Reformatory Era Research Paper

Words: 1348
Pages: 6
Open Document
The Reformatory Era
Two noteworthy correctional leaders, Captain Alexander Maconochie and Sir Walter Crofton, are credited with the development of the reformatory style of imprisonment. Their reformatory style was revolutionized and the first reformatory was built in 1876, in Elmira, New York. Although it was originally built for adult felons, it was mainly used for youths from 16 to 30 years of age under their first sentence. The cell arrangements mimicked that of the Auburn System, less 10 percent, which was constructed like those of the Pennsylvania system. All rooms were to be supplied with sanitary appliances and both natural and artificial light. Clothing must be uniform and clean, as well as the grooming of the inmates. Amenities …show more content…
The Alcatraz federal penitentiary was built to hold prisoners who caused trouble during their stay at other federal prisons. Residents of Alcatraz we’re the worst of the worst criminals who have no hope of rehabilitation. It was the first maximum high security Federal prison, which was acquired by United States department of justice on October 12, 1933. The prison was located on an island just over a mile off the coast of San Francisco California. Due to its location in the cold waters and strong currents of San Francisco Bay, the bureau believed Alcatraz to be America’s strongest prison and escaped proof. Security upgrades included in security guard towers at four strategic locations, all cells were fitted and rebuild with new steel and locking devices that would be operated from control boxes, and windows were secured with iron grills. Metal detectors were installed at the entrances of the dining hall in workshops to ensure that no items were brought in or taken out. Although it had all the new bells and whistles of a remodeled prison, it was very expensive to run. The salty water of the San Francisco Bay eroded the iron bars in cement faster than anticipated resulting in an increase of maintenance costs. Alcatraz was the solution to the bureau’s question of the small amount of inmates that reeks havoc among the prisons around the United States. Transporting all of the worst criminals allocated manpower …show more content…
The most famous ride was the Attica correctional facility in New York which left 11 officers and 32 inmates dead and many others wounded. These actions lead to the creation of a super maximum security unit, which house a violent inmate for 23 hours a day. Prisons today have high tech features and cell designs. The Supermax is the fastest growing prison in America. Double steel fences with cyclone fence in razor coils replace the old concrete wall and guard towers. There are three things in mind when prisons are being built: the security of the community, the security of the officers, and the security of the inmates. (Redding, 2004) An effective prison is one that officers know what is going on at all times both visually and audibly. A central control room has remote controls and monitors called a pod. Cells are constructed to be individualized in the event that there becomes a maintenance problem, only that inmate or sell would be affected. Perimeter fences are more technological and incorporate a detection system, which would alert the central control room in the event of a possible escape. Buried sensor cables and microwave intrusion link transmit electronic energy and when the energy field is broken it sends a signal to the central control room. These types of upgrades allow officers to be taken out of guard towers and put onto the floor. The same advances
Show More

Related Documents: Reformatory Era Research Paper

Juvenile Offenders Essay

Beginning in 1899, individual states took note of the problem of youth incarceration and began establishing similar youth reform homes. So from the days on the reform era have the punishment of juveniles and the treatment of juveniles been in questioned. The face that there were people who wanted change for juveniles was clear that up until then the system was failing its youth in many ways.(12) Such early changes…

Words 3223 - Pages 13

Reforming The Juvenile System In St. Louis, 1926-1970

1926-1974 Before the turn of the twentieth century, no separate institutions dealing with children who committed crimes existed. Children, no matter what age, were housed in prisons alongside some of the most hardened criminals. During the Progressive Era, however, many groups of people wanted to reform the justice system as well as other political and social aspects of American life. In particular, women’s social organizations played a major role in promoting reform for the juvenile justice system.…

Words 8686 - Pages 35

Essay about Law and Law Review

|Carleton University |Department of Law and Legal Studies | Course Outline |Course: | |LAWS & HIST 3305 C & V – Crime and State in History | | | | | |Term:…

Words 7571 - Pages 31