Learning Objectives

  • Understand the origins of corrections
  • Appreciate that what we do now in corrections is often grounded in historical experience (or a repeat of it)
  • Know the predominate prison systems of the early 1800s and their strengths and weaknesses
  • Know what the social critics (Beaumont and Tocqueville and Dix) thought of the early prisons and why
  • Understand why reform of prisons and jails was needed and how those reform efforts worked out
  • Appreciate where we are today in America in terms of prison types and how we got there