Purpose of Imprisonment

Imprisonment within a government-run institution has been a part of law enforcement since civilisation began. Taking away an individual's personal freedom has been a convenient way to enforce laws and remove a potentially harmful person from society. Throughout history, prisons and the reason for imprisonment have changed, depending on the society.

Prison is – and always has been – about punishment for some wrongdoing or other. Some discourses maintain that one of the justifications for punishment is deterrence, and that prison is a deterrent. James Q Wilson argues that “the knowledge of swift processing and near certain incarceration could, in addition to incapacitating convicted criminals, also intimidate potential offenders” (Wilson, Criminological Perspectives, p 338). Other discourses appear to justify punishment and prison as retribution. The “just deserts” philosophy, which focuses on the gravity of the offence and proportional punishment, provides an example...