO- 5. Discuss the purpose of corrections.
IV. The purpose and function of the corrections system today
A. The corrections system provides consequences to offenders so the public will be
protected, fear of crime will be reduced, and the offenders learn crime does not pay.
B. Corrections system also used for treatment and rehabilitation
LO- 6. Summarize the reasons why we punish.
V. Why do we punish?
A. The purpose of punishment changes with time.
B. Punishment is considered justified in modern society for the following reasons:
1. Punishing law violators provides beneficial consequences.
2. Punishment is deserved.
3. Punishment expresses public outrage.
4. Punishment teaches a lesson.
5. Punishment helps maintain the government, the social structure, and society.
Assignment One:
The vignette about Dylann Roof at the beginning of the chapter quotes Charles County Solicitor
Scarlett Wilson, “This was the ultimate crime and justice from our state calls for the ultimate
punishment.” Use this quote and the events surrounding the church shooting to have students
3
, Instructor’s Manual
write an opinion paper on one of the five justifications for punishment and which ones they think
are applicable to this case. What is a just punishment for such a heinous crime? How do you think
employing certain types of punishment affect the victims and criminal in this case?
LO- 7. Discuss the theories of punishment.
16 VI. Goals and philosophy of punishment.
A. General Deterrence
1. The idea of punishing one person will discourage others from committing
similar acts.
B. Specific Deterrence
1. The idea that individual offenders will decide against committing future
crimes once they experience the pains of punishment.
C. Incapacitation
17 1. Selective incapacitation
D. Rehabilitation
1. Evidence based programs – What works?
E. Retribution/Just deserts
18
F. Restorative justice
G. Equity/restitution
What If Scenario
Rehabilitation?
What if... you are the governor of West Virginia? Your state is losing money and is currently
spending from the state’s “rainy day” fund to meet wage checks and basic services to the state
and is discussing cuts to the correctional environment. The primary cut will be the area of
rehabilitation according to your advisors, removing all rehabilitation programs for all types of
offenders (minor and severe). What evidence do you have to agree or disagree with this idea?
Class Discussion/Activity
Discuss drunk driving checkpoints. Many police departments and state agencies believe that drunk
driving checkpoints are a general deterrent for those who wish to drink and drive; many citizens believe
announcing the time, place, and possible alternative routes to avoid the checkpoints defeat the purpose.
Where do you stand? Why?
Assignment Two:
Have students debate rehabilitation, incapacitation, restitution, restorative justice, and deterrence.
What strategy works best? Why? Which is least effective? Which method does the Unites States
currently use? Can they be used in conjunction with one another or do they work more effectively
independent of one another? Explain.
19-22 LO- 8. Explain the relationship between corrections and the criminal justice system.
4
The Correctional System
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, the student will be able to:
2 1. Identify the ideas found within Enlightenment thinking and how they influenced
corrections.
2. Define the early prison reformers and what they contributed.
3. Articulate how the Pennsylvania and Auburn models differ from one another.
4. Explain how reformatories contributed to the rehabilitation model.
5. Discuss the purpose of corrections.
6. Summarize the reasons why we punish.
7. Discuss the theories of punishment.
3
8. Explain the relationship between corrections and the criminal justice system.
9. Describe the extent and consequences of prison overcrowding.
10. Discuss the financial costs of corrections.
11. Explain the importance of professionalism in corrections.
Lesson Plan
LO – 1. Identify the ideas found within Enlightenment thinking and how they influenced
corrections.
I. The History of Corrections
A. Development of formal corrections
1. The first formal legal code establishing crimes and punishments was the Code
of Hammurabi in 1780 B.C.
2. Lex Talionis – an eye for an eye.
Class Discussion/Activity
What are some obvious flows of the Code of Hammurabi? Based on what you know, was the code more
criminal justice or victim justice oriented? Prompt students to discuss.
B. Punishment during the Middle Ages
1. Torture, servitude, banishment, and executions widely used
2. First correctional institutions were developed
a. Monastic confinement
1
, Instructor’s Manual
b. Bridewells
c. Houses of corrections
C. Enlightenment thinkers and the development of corrections
1. Montesquieu- moderate punishments
2. Beccaria- punishment should be public, immediate, and necessary
3. Bentham- law should protect society.
4. Exhibit 1.1 – Theoretical Corrections of the Classical School
LO - 2. Define the early prison reformers and what they contributed.
6 II. The Positivist School and the Development of Corrections
A. The early prison reformers
7
1. Howard- first English prison reformer
8 2. Maconochie- set up the “mark” system to encourage effort
3. Crofton- Irish mark system that influenced parole in United States
9
E. The origins of American corrections
1. The Quakers and Criminal law – Pennsylvania
2. The creation of the Walnut St. Jail – Philadelphia, Pa
3. Pennsylvania Prison Society – sweeping reforms
What If Scenario
Religion?
