A brief history of prisons. | Ashley Rubin | TEDxMississauga

Summary

The speaker reflects on the childhood impact of Polly Klass's murder and the subsequent 'three strikes' law, leading to a lifelong study of criminal punishment. They explore the historical emergence of prisons around 230 years ago and the initial controversy surrounding their use, cost, and effectiveness. The narrative delves into early prison experiments, like solitary confinement, which caused significant distress to inmates, and how these methods evolved. The speaker questions the normalization of incarceration and prompts a reevaluation of our reliance on prisons as a society, amidst ongoing discussions on penal reform.

Takeaways

• 😢 The speaker's childhood was deeply affected by the tragic story of Polly Klass, which led to a personal interest in criminal punishment and the development of the three-strikes law in California.
• 🙏 As a child, the speaker had a unique prayer habit, asking for bad people to go to prison, reflecting an early internalization of incarceration as a solution to crime.
• 📚 The speaker's academic journey led to the study of criminal punishment in college and a career as a professor researching the history of prisons.
• 🏛 Prisons are a relatively new concept in human history, emerging around 230 years ago during the time of the American and French Revolutions.
• 🚫 The traditional view of punishment involved public and painful methods, such as execution or physical mutilation, which were later seen as distasteful and inhumane.
• 🔒 The distinction between jails and prisons is crucial: jails were temporary holding places, while prisons were designed for long-term confinement and punishment of convicted criminals.
• 🤔 The introduction of prisons was controversial, with concerns about their cost, humanity, and effectiveness in reducing crime.
• 🛑 Early prison experiments, particularly with solitary confinement, led to significant mental and physical health issues among inmates, prompting a reevaluation of the approach.
• 🔄 Despite early failures, prisons persisted, with modifications such as the Auburn and Pennsylvania systems, which continued to use some form of solitary confinement.
• 🌐 The models developed in the early prisons were replicated across the United States, influencing the widespread adoption of incarceration as a standard punishment.
• 🔍 The speaker reflects on the societal acceptance of prisons and the lack of ongoing questioning about their necessity and impact, suggesting a need for reevaluation in the context of modern penal reform discussions.

Q & A

What was the impact of Polly Klass's murder on the speaker's childhood?

The speaker was deeply affected by Polly Klass's kidnapping and murder, which occurred near their home in California. This event led to a focus on crime and punishment, influencing their later studies and career in criminal punishment.

What was the 'three strikes law' and how did it come about?

The 'three strikes law' is a legislation that mandates a 25-year or life sentence for individuals who commit a new crime after having two or more prior serious or violent felony convictions. It was passed in California, primarily motivated by the public outcry following Polly Klass's murder, as people sought harsher punishments for repeat offenders.

How did the speaker's childhood prayers reflect their early views on crime and punishment?

As a child, the speaker prayed for the imprisonment of 'bad people,' indicating an early acceptance of incarceration as a just response to criminal behavior, despite the unusual nature of such prayers for a child.

What is the historical context of prisons as a form of punishment?

Prisons emerged as a form of punishment around 230 years ago, during the time of the American and French Revolutions. They were a new development, contrasting with earlier forms of punishment that were public and often involved physical pain or death.

What was the difference between jails and prisons in the past?

Jails were holding tanks for a mix of people, including debtors, vagrants, accused, and convicted criminals, and were not considered places of punishment. Prisons, on the other hand, were designed for the long-term confinement of convicted criminals as a form of punishment.

Why were public punishments considered ineffective or undesirable?

Public punishments, such as hangings or physical mutilations, were seen as ineffective because they did not deter crime, and some people found them distasteful due to their public and painful nature.

What were the initial concerns about the implementation of prisons?

There were concerns about the expense of prisons, the potential inhumanity of long-term confinement, and whether prisons would actually reduce crime. There was also uncertainty about how people would react to being confined for long periods.

What were the Auburn and Pennsylvania prison models, and how did they differ?

The Auburn model involved prisoners working together silently in large rooms during the day and solitary confinement at night. The Pennsylvania model, on the other hand, kept prisoners in solitary confinement for their entire sentence, with occasional visits from penal reformers and prison administrators.

Why did the speaker find the early failures of prisons significant?

The early failures of prisons, particularly the experiment with total solitary confinement, left a lasting impression and led to intense scrutiny. Despite the failures, the focus was on fixing the prison system rather than questioning the concept of imprisonment itself.

How has society's attitude towards prisons evolved over time?

Society has become accustomed to the use of prisons, even in the face of failures and ongoing issues such as high costs and negative impacts on prisoners' mental health. The initial fears and questions about the long-term effects of imprisonment have largely been set aside in favor of reforming the prison system.