The Modern Penitentiary System – Towards a Panopticon of Rehabilitation

• In Event: PWG - Prison privatisation and carceral restructuring

Abstract

The panopticon, in its essence, represents an architecture of power, where constant surveillance shapes behavior. In the penitentiary context, this idea has often been associated with strict control and depersonalization. However, if we move away from the traditional interpretation and focus on the transformative potential of surveillance, we can conceive a "panopticon of rehabilitation." Here, every aspect of the system – from institutional architecture to intervention programs – would be designed to support positive change.
This paper aims to analyze the efficiency of the penitentiary system from a contemporary perspective, focusing on the idea of rehabilitation. In the context of a constantly changing society, with new forms of crime and a deeper understanding of human rights, it is essential to re-evaluate the role and functions of the penitentiary system.
The main objectives of this paper are multiple. Firstly, the paper aims to critically analyze current penitentiary models: the different models of incarceration, from punitive to rehabilitative, evaluating their effectiveness in reducing recidivism and the social reintegration of inmates. Secondly, the paper aims to examine the impact of prison overcrowding, starting from the reality that overcrowding is a chronic problem in many penitentiary systems, with serious consequences for detention conditions, the mental health of inmates, and the system's ability to fulfill its objectives.
Perhaps most importantly, the paper aims to analyze alternatives to incarceration. Alternatives such as probation, community service, and restorative justice will be analyzed, evaluating their potential to reduce the social and economic costs of incarceration. Additionally, this paper aims to assess the role of technology in the penitentiary system. From electronic surveillance to online education programs, technology has significant potential to transform the penitentiary system, but also raises important ethical questions.

Author

• Ionuț-Daniel Vîlceanu, Universitatea din București