Unit.D.1.1.
Historical First and Facts
Historically
the evolution of prison health care has paralleled the mission
and policy statements of the correctional services in respected countries
with regard to punishment and treatment philosophies. An understanding of the history
of corrections helps us to understand how health care services have evolved in prison
settings over time.
Australia |
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Canada |
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The Elizabeth
Fry Society (Canada)
Elizabeth Fry
(Gurney) (1780-1845) was born into a family of Quakers in
1780 in England. Her mother's father, the Scottish theologian
Robert Barclay, played an important role in defining early
Quaker beliefs (CAEFS, 2002).
The Elizabeth
Fry Society focuses on assisting women offenders and their
families. They have programs on shoplifting, self esteem,
and life-skills (CAEFS, 2002).
John Howard
Society (Canada)
John Howard
(1726 - 1790), The man, the Society was named for was the
son of a deeply religious Englishman (John Howard Society,
British Columbia, 1996).
The John Howard
Society in Canada assists people who are in jail or just
released from jail; those on conditional release, and the
family of offenders. They have programs for employment,
release planning, literacy, upgrading, counseling, and they
arrange family visits (John Howard Society, British Columbia,
1996).
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United Kingdom |
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"Notable
prison reformers in the late 18th and early 19th century
England who testified before England's House of Commons
on the conditions in prisons were: John Howard (philanthropist),
John Fathergill (physician) and Elizabeth Fry (Quaker)"
(Alexander-Rodriguez, 1983, p. 115).
"In the
1700's, the basic ethic of humanitarianism were the roots
of prison health care" (Alexander-Rodriquez, 1983,
p. 115).
"Religious
dogmas rather than good health standards were the rationale
behind these reforms, "cleanliness was next to godliness"(Alexander-Rodriguez,
1983, p. 115).
"Elizabeth
Fry organized a group of Quaker women and, receiving permission
from the House of Commons, entered London's Newgate prison
in order to try to "save the souls" of some of
the prisoners" (Alexander-Rodriguez, 1983, p. 115).
"Newgate
Prison was infamous, out of control, overcrowded and plagued
by riots and lack of discipline. Yet Elizabeth Fry and her
troop created miracles. She put the prison in order, gave
the men uniforms, enforced rules of cleanliness and started
the inmates performing meaningful work" (Alexander-Rodriguez,
1983, p. 115).
"John Howard assembled his experiences and observations into a booklet entitled "The State of the
Prisons", which was published in 1777 and which eventually formed the foundation for what is
knows as the Penitentiary Act of 1779" (John Howard Society, British Columbia, 1996).
United States |
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"Good infectious
disease detection and control is the backbone of a health
system within a prison" (Alexander-Rodriguez, 1983,
p.117).
"The classic
diseases of the late nineteenth century in American prisons
were syphilis and tuberculosis" (Alexander-Rodriguez,
1983, p.118).
"The civil rights and the antiwar movement of the late sixties and early seventies directly affected
society's attitude toward prisoners, and prisoners attitudes toward themselves. These movements
and the various politically militant organizations they spawned, created a new kind of prisoner
population; prisoners became more aware of their rights as minority members (which most were
not) and of their rights as inmates. Moreover for the first time since the American revolution,
political activism brought large numbers of well connected middle class people to jail. This
atypical prison population contributed to a growing awareness of prison conditions. Legislative
prison reports and exposes in the national media" (Dubler, 1978, p. 7).
Focus Points
Reference
Alexander-Rodriguez,
T. (1983). Prison health: A role for professional nursing.
Nursing Outlook, 31 (2), 115-118.
Canadian Association
of Elizabeth Fry Societies. (2002). Canadian Association
of Elizabeth Fry Societies, l' Association canadienne
de societies Elizabeth Fry. Retrieved from CAEFS Website:
http://www.elizabethfry.ca/
Dubler, N. N.
(1979). Depriving prisoner's of medical care: A "cruel
and unusual" punishment. Hastings Centre Report,
9 (10), 7-10.
The John
Howard Society of British Columbia. (2001). Retrieved
June 14, 2002 from the John Howard Society of BC Website:
http://www.johnhoward.bc.ca/jhow.htm
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D - Forensic Corrections > Section D.1.0. Forensic History >
Unit.D.1.1. Historical Firsts and Facts
