-
Jan 1, 1530
Workhouses created in England
Workhouses were basically community service. If someone committed a crime they would work there until their crime was "paid off" rather than being improsined -
Quakers campaign against death penalty
As early as the 1680's, Quakers in America were trying to rid the death penalty from punishment options. -
Political Corruption Imprisonment (1700s)
People, such as Benjamin Franklin's little brother who published news, were held in jail because political figures didn't like what they printed. Obviously it is now against the first amendment but at the time is was possible to be held simply for beliefs. -
"Benefit of Clergy" outlawed
Before 1706 if someone was able to recite ANY bible verse it allowed them to be free of their crimes. It was outlawed in 1706 because it was seen as a type of literacy test rather than a sign from God. -
Jail wasn't used to keep people long-term
During this time jail was only really used to lock people up while they were awaiting trial. Once their trial occurred they were either released or punished on the spot rather than held. Only long term imprisonment was debt. -
Equal Punishment for Unequal Crimes
At the time murder and theft were both met with the same punishment: death. A major problem that occurred would be when someone who simply stole would then kill the witnesses. It created a fear that made people more willing to put blood on their hands -
Jefferson Proposes Bill
Founding father, Thomas Jefferson, proposed ill to eliminate the death penalty for any crime other than treason and murder. -
Pennsylvania Death Penalty
The state of Pennsylvania is the first state that outlaws the death penalty for robbery, burglary and sodomy. -
Overcrowded Prisons
Since the death penalty was slowly being outlawed more prisons became overcrowded. Recidivism grew at an alarming rate forcing people to believe that people were incapable of change. (Also, many people used prison techniques on their slaves at this time.) -
Debtor's Prisons Slowly Abolished
An alarming problem about debtor's prisons that while the rich were able to pay of their fine the poor were stuck in prison and therefore couldn't leave to work to pay off their fines. It was very unfair and basically only punished the poor. So, at this time debtor's prisons slowly began to fade away. -
Solitary Confinement/ Penitentiary created
Solitary Confinement or at the time named Penitentiary (penance) was created to give prisoners time alone to repent and ask for penance for their crimes. It was seen as a positive way to allow prisoner's to pray and grow closer to God. -
Corrections Corporation of America
This was the first private prison company created paving way for today's private prisons. Soon after it opens its first prisons and in the late 1980s starts making contracts with governments to house inmates for them.