Warden Elbert v. Nash on Running Penitentiaries Essays

At the same time, the seeming success of the Elmira Reformatory led to recommendations that that success be more widely publicized. With greater publicity, came thousands of visitors to Elmira and other states began to call on their own prisons to be modeled after the Elmira Reformatory where inmates were “wisely and humanely treated” (Brockway, 2012, p. 238). The Elmira Reformatory was widely recognized as a “new departure in the treatment of adult male felonious prisoners” (Brockway, 2012, p. 242).

Earley also discusses some of the important figures and official representatives of Leavenworth, including Warden Matthews, Eddie Geouge and Lieutenant Bill Slack to provide a different perspective of the prison. He explores prison dynamics

Conover’s purpose in writing this book not only to share his experience as a correctional officer but to also help readers get beyond the stereotype of the brutal guard seen on television and rumors but to see correctional officers as individuals, offering us a chance to understand

Ted Conover’s book, New Jack, is about the author's experiences as a rookie guard at Sing Sing prison, in New York, the most troubled maximum security prison. He comes to realize that being a correctional officer isn’t an easy task. This is shown from the beginning when he is required to attend a 7 week training program to become a correctional officer. He comes to realize what inmates have to endure on a daily basis. Throughout his experience into a harsh culture of prison and the exhausting and poor working conditions for officers, he begins to realize that the prison system brutalizes everyone connected to it. New Jack presents new ideas of prisons in the United States in the ways facilities, corrections officers, and inmates function with

George Beto first got into the correctional field when in 1953 Governor Allan Shivers appointed him to the Texas Prison Board. “Until July 1959 Beto served on the administrative agency of the Texas prison system, performing the duties of board

      "They sentence you to death because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, with no proof that you had anything at all to do with the crime other than being there when it happened. Yet six months later they come and unlock your cage and tell you, We, us, white folks all, have decided it’s time for you to die, because this is the convenient date and time" (158). Ernest J. Gaines shows the internal conflicts going through the mind of Mr. Wiggins in his novel A Lesson Before Dying (1933). Mr. Wiggins is struggling through life and can’t find his way until he is called upon against his own will to help an innocent man, Jefferson. The help is not that of freeing him at all.

1922 and the other June 15, 1953, these however were nothing in comparison to the events to come. In the early morning hours of February 2, 1980 two prisoners began what would be recorded as one of the most violent prison riots in the history of the American correctional system. 33 prisoners died, over 200 inmates were injured and 12 correction officers were taken hostage of those 12, seven were badly beaten and raped.

Although no trial had taken place, both men were put “on death row before trial to create additional pressure,” with Myers’s offering more information to incriminate McMillian, Myers’s was moved over to county jail (Stevenson, 52). McMillian was subject to cruel punishment curtesy of the U.S. justice system. He was thrown into a “windowless concrete [building]” where prisoners are left to suffer in unbearable conditions (Stevenson, 53). With few privileges and far from home, McMillian was not able to have contact with his family or know what was happening surrounding his case.

A prison warden is the chief executive of the institution and oversees the entire operation within a prison system. A prison warden needs to possess an array of skills that is capable of managing “large groups of employees, and to operate facilities in a way that keeps inmates, staff, and society safe” (Clear et al., 2013, p. 321). Studies from Clear et al. (2013) further indicate that today’s prison warden must function effectively despite decreased autonomy and increased accountability” (p. 321). The role and responsibility of a prison warden are comparable to a police chief’s because it requires extensive knowledge in administration, and experience in various areas within the department or institution.

At the time, prison cells were still operated by a turnkey system, which required each cell be opened individually by a guard with a key (The Ohio Penitentiary). There wasn’t any kind of central unlocking device. Thus, as flames, carbon monoxide, and toxic fumes spread through the cell block, inmates had nowhere to run, and many died of oxygen deprivation and smoke inhalation (The Ohio Penitentiary). There is much confusion surrounding what actually went on during the fire. While there are stories of guards purposely leaving inmates locked in their cells, there are also stories of heroism displayed by both the inmates and guards alike. Stories of both sides working together to free as many from the blaze as possible and stories of inmates going back in time and time again to rescue victims only to succumb to the blaze themselves as well. It is believed however, that Warden Preston E. Thomas refused to release prisoners until the Ohio National Guard responded in fear of a riot. By the time the Guard had arrived thirty minutes later, many had already perished (State Fire Marshal

It was the Auburn jail that added a new system to imprisonment. It was solitary confinement. At the time many criminals had mental breakdowns being locked up in one room by themselves for years. It was then that a thirty five year rivalry between Pennsylvania and New York

They were also arrested. (Auerbach 1688) That's all it took for this riot to come into play, a few people unhappy about the way the police handled the situation. The next thing you know its a few thousand unhappy people.

In Scottsboro, Alabama, March 9, 1931 nine African american boys, Olen Montgomery, Clarence Norris, Haywood Patterson, Ozie Powell, Willie Roberson, Charles Weems, Eugene Williams, Andy Wright, and Roy Wright were incriminated of rapeing two white women on the subway. As they were accused of raping Ruby Bates and Victoria Price they were put on trial. This trail was long and unfair.

Management positions in prisons are known to be very demanding. Correctional facilities are difficult to operate and are forced to deal with overcrowding which leads to an outnumbered staff and a continuous flow of violent and dangerous inmates. An issue that management faces is the occurrence of riots. According to dictionary.com, a riot is a disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons acting together in a disrupting and tumultuous manner in carrying out their private purposes. Some riots are characterized by organization and demands, others by weak and confused formation of leadership, or conflict and violence among inmates themselves. In some riots, prisoners inflict suffering on hostages, inmates treat hostages well,

In prisons today, rehabilitation, deterrence, incapacitation, and retribution are all elements that provide a justice to society. Prisons effectively do their part in seeing that one if not more of these elements are met and successfully done. If it were not for these elements, than what would a prison be good for? It is highly debated upon whether or not these elements are done properly. It is a fact that these are and a fact that throughout the remainder of time these will be a successful part of prison life.