Question 1

What was the name of the first penitentiary in America?

Accepted Answer

Walnut Street Jail, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is recognized as the first true penitentiary in America. It was established in 1790, marking the beginning of a new era in the approach to incarceration, focusing on reform and rehabilitation of prisoners rather than just punishment.

Question 2

Which early penitentiary system allowed prisoners to work and eat together?

Accepted Answer

The congregate system allowed prisoners to work and eat together in communal areas, as opposed to the separate system which kept prisoners isolated in individual cells. The Pennsylvania system also kept prisoners in separate cells, but they were not allowed to speak or interact with each other, making communal work and meals impossible. The Alabama system was not a specific early penitentiary system, but rather a term used to describe the brutal and inhumane conditions in some Southern prisons during the early 20th century.

Question 3

Early prisons in the South were likely to follow a/an:

Accepted Answer

Early prisons in the South were likely to follow an agricultural model as agricultural labor was the primary economic activity in the region and prisoners were often used as laborers on farms or in other agricultural industries.

Question 4

Contemporary prisons are commonly referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Contemporary prisons are often referred to as warehouse prisons because they are designed to hold a large number of prisoners for long periods of time with minimal programming or rehabilitation opportunities. The term "Big houses" was more commonly used in the past to refer to older, larger prisons, and reformatories are a specific type of prison focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Question 5

How does the United States imprisonment rate compare to other countries?

Accepted Answer

The United States has a significantly higher imprisonment rate than similar countries. According to the World Prison Brief, as of 2020, the United States has an imprisonment rate of 639 per 100,000 population, which is higher than any other country. For comparison, Canada has a rate of 118, Germany has a rate of 76, and Japan has a rate of 41. This means that the United States imprisons its citizens at a significantly higher rate than any similar country in terms of economic development and political structure.

Question 6

Prison populations have increased dramatically in recent years

Accepted Answer

While prison populations have increased over the decades, recent trends in many countries, including the United States, show a stabilization or decline in prison populations due to policy changes and reforms.

Question 7

The United States has a much higher incarceration rate than similar countries

Accepted Answer

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 2.3 million people currently in prison or jail. It also has a much higher incarceration rate than similar countries such as Canada, Western European countries, Australia, and New Zealand.

Question 8

Women's incarceration rates have been rising in recent years

Accepted Answer

According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, women's incarceration rates have been rising since the 1980s and continue to increase.

Quiz 13: Prisons and Jails