NCJ Number
63339
Date Published
1979
Length
26 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEDERAL PRISON SYSTEM IS PRESENTED AND SUPPLEMENTED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS.
Abstract
WHILE PRISONS AND HOUSES OF DETENTION HAD LONG EXISTED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, THE CONCEPT OF THE PENITENTIARY WAS CREATED IN THE U.S. TWO SIMILAR YET DISTINCT PENITENTIARY SYSTEMS DEVELOPED: THE PENNSYLVANIA SYSTEM, BASED ON TOTAL SOLITARY CONFINEMENT; AND THE AUBURN SYSTEM, BASED ON CONGREGATE LABOR DURING THE DAY AND SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AT NIGHT. THE AUBURN SYSTEM SOON BECAME THE FAVORED SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIALLY SELF-SUSTAINING NATURE OF ITS PRISON INDUSTRIES. UNTIL 1895, ALL FEDERAL PRISONERS WERE HELD IN STATE OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. SEVERE PROBLEMS OF OVERCROWDING FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR CAUSED CONCERN UNTIL FINALLY, IN 1896, CONGRESS APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PENITENTIARY CAPABLE OF HOLDING 1,200 INMATES LOCATED 3 MILES FROM THE PRISON AT FT. LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. BETWEEN 1900 AND 1935, AMERICAN PRISONS, INCLUDING FEDERAL PRISONS, WERE PRIMARILY CUSTODIAL, PUNITIVE, AND INDUSTRIAL. IN 1930, THE U.S. BUREAU OF PRISONS WAS CREATED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE EARLY GROWTH OF THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS, FROM 1930 TO 1955, IS DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS THE INTERVENING YEARS OF 1955 TO 1970. FINALLY, RECENT CHANGES AND DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BUREAU OF PRISONS ARE DISCUSSED, INCLUDING NEW FORMS OF INMATE PROGRAMS AND CORRECTIONAL ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL INSTITUTIONAL CONFINEMENT, A COMMITMENT TO INMATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND THE BUILDING OF MANY NEW FACILITIES. PHOTOGRAPHS, A MAP OF THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (PRG)