Question

Explain whether today’s modern prisons are similar or different than prisons under the Pennsylvania penal system of confinement. Discuss how today’s faith-based prison initiatives would either be consistent with, or in conflict with the Pennsylvania system. Also, explain why some people are in favor of faith-based programming, and why others are not.

Answer 1

The Pennsylvania system advocated penal method based on the principle that solitary confinement fosters penitence and encourages reformation. Modern prisons are different from the principle advocated by this system of confinement as prisoners are imprisoned collectively and solitary confinement is considered to be the harshest form of punishment. Today’s faith-based prison initiatives are slightly but not wholly consistent with the Pennsylvania system.

They are voluntary and residential, aimed at rehabilitating participating inmates by teaching them subjects like ethical decision-making, anger management, victim restitution, and substance abuse in conjunction with religious principles.

Faith-based programming are viewed and promoted by several as promising avenues for reform, based chiefly on the grounds that they improve prison discipline and reduce recidivism.

However, those not in favour of such programs hold that there is lack of any empirical evidence of the effectiveness of faith-based programs and the narratives of prisoners who claim to have experienced its positive effects cannot be taken at face value.