ABSTRACT
When we examined the history of punishment (Chapter 9) a good deal of the focus was on the history of imprisonment. Essentially, this was because when considering history punishment is often used almost synonymously with imprisonment. For example, an examination of the history of the different approaches to punishment, such as retribution and deterrence, is typically based around changes in the forms and styles of incarceration. We will not, therefore, need to delve into the origins and history of imprisonment in great detail or catalogue the various pieces of legislation in this chapter. However a brief overview of the key periods in the development of the prison in the last 200 or so years will help provide the context for looking at the contemporary prison system and the major current issues that face it.
