ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how the nature of formal punishments has evolved throughout history and describes the evolution of American jails and prisons. It also explains why the early jail and prison arrangements and operations still influence today’s correctional operations and why there was a move from rehabilitation to the justice model. Vendors sold lemonade and hot dogs to the onlookers as alcohol sales ended at midnight to reduce the possibility that drunken behavior would lead to trouble. The key to understanding contemporary correctional systems is having an awareness of the historical and philosophical roots of punishments. Prior to the development of formal legal systems or writing most people lived in the countryside and there were few large cities. The purpose of imposing harsher sanctions for individuals who committed more serious rule violations was based on ending strife in communities where everybody shared similar backgrounds and values.
