MODERN ERA

The 18th century saw widespread resistance to public execution and torture both
in Europe and in the United States. The public particularly objected to death
penalty being imposed even for petty crimes. Many jurors refused to convict
defendants when they knew they would be sentenced to death for committing
minor offenses. Heads of states were hard-pressed for alternative ways of
punishments that would not picture them as heartless rulers. These rulers saw
mass imprisonment, often coupled with hard labor, as the more suitable form of
sanction. (Foucault, 2012; Kann, 2005)
1 8 T H C EN T U RY
MODERN ERA
MODERN ERA

At this time, the philosophies that heavily influenced the penal reform movement
were contradictory in nature.

On one side there was the suggestion that prisons should be used simply as a more humane substitute for
public corporal punishments, such as whipping or hanging. This theory, aimed at being a deterrent, claims
that prison conditions should be so harsh and terrifying that they sow fear among would-be offenders.

On the other side was the theory that regarded prisons as a form of rehabilitation or moral reform. It
sprang from religious beliefs that saw crime and sin in the same light, and regarded prisons as a place to
teach prisoners concepts of Christian morality and proper behavior.
MODERN ERA

Modern reformers believed that prisons could be

turned into more humane institutions where prisoners
can be taught proper behavior and could still be
productive when they reunite with the rest of society
after they have served their term in prison. [Lewis,
2009)
IN CONCLUSION

the modern era of corrections emerged in response to the resistance against

public execution and torture. Rulers sought alternative punishments, leading to
the development of mass imprisonment coupled with hard labor. The
philosophies during this time varied, with some viewing prisons as a deterrent
and others emphasizing rehabilitation and moral reform. Modern reformers
believed in the potential of prisons to be more humane institutions, providing
education, teaching proper behavior, and promoting productive reintegration into
society. This marked a shift towards a more comprehensive approach to
corrections, focusing not only on punishment but also on rehabilitation and
reducing recidivism rates.
PENAL COLONIES AND PRISON SHIPS

An alternative to the death penalty for many offenses in the British

Empire was the practice of transporting convicted criminals to penal
colonies. This was also done in the Americas between the 1610s and
1770s and in Australia between 1788 and 1868.
PENAL COLONIES AND PRISON SHIPS

France also used tropical penal colonies including Louisiana in the

early 18th century. The toughest penal colony of all time was Ile du
Diable (Devil's Island). From 1852 until its shutdown in 1946, it has
become synonymous with cruelty. Convicts were sent here to do the
hard work once done by African slaves. Inmates were crammed 80
bodies to one steel cage and had to fight for food and space.
PENAL COLONIES AND PRISON SHIPS

When the transporting of criminals was slowly stopped in England at the end of
the 18th century, old sailing vessels were used as places of temporary
confinement. Despite the same appalling conditions, the use of these facilities
somehow convinced authorities that mass. imprisonment combined with labor
was a viable way of preventing crime and punishing offenders.

The first state prisons and correction facilities established in the early 1800s saw
the start of the modern prison system as we know it today.
 IN CONCLUSION

penal colonies and prison ships served as alternatives to the death

penalty, where convicted criminals were transported to distant locations
to serve their sentences. These practices gradually gave way to the
establishment of state prisons and correctional facilities, which marked
the beginnings of the modern prison system. Today, the prison system
continues to evolve, focusing on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism
rates while also exploring alternative forms of punishment.
PRISON REFORM MOVEMENT

Early prison reform saw a champion in

John Howard, a High Sheriff of
Bedfordshire, London.

He visited several prisons in England and

Europe, and published The State of Prisons
in England and Wales in 1777.
 PRISON REFORM MOVEMENT

The Penitentiary Act had four basic principles:

(1) abolition of jailer's fees,

(2) regular inspection of prisons,
(3) provision of clean facilities, and
(4) emphasis on reforming inmates.

Howard's reforms combined discipline and humanitarian philosophy. It

also incorporated religious teachings, as well as productive labor and
daily routine. [Welch, 2004]
THE END