When considering why Grendon has been described as a Maverick prison, it is necessary to consider what is the purpose of incarceration?

The first 200 words of this essay...

Introduction

When considering why Grendon1 has been described as a Maverick prison, it is necessary to consider what is the purpose of incarceration? Predominantly until Psychological awareness expanded to understand, and research the successful ways to debilitate atypical behaviour, a prison was appreciated as a place of punishment, separating the 'Normal-Good' from the 'Abnormal-Bad2'. To some degree this stereotypical, presumption has prevailed over logic and realism. Those who commit a 'crime' have metaphorically been detached from societal norms, through Media and Politics. A 'criminal' is perceived as different from common man. The general 'Good' public strive to detach themselves from those who they pre-judge as a tool protecting themselves from becoming a victim of 'crime' or from fear of becoming a 'criminal'. It should remain acknowledged that those who commit or allegedly commit 'crime' are not from a detached 'underworld'; 'crime' and 'criminal's are classless, raceless, ageless, and genderless nevertheless, whilst a prison 'must keep dangerous people off the streets it must also enforce that these dangers are controlled through rehabilitation3'. However, this ignorant labelling prevents 'coherence' within society and serves to restrict not support all victims of 'crime'.

Psychiatric awareness provoked radical innovations of the penal system.