Corrections Essay

2 Pages 445 Words

In this essay I will attempt to explore the differences between colonial and Jacksonain views on punishment, crime, and incarceration and the social, historical and economic factors that contributed to the shift in ideological thinking.
Colonials felt that crime and religion went directly hand and hand. The colonial thought was that you were born a criminal and a crime or sin was a sure sign of the devil. Colonials felt the offender was deemed evil by the devil and therefore could not be treated or rehabilitated. Colonists believed in a self policing strategy, therefore everyone were on look out for a sinner or a criminal. Punishments in the colonial time included fines, whippings, mechanisms of shame, banishment, and for gallows. Often colonists were very narrow minded and cruel. Many colonists felt expulsion was a good means of deterrence “out of sight out of mind”. There were a large amount of capital offenses and courts were not reluctant to inflict the penalty.
Jails did scarcely exist in the colonial period but had only limited functions. They held persons about to be tried or awaiting sentence or unable to discharge contracted debts. Colonist jails closely resembled the household structure and inmates wore no special clothing or uniforms. The inmates brought there own bedding and basically did what they wanted as long as they did not cost the town money. Colonist did not believe a jail could rehabilitate or intimidate or detain the offender. They placed very little faith in the possibility of reform.
Between 1790 and 1830 the nation’s population greatly increased, cities became much larger in size and more populated. The growth of manufacturing in the nation sparked the Enlightenment ideas. During the Enlightenment the prior colonial forms of punishment were viewed as barbaric and misdirected. When men no longer knew their place in society self policing became a thing of the past.
Jacksonians abolished the death pen...