What if . . . you were contracted to build the first prisons in the New World in what is now
Virginia and Pennsylvania but you are not a Quaker and practice a completely different religion?
Do you foresee the construction of the first prison and the ideologies that come with it to be
drastically changed if the faith-based goals of the prison were Presbyterian, Baptist, Mormon,
or other faiths? Explain.
10 LO- 3. Articulate how the Pennsylvania and Auburn models differ from one another.
11
4. Development of the Penitentiary – Eastern State Penitentiary
a. Pennsylvania model
b. Auburn model
13 5. The New York Penal System
a. Cellblock
b. Silent system
6. The Rehabilitation Movement Begins
a. First Correctional Congress
Media Tool
History of Prisons
“Inside Eastern State Penitentiary”
http://www.history.com/topics/us-states/pennsylvania/videos/inside-eastern-
state-penitentiary
o Short clip from the History Channel on prison construction
o Discussion: After watching the clip, discuss if early prison construction
was flawed for “the time period” and what could be changed if anything?
2
, Chapter 1: The Correctional System
Class Discussion/Activity
Discuss the pros and cons of the Pennsylvania and Auburn Prison styles. In your discussion, address if
either method would be effective today and what legal pressure would there be toward either (or both)
styles?
4 LO- 4. Explain how reformatories contributed to the rehabilitation model.
7. The Reformatory Model at Elmira
a. Zebulon Brockway
8. The Medical Model of Rehabilitation
a. Howard Gill
Class Discussion/Activity
Could reformatories, as envisioned by Zebulon Brockway, be effective today? What types of criminals
would be housed there and what types of “reforms” would be necessary? Explain.
III. Corrections in the Twentieth Century
A. Explosion of Prison Violence
B. Prisoner’s Rights
C. Rise of Modern Management; Increased Use of Technology
E. Turning to Privatization
LO- 5. Discuss the purpose of corrections.
IV. The purpose and function of the corrections system today
A. The corrections system provides consequences to offenders so the public will be
protected, fear of crime will be reduced, and the offenders learn crime does not pay.
B. Corrections system also used for treatment and rehabilitation
LO- 6. Summarize the reasons why we punish.
V. Why do we punish?
A. The purpose of punishment changes with time.
B. Punishment is considered justified in modern society for the following reasons:
1. Punishing law violators provides beneficial consequences.
2. Punishment is deserved.
3. Punishment expresses public outrage.
4. Punishment teaches a lesson.
5. Punishment helps maintain the government, the social structure, and society.
Assignment One:
The vignette about Dylann Roof at the beginning of the chapter quotes Charles County Solicitor
Scarlett Wilson, “This was the ultimate crime and justice from our state calls for the ultimate
punishment.” Use this quote and the events surrounding the church shooting to have students
3
, Instructor’s Manual
write an opinion paper on one of the five justifications for punishment and which ones they think
are applicable to this case. What is a just punishment for such a heinous crime? How do you think
employing certain types of punishment affect the victims and criminal in this case?
LO- 7. Discuss the theories of punishment.
16 VI. Goals and philosophy of punishment.
A. General Deterrence
1. The idea of punishing one person will discourage others from committing
similar acts.
B. Specific Deterrence
1. The idea that individual offenders will decide against committing future
crimes once they experience the pains of punishment.
C. Incapacitation
17 1. Selective incapacitation
D. Rehabilitation
1. Evidence based programs – What works?
E. Retribution/Just deserts
18
F. Restorative justice
G. Equity/restitution
What If Scenario
Rehabilitation?
What if... you are the governor of West Virginia? Your state is losing money and is currently
spending from the state’s “rainy day” fund to meet wage checks and basic services to the state
and is discussing cuts to the correctional environment. The primary cut will be the area of
rehabilitation according to your advisors, removing all rehabilitation programs for all types of
offenders (minor and severe). What evidence do you have to agree or disagree with this idea?
Class Discussion/Activity
Discuss drunk driving checkpoints. Many police departments and state agencies believe that drunk
driving checkpoints are a general deterrent for those who wish to drink and drive; many citizens believe
announcing the time, place, and possible alternative routes to avoid the checkpoints defeat the purpose.
Where do you stand? Why?
Assignment Two:
Have students debate rehabilitation, incapacitation, restitution, restorative justice, and deterrence.
What strategy works best? Why? Which is least effective? Which method does the Unites States
currently use? Can they be used in conjunction with one another or do they work more effectively
independent of one another? Explain.
19-22 LO- 8. Explain the relationship between corrections and the criminal justice system.
4
