Compare And Contrast Models Of Prisons

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In the United States, there are about 500 prisoners for every 100,000 residents. So, it is no surprise that our country has the highest incarceration rate in the world. In my opinion, this statistic would be lower if the prisons were tougher, making the prisoners scared to come back. The punishments used in our country’s prisons today are far more lenient than they used to be. In this paper, I will discuss what prison should be like, the goals of prison, and the differences between two American prison models (Pennsylvania and Auburn) and their benefits and drawbacks. This paper will also explain which model was more successful and why.
A prison, or penitentiary, is used to house people that are convicted of serious crimes. Based on the ideals of a penitentiary, prison should be a clean and healthy environment, isolating criminals to keep our communities safe. Prisoners should follow strict rules and carry out any prison labor that is required. Prison should be a place that changes the way a criminal thinks and acts by enforcing regulations and consequences for breaking them. A penitentiary should also meet religious needs for every …show more content…

The Pennsylvania prison system, also known as the separate system, was influenced by isolation, silence, and strict discipline. The goal of this model was reformation. Prisoners under this system were kept in solitary confinement, and their cells were tiny. They were not allowed to come in contact with other inmates, and their visitors were limited. The prisoners even had their own exercise yards to promote further solitary confinement. Over time, the Pennsylvania prison system added in prison labor. This model was best for preventing violence in jail and letting the prisoners use isolation to reflect on their criminal behavior. On the other hand, this became very costly, and the isolation did not have many positive effects on the minds of the

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