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2: Evolution of Correctional Philosophy

  • Page ID
    68231
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    Learning Objectives
    • Understand the history of corrections in the U.S.
    • Identify different types of punishment and their purposes
    • Explain how correctional policies affect society

    • 2.1: Stages of Correctional Development
      This page outlines the evolution of American corrections through various eras, showcasing changes in societal attitudes and philosophies. It discusses early reliance on solitary confinement, mid-century rehabilitation efforts, a late 20th-century punitive approach, and the current focus on evidence-based practices and restorative justice.
    • 2.2: Sentencing
      This page discusses substantive criminal laws that define crimes and their punishments, shaped by various governmental branches. It highlights how judges impose sentences, often limited by mandatory sentencing, thus giving more power to prosecutors. The range of sentences varies and is influenced by five philosophies of punishment: retribution, incapacitation, rehabilitation, deterrence, and restoration.
    • 2.3: Chapter Summary
      This page outlines the evolution of American corrections from harsh punishments to rehabilitative approaches. It discusses the penitentiary era's focus on isolation, the reformatory era's emphasis on education, and the medical model's treatment approach in the 20th century. The 1980s introduced punitive measures, leading to mass incarceration, but current trends are moving towards evidence-based practices and restorative justice, aiming to balance punishment with rehabilitation.


    This page titled 2: Evolution of Correctional Philosophy was last modified on Wed, 23 Sep 2026 06:52:19 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by George Cartwright.