The History Of Prisons - 701 Words

I woke up to the loud thud of a police officer hitting the side of the rusty old white van we were sitting inside. I looked out the window and stared at the Helicoide, a frightening, spiral-shaped building cut into a mountainside where the headquarters of the Venezuelan political police reside. My mom tugged my arm abruptly as she dragged me out of the van and into the somber building, snapping me out of my momentary trance and back into reality. Fear began eating away at my stomach. The uncertainty of what lay ahead was killing me. As I walked inside, I could feel the walls of this dark and cold prison closing in on me, making it feel frightening like a morgue. The flickering lights deepened the shadows of the police officers as they†¦show more content†¦One of my favorite books, Man’s Search for Meaning, author Victor E. Frankl says â€Å"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any g iven set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.† These words resound in my head everyday. They remind me that positive thinking and a will to better oneself is all one needs to be free. I wake up everyday, thankful for being able to have my family with me. Thankful to be able to take care of my younger brother while my mom goes to college. Thankful to be able to see my father for more than just three hours every Saturday. Thankful for having the desire to keep bettering myself everyday. As I embark in the next face of my academic career, I have chosen to cherish every opportunity that comes my way. I have decided to not take anything or anyone for granted because I realized that I will never fully understand what may come my way, and what social, economic, or political challenges I will have to face in the future. Growing up, I saw how my father constantly fought for those who didn’t have a voice. His fight against injustice stirred up a feeling inside me, an urge to help others by bringing justice to those who are disadvantaged but not in the form of any type of law enforcement, or even a masked vigilante. I have decided that the best way to do this is to pursue a career in law, in order to make sure that the â€Å"little guy† is not takenShow MoreRelatedThe History of Prison Reform1631 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿The History of Prison Reform Introduction The evolution of prison reform is a reflection of societys changing attitudes toward crime and punishment. Prisons have progressed from simple places for incarceration where the primary purpose is to protect the public to instruments of punishment where the loss of freedom is penalty for breaking the law, to institutions for reform dedicated to mould the guilty to conform to societys norms. Prisons were among the first public buildings erected in theRead MoreHistory and Purposes of Prisons884 Words   |  4 PagesHistory and Purpose of Penitentiaries Jeffrey Brown CJA234 July 7,2012 George Chavarria History and Purpose of Penitentiaries Crime has had an impact on society for years, and will continue to do so well into the future. The presence of criminals and criminal acts proved that there was and all ways will be a need for penitentiaries. Correctional facilities no matter if they are prisons, jails, or penitentiaries are all part of the criminal justice system. Their overall goal and objectiveRead MoreHistory Of The Prison System1067 Words   |  5 PagesThe history of the prison system in the US is very extensive and encompasses nine different eras which include the Penitentiary era, Mass Prison, Reformatory, Industrial, Punitive, Treatment, Community-based, Warehousing, and the Just-desert era. Each era had its own strength and weaknesses that influenced each subsequent era that came after. the idea of a prison system came about from the colonist desire for a more humane method of dealing with criminal offenders. It was a key move away from corporalRead MoreThe History of State and Federal Prisons463 Words   |  2 PagesWhat is the history of state and federal prisons? Two models of imprisonment existed during the early stages of the development of the prison system in America. The first was that of the Pennsylvania System, developed in the Quaker state and based upon a model of penance (hence the name penitentiary). Prisoners lived in a state of solitary confinement. They were encouraged to engage in individual reflection and Biblical study to reform their characters (Evolution of NYs prison system, 2012Read More History of Andersonville Prison Essay4617 Words   |  19 PagesHistory of Andersonville Prison When one turns on the television today they are made witness to all the crimes that are present in society. It is impossible to sit through thirty-five minutes of news without anger and rage becoming aroused. This is because society is bothered by infinitesimal paraphernalia. Society also believes in human rights and punishment for those who violate such rights. Yet what constitutes humanity? Ever sit there and watch the news and wonder just how far humanity reachesRead MoreEssay on History of the Prison System3187 Words   |  13 PagesPrison is an institution for the confinement of persons convicted of criminal offenses. Throughout history, most societies have built places in which to hold persons accused of criminal acts pending some form of trial. The idea of confining persons after a trial as punishment for their crimes is relatively new. During the 15th century in Europe, the penalties for crimes were some form of corporal punishment like whippings for less serious crimes and execution or enslavement for moreRead MoreOverview and History of the Prison District of Baltimore832 Words   |  3 PagesOverview and History of Area: The Prison District of Baltimore, Maryland, is located primarily in an unincorporated community called Townson. With a population of just under 60,000 it is the second most densely populated unincorporated county seat in the United States. The community is located just north of Baltimore City, inside the I-695 and I-83 beltway and has several major neighborhood areas. In the larger area of Townson, the per capita income is about $32,000, but almost 10% of the populationRead MoreThe Effects Of Punishment And The History Of Prison Development1013 Words   |  5 Pagesand history of the correction system is necessary to recognize though we are trying to comprehend where the system stands today. The correction system today has appears to came long way from where it was countless years ago. This paper is going to discuss the history of punishment and the history of prison development. It will also discuss the Pennsylvania system and the Auburn system and how they compare. The final topic that will be discussed will be the impact and the involvement of prison laborRead MoreJails and Prisons History and Development Final1591 Words   |  7 PagesJails and Prisons History and Development Introduction Jails and prisons lay at the heart of the Criminal Justice System. These facilities helped forge the concept of rehabilitation. These institutions have changed over time and now reflect the modern methods of housing convicted individuals who need to be reformed or punished. Description of jails The clear concise difference between a jail and a prison is the time limit a convicted person is sentenced to and what offenses were committed. InRead MoreHistory of Prison Reform in the US Essay2067 Words   |  9 Pageshistorically is the Prison Reform movement. As the world shifted from 18th to 19th century ways of life, many key aspects of life underwent tremendous change. As the United States gained their independence from Britain and began to shape their own identity, the reforms and revolutions that occurred in this infantile stage of its history played an immeasurable impact on the future of the entire country, with the most notable and impact reform being the reformation of prisons from the 1820s until