Corrections Prisons Prison Reform And Prisoner Rights Michigan

An overview of the criminal justice system in the United States that reviews the history of prisons and the penal system from the beginning of the seventeenth century to the early twenty-first, and discusses methods of punishment; local, state, and federal prisons; alternative sentencing, and related topics.

Challenging the accepted notions about prisons, Dilulio argues that, far from being traps for society's refuse, they must and can be made safely humane. He shows that the key to better prisons is a highly disciplined constitutional government employing prison managers who are strong enough to control the inmates yet obliged to control themselves. The book illustrates how the use of such a governing system can provide order, encourage civilized behaviour, and enforce punishment that is just, as well as merciful.

The movement for prisoners' rights is based on the idea that prisoners, though they are deprived of liberty, are entitled to other basic human rights. What rights and privileges should be accorded to those who are incarcerated? This work examines this issue from different perspectives, incorporating excerpts from legal documents, and court cases.

Excerpt from Prison System of Michigan: An Account of the Penal and Penitentiary System and Institutions The occasion which led to the preparation of the following paper was this: The International Prison Commission, an organization composed of representatives from different nations, is engaged in collecting information from the various states and countries as to their prison systems with a view to exhibit the condition of prison systems at the close of the present century. A communication from the American member of the commission, Hon. Samuel J. Burrows of Massachusetts, addressed to the Governor requesting an account of the prison system of Michigan, was referred by his Excellency to me. The first part of this paper contains the account furnished the commissioner. The following extract from his communication will be useful to explain the purpose of the commission and the scope which the account was expected to take. 1. Penitentiary System. What system is used in your State, - the solitary system, the system of progressive classification, the congregate system? If different systems are in use, in what proportion? How are the prisons classified according to the category of prisoners? What is the number of prisons of each class? What was the number of convicts of each class last year? 2. General Administration. Are all the prisons in your State under one central authority? If not, where is the general administration? In any case, what are the results? 3. Discipline. What is the special object of the discipline, to intimidate, or to reform the prisoner? Is there an effort to develope hope in him? Are rewards, or punishments, preferred as means of discipline? What rewards? What punishments? 4. Moral and Religious Influence. What means of moral influence are employed by the administration? Are voluntary visitors admitted who may try to improve the morals of the prisoner? What are the results? 5. Instruction How much schooling have the prisoners had at the time of incarceration? What provision is made for instruction during imprisonment? By means of schools, libraries, etc.? 6. Work. Is there any distinction made between penal and industrial work? How is it organized? Is it given to contractors or directed by the administration itself? Which system do you prefer and what are the reasons for your preference? Are the products of the labor enough in all or in some prisons to meet expenses? If not, what is the amount of deficit? 7. Administrative Personnel of Prisons. How are prison employees chosen and for how long a time? Is there any political influence in selecting them, and what is the result? What are the qualifications and duties of the employees? Are there special schools to prepare prison employees for their duties? Do you regard such schools as essential to the good administration of a prison? 8. Sanitary Condition of Prisons. Dietary, ventilation, neatness, sickness, mortality. 9. Moral Reform of Criminals. Do the prisoners go out of prison better or worse than they were when they came in? What is the number, or the proportion, of recidivists? 10. Sentences. Is it the usage of your state to repeatedly sentence the same person for trivial faults to short terms of imprisonments? Has the method of simple admonition, probation, conditional sentence for first offence, cumulative and indeterminate sentences, been introduced in your State? What are the effects of these different kinds of sentence in the increase or diminution of crime? 11. Character and Cause of Crime. What are the most frequent crimes or misdemeanors in your State? What are the chief causes of them? About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com