PROPER ETHICS IN THE PRISON

Proper Ethics in the Prison

Proper Ethics in the Prison

Introduction

The Federal Bureau of Prisons was established in 1930 to oversee the 11 federal prisons then in existence. In 1933 Attorney General Homer Cummings created the Federal Bureau of Investigation and acquired Alcatraz from the U.S. Army for a federal prison. "The Great Depression was the root of a severe crime surge during the late 20's and 30's, and brought to light a new era of organized crime. The gangster era was in full swing and the nation was witness to violent crime waves brought on by Prohibition and those driven by desperate need (Nowak, and Young, 2008).

Proper ethics in the Prison

The nation sat in fear as influential mobsters and sharply dressed public enemies weighed their heavy influence on metropolitan cities and their authorities. Law enforcement agencies were often ill-equipped, and would often cower before better-armed gangs in shoot-outs and public slayings. A public cry swept the nation to take back America's heartland and the birth of a unique detention facility was cast, it was nicknamed Uncle Sam's Devil's Island (Clemmer, 2008). Alcatraz was the ideal solution; it could serve the dual purpose of not only condemning public enemies, but would be a visible icon, as a warning to this new brand of criminal (Petersen, and Friday, 2005).

Sanford Bates, the head of the Federal Prisons, and Attorney General Homer Cummings led the project and kept a hand in the design concepts that were finely detailed. One of the nation's foremost security experts, Robert Burge, was commissioned to help design a prison that was escape-proof as well as forbidding. The Bureau of Prisons chose James A. Johnston as Alcatraz's new Warden. Johnston was an ideal choice, with his strict ideals and humanistic approach to reform (Debro, 2007). Johnston came to the position with a broad-based background of business, and over twelve years experience in the California Department of Corrections.

James Johnston was appointed as the Warden of San Quentin Prison in 1913, and served a brief appointment at Folsom Prison. Johnston had become notable for the programs he implemented for prisoner reform (Clemmer, 2008). He didn't believe in chain gangs but believed in having inmates report to a job where they were respected and rewarded for their efforts. Nicknamed the "Golden Rule Warden" at San Quentin, Johnston was praised in newspapers for the California highways that were graded by prisoners in his road camps (Washington v. Lee, 1968).

Although inmates were not compensated monetarily, they were rewarded with sentence reductions. Johnston also established several educational programs at San Quentin that proved successful with a good number of inmates. Despite his humane approach to reform, he also carried a reputation as a strict disciplinarian. His rules of conduct were among the most rigid in the correctional system and harsh punishments were delivered to inmates defiant of prison regulations. During his tenure at "Q" Warden Johnston had overseen the executions of several inmates by hangings, and was not unfamiliar ...