Roots Of Us Prisons - 843 Words

Roots of US Jails The European jailing system was the method used by early English settlers for America; at the time the colonists first arrived in this country, all the knowledge they had come from England, France, and Holland, so it only made sense to develop a justice system that they were familiar with and then change it along the way. The earliest concept of common law included a set of rules that were designed to help with problem solving throughout society; these ideas were drawn upon in making decisions that were made by judges from the past. The colonists would eventually develop their own system of criminal justice; these practices are what helped develop the system that America currently uses today (Social Welfare History Project, 2012). Initial Forms of Punishment Public shaming, among other punishment options that existed during these times, was one of the most heavily relied upon punishments used. In using this approach, law enforcers hoped to teach a lesson to the offender and also reduce the likeliness of that person committing the same crime. Other very common forms of punishment included the following: placing people in the pillory, cutting off ears, whipping, and branding; the more severe and violent crimes such as rape and murder were punished through some type of execution ending the criminal’s life in death (Social Welfare History Project, 2012). With repeated offenses came into question how those individuals should be punished; in cases such as this,Show MoreRelatedBlacks, Prison, and Institutional Racism1445 Words   |  6 PagesBlacks, Prison, And Institutional Racism Description: The title pretty much says it all in this one. This paper addresses the issue of blacks in prison and explores the socio-economic causes and solutions. This paper uses many govermentally commissioned reports. Blacks, Prison, and Institutional Racism Introduction Criminal justice and security is one of the largest industries in the United States. Such a statistic is (and rightly so) of great concern to Afro-Americans because a disproportionateRead MoreEssay about Felon Disenfranchisement1043 Words   |  5 PagesThe root of Felon Disenfranchisement can be traced back to Greek and Roman laws. Where any person convicted of an infamous crime would lose his or her right to participate in polis. In Rome they would lose their right to participate in suffrage and to serve in the Roman legions. With the founding of the United States of America, the US Constitution gave the right to establish voting laws to the states. From 1776 - 1821 eleven states included felony disenfranchisement in their laws (Voter RegistrationRead MoreWhat Can We Learn from the Stanford Prison Experiment?935 Words   |  4 Pageslearn from the Stanford Prison Experiment? 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