Outlook of American Prison Facilities - Essay Example

In New York, the legislature established Auburn Prison. The New York model was advocating for a congregate system where prisoners were allowed to work together during the day but separated during the night. Despite the effort to improve prison conditions both models failed to rehabilitate prisoners. As a result, a reformation of penology was formed which saw the establishment of gates to sewers to improve the hygiene of cells. The model incorporated both the New York and Pennsylvania models. Later, Moonachie introduced a marking system that aimed at giving hope to prisoners concerning their future. Following signs of Mark's model success, the Irish model was introduced which advocated for the release of prisoners upon attaining satisfactory good behaviour. Lastly, the Elmira model was introduced to modify the Irish model by giving inmates indeterminate sentencing but prisoners had an opportunity to earn early release if their behaviour improves (p. 356).

Modern prisons are divided into state and federal prisons. The level of security required in prisons mainly depends on potential of prisons to escape i.e. minimum, low medium, maximum and super-maximum. There is a difference in these prisons on matters of environment. The state correctional system controls prison farms and camps that are mainly for inmates with low offences. Others include boot camps which are mainly aimed at enabling the inmates to undergo physical conditioning and discipline. Military prisons on the other hand are different from state and federal prisons as it has their criminal codes. Lastly, co-correctional prisons are those that provide a normal prison environment by allowing both women and men to integrate tp. 367).

Jails mainly confine persons who are serving short sentences, person awaiting trial, conviction or sentencing, an individual who have violated their probation, mentally ill persons, and person who is under protection e.g. witness or state inmates.

Jails have undergone tremendous changes with the origin of modern jails being traced back to 1166 and with the first jail having been built in the 1650s. Colonial jails had small rooms which could accommodate approximately 30 inmates. In this era, inmates had to buy food on their own. Since then jails have gone through modern jails with the main aim of jail remaining the same. New-generation jails on the other hand have seen major reforms with the design of the cells changing together with prison supervision (p. 372).