In both The New Jim Crow and The Jail a large topic of discussion is the process of utilizing jailing and imprisonment as a means of controlling certain segments of the population. Both books highlighted the fact that the lowest class of people (rabble being the term used in The Jail) typically commit petty crimes, minor crimes and for which the punishment is usually just a small fine or short term of imprisonment; such as possession of cannabis, burglary and theft, prostitution, vandalism, etc., which tend to affect a much smaller portion of society compared to crime committed by members of society that belong to either the middle or upper class, i.e. white collar crime. According to a New York Times survey from July 15, 1979, government experts
…show more content…
In the past, during the 11th century, there wasn’t much need for a detainment facility because people were trusted as result of their connectedness to the church, community and fellow people which was made possible because of the small nature of societies. As societies started to grow, so did the methods of managing them, one of those being vagrancy laws. In 1349, the first vagrancy law (offense of persons who are without visible means of support or domicile while able to work) was passed in England. Early vagrancy laws made it a crime to give alms, money or food, to individuals who were unemployed but able bodied. As the population started to increase, so did industrialization which required an excess of labor needs. The birth of the vagrancy laws was a way for the English rulers to meet the need of cheap labor after the large casualties produced by the Black Death (bubonic plague) that destroyed at least 60% of Europe’s population. As a result of fear of violating the newly established vagrancy laws; consequences which included whipping, branding, conscription into the military, or at times penal transportation to penal colonies - remote locations excluded from the general population designated for prisoners - vagrants (homeless people) participated in
In the past, during the 11th century, there wasn’t much need for a detainment facility because people were trusted as result of their connectedness to the church, community and fellow people which was made possible because of the small nature of societies. As societies started to grow, so did the methods of managing them, one of those being vagrancy laws. In 1349, the first vagrancy law (offense of persons who are without visible means of support or domicile while able to work) was passed in England. Early vagrancy laws made it a crime to give alms, money or food, to individuals who were unemployed but able bodied. As the population started to increase, so did industrialization which required an excess of labor needs. The birth of the vagrancy laws was a way for the English rulers to meet the need of cheap labor after the large casualties produced by the Black Death (bubonic plague) that destroyed at least 60% of Europe’s population. As a result of fear of violating the newly established vagrancy laws; consequences which included whipping, branding, conscription into the military, or at times penal transportation to penal colonies - remote locations excluded from the general population designated for prisoners - vagrants (homeless people) participated in