Prisons

SARAH LU
PROFESSOR ORTEGA
SOC 1

History of American Prisons

In the early development of

America, the prison system was

used to punish those who
committed religious sins
Reformatory movement started in
the late 19th century as the
conditions of prisons became poor
In the 1930s, architectural design
of prisons addressed basic hygiene
and safety requirements for
prisoners
In the 1950, prison institutions
introduced sociologists, counselors,
and other psychological treatments
for inmates

Types of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prison
It is an institution for those who have committed federal crimes

i.e. Crimes against banks, credit unions, post offices, or crimes

against federal officers
There is no parole for inmates and sentences are longer than state
prisons

State Prison
State prisons are for prisoners who have committed violent crimes

i.e. Crimes such as burglary, drug trafficking, kidnapping, and

assault
Sentences are averaged to be a few years or more

Types of Prisons
Juvenile Detention Centers
This institution serves as a temporary facility for youth
offenders under the age of 18 awaiting court hearings
Includes secure detention which holds youths until their
hearings to guarantee their appearance in court
Includes secure confinement which holds youths for a
longer period of time once the crime has been charged

Security Levels

Minimum: (Federal Prison Camps)

contain limited or no boundary
fencing, low ratio of staff-to-inmate,
provide work programs for inmates
Low: (Federal Correctional
Institutions) contain double fenced
boundaries, greater staff-to-inmate
ratio, strong work programs
Medium: (FCI) contain double
fenced boundaries with electronic
detection, larger selection of
programs, high staff-to-inmate ratio
High: (United States Penitentiaries)
contains walls or reinforced fences,
highest staff-to-inmate ratio

Increase in Incarceration Rates

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in

the world, with 698 incarcerations per 100,000 people

The rates have increased 500% over the past forty years
with 2.2 million people in prisons and jails
People of color make up more than 60% of the prison
population
Black men are 6 times more likely and Hispanic men are
2.3 times more likely to go to prison than white men
Expanded enforcement in drug laws and increased length
of serving times has caused prisons to become
overcrowded

Increase in Incarceration Rates

Increase in Incarceration Rates

Prison Programs
Drug Abuse Education
o Informs inmates with a history of drug use of the negative

effects of drugs on their physical, psychological, and social

lives
Parenting Program
o Provides counseling and parenting information in order to

improve the relationship of inmates with their children

Occupational Education Programs
o Provides vocational training and marketable skills to assist inmates

in obtaining careers

Functionalist Analysis
The functionalist perspective assumes that the

various parts of society work with one another to

maintain equilibrium and stability
Prisons work to reinforce laws and regulations and
separate those who fail to keep order within society
Through this institution, prisoners can be educated
and learn the consequences of breaking the law.
When they are released from prison and reintegrated
to society, they will have learned their lesson and
restore equilibrium

Conflict Analysis
The conflict perspective assumes that the differences

between individuals and groups within society will

create inequalities. Society will be unstable due to
the limited resources causing continuous change
Increased conflict is present in areas of high poverty
and racial discrimination, which increases the
chance for individuals living there to be incarcerated
The high rates of incarceration leads to overcrowded
prisons, shortened sentences, inhumane conditions,
and less control over inmates

Works Cited
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7.

Luckey, Irene, and Lisa Potts. Alternative to Incarceration for Lowincome

Non-Custodial Parents. Child & Family Social Work 16.1
(2010): 22-32.
EBSOHost. Web. 17 July 2016.
Sexton, Thomas L. Incarceration as a Family Affair: Thinking beyond the
Individual. Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice 5.2 (2016):
61-64. EBSOHost. Web. 17 July 2016.
"Trends in U.S. Corrections." The Sentencing Project. N.p., Dec. 2015. Web. 23
July 2016.
Wildeman, Christopher, and Bruce Western. Incarceration in Fragile Families.
The Future of Children 20.2 (2010): 157-77.
EBSCOHost. Web. 17 July 2016.
"Prison History." Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility.
N.p., 2016. Web. 24 July 2016.
"Federal Bureau of Prisons." BOP: Federal Prisons. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2016.
"Types of Prisons - Crime Museum." Crime Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July
2016.