Introductory Criminal Justice: History of - Punishment (Physical Punishments, Transportation, Penitentiary Era (Pennsylvania vs. Auburn Systems), Reformatory Era, Medical Model, Crime Control Model)

History of Punishment (Physical Punishments, Transportation, Penitentiary Era (Pennsylvania vs Auburn Systems), Reformatory Era, Medical Model, Crime Control Model)

History of Punishment Study Guide

What This Is

The history of punishment encompasses the evolution of methods used to punish offenders, from physical punishments to modern correctional systems. This concept is crucial in understanding the development of the criminal justice system and its current practices. It serves as a foundation for understanding the complexities of punishment and rehabilitation.

Key Definitions / Models / Steps

• Physical Punishments: Inflicting physical harm as a form of punishment, such as flogging, branding, or mutilation.
  • Example: The use of flogging in colonial America, where it was a common punishment for minor offenses.
  • Dates: 1600s-1800s
• Transportation: Exiling offenders to a distant location, often as a form of punishment for serious crimes.
  • Example: The British practice of transporting convicts to Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries.
  • Dates: 1600s-1850s
• Pennsylvania System: A prison system that emphasized solitary confinement and hard labor, developed in the 1790s.
  • Example: The Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, which was designed to reform inmates through solitary confinement.
  • Dates: 1790s-1830s
• Auburn System: A prison system that emphasized hard labor and collective punishment, developed in the 1820s.
  • Example: The Auburn State Prison in New York, which was designed to reform inmates through hard labor and collective punishment.
  • Dates: 1820s-1850s
• Reformatory Era: A period of prison reform that emphasized rehabilitation and education, beginning in the late 19th century.
  • Example: The establishment of the Elmira Reformatory in New York, which was designed to provide education and vocational training to inmates.
  • Dates: 1870s-1920s
• Medical Model: A theoretical model that views crime as a medical or psychological disorder, requiring treatment and rehabilitation.
  • Example: The use of psychotherapy and medication to treat mental health disorders in prisons.
  • Dates: 1960s-present
• Crime Control Model: A theoretical model that views crime as a threat to social order, requiring punishment and control.
  • Example: The use of mandatory minimum sentencing and three-strikes laws to punish repeat offenders.
  • Dates: 1970s-present
• Positivist School: A theoretical model that views crime as a product of social and environmental factors, rather than individual choice.
  • Example: The work of Cesare Lombroso, who argued that crime was a result of biological and environmental factors.
  • Dates: 19th century
• Classical School: A theoretical model that views crime as a result of rational choice and free will.
  • Example: The work of Jeremy Bentham, who argued that crime was a result of individual choice and could be prevented through deterrence.
  • Dates: 18th century

Practical Application

In a realistic scenario, a probation officer may use the Reformatory Era model to develop a rehabilitation plan for an offender. The officer may assess the offender's educational and vocational needs, and provide access to programs and services that can help them achieve their goals. For example, the officer may refer the offender to a GED program or a vocational training course, and provide support and guidance throughout the process. The officer's goal is to help the offender become a productive member of society, rather than simply punishing them for their crime.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: The Pennsylvania System was more effective at rehabilitating inmates than the Auburn System.
• Correction: Both systems had their own strengths and weaknesses, and it is difficult to say which one was more effective.
• Misunderstanding: The Medical Model views crime as a moral failing.
• Correction: The Medical Model views crime as a medical or psychological disorder, requiring treatment and rehabilitation.
• Misunderstanding: The Crime Control Model is only used in the United States.
• Correction: The Crime Control Model is used in many countries around the world, including the United States.
• Misunderstanding: The Positivist School views crime as a result of individual choice.
• Correction: The Positivist School views crime as a product of social and environmental factors, rather than individual choice.
• Misunderstanding: The Classical School is no longer relevant in modern criminology.
• Correction: The Classical School remains an important theoretical model in modern criminology, and its ideas continue to influence policy and practice.

Exam Tips

• Be able to distinguish between the Pennsylvania System and the Auburn System, and explain the key differences between them.
• Understand the key principles of the Medical Model and the Crime Control Model, and be able to apply them to real-world scenarios.
• Be able to explain the key differences between the Positivist School and the Classical School, and provide examples of how each model has been applied in practice.
• Understand the key principles of the Reformatory Era, and be able to explain how they have influenced modern correctional practices.
• Be able to distinguish between the Medical Model and the Crime Control Model, and explain how they have been used to inform policy and practice.

Quick Recap

• The Pennsylvania System emphasized solitary confinement and hard labor.
• The Auburn System emphasized hard labor and collective punishment.
• The Reformatory Era emphasized rehabilitation and education.
• The Medical Model views crime as a medical or psychological disorder.
• The Crime Control Model views crime as a threat to social order.
• The Positivist School views crime as a product of social and environmental factors.
• The Classical School views crime as a result of rational choice and free will.
• The Reformatory Era emphasized rehabilitation and education.
• The Medical Model has been used to inform policy and practice in many countries.
• The Crime Control Model has been used to inform policy and practice in many countries.