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The Philosophical History of Punishment and Imprisonment

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Jonescu, Emil. 2011. “The Philosophical History of Punishment” Reflections Journal of Built Environment Research Unit. 2 (1): 35-41.

THE PHILOSOPHICAL HISTORY OF PUNISHMENT

AND IMPRISONMENT

Emil Jonescu

Architecture and Interior Architecture, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia

ABSTRACT

Historically, people have been detained in custodial institutions deemed appropriate no matter how
deplorable their conditions. Criminality, considered an illness, was treated by segregated punishment,
and to varying degrees crime, morality, mental health and religion was deemed somewhat interrelated.
Therefore prisons, mental institutions, hospitals and ecclesiastical architecture share philosophical and
historical infrastructure. Associated discourse among social reformers established concurrent inter-
continental evolutionary threads of 'innovative' proposals, philosophies and architecture specific to in-
carceration. Conversely, within the West Australian criminal justice system, police lock-ups exist to facili-
tate temporary detainment of people yet to be proved guilty of an offence. This paper forms the basis
of one chapter of my PhD research that discusses the requirements of WA police short-term custodial
facilities and calls for contemporary initiatives and a shift in attitudes to acknowledge that dissimilar insti-
tutions require different accommodation structures which necessitate a distinctive functional form. Exist-
ing deficiencies in specialist literature acknowledging the anomalous complexity of lock-up function in-
dicates constant insufficient consideration of short-term custodial architecture research compared with
other institutional typologies that have rapidly specialised and evolved. Yet social and academic casti-
gation ensure that retrospective adaptive implementation of unrealised conceptions and philosophies
remain dismissed and untested.

spatial arrangements in prison design, developing

EARLY PUNISHMENT AND CHANGES IN PUNISHMENT a platform for the advancement of prison archi-
PARADIGM tecture. Many more similar facilities commissioned
by the Roman Catholic Church (Pope Clement XII)
Incarceration as we understand it has not always throughout Venice, Milan, Naples, Turin and Flor-
been considered a form of punishment. It once ence established a defined penal structure over
served only to hold people preceding what was more than 70 years.3 Though the functional ra-
then deemed the actual punishment itself. None tionale has deviated from religion-related require-
of the period imprisoned was considered a pun- ments, vast advancements in internal spatial pro-
ishment, so retribution in the form of an additional gramming have not occurred to the same extent
set of processes was required to deliver the repri- as in the philosophy relating to crime, punishment,
mand. As a rule, punishment more closely resem- justice and the functional significance of incarcer-
bled retribution by means of physical punishment, ation places.
the norm being some form of torturous and barba-
rous procedure. This was normally delivered in pub- Regarded as the earliest large-scale penal institu-
lic spaces, and drew an audience to witness the tion, and arguably one of the most “significant
spectacle that was also orchestrated to incite fear penal buildings” following Rome’s St Michael’s Pris-
and deterrence. Zimbardo and Leippe defined on, Ghent Prison in Belgium adhered to the notion
punishment as a “stimulus whose occurrence fol- initiated by the church that suggested that archi-
lowing a behaviour, leads to a decrease in that tecture and formal spatial patterns could be know-
behaviour”.1 As early as 1704, the philosophy of this ingly used in an attempt to bring about rehabilita-
definition formed the moral fibre of ecclesiastical tive behaviour.4 Although the physical construct
penitence by means of contemplative incarcera- was equivalent, the distinguishing characteristics
tion. This instigated a purpose-specific architectural between St Michael’s Prison and Ghent Prison
response on the basis of function, operational re- were in the implementation of spatial relationships
quirements and beliefs. Pope Clement XI (1649- that deviated from the central corridor being used
1721), inspired by work houses in Florence (Fraud’s) for reflective penitence to an operational purpose
appointed an architect to devise a way in which intended to “assist warders in efficient observation
all individual cells in a proposed prison-hospice of prisoners”.5
attached to St Michael’s Hospital in Rome would
“[look] out onto a central corridor toward an altar Rapid developments in the criminal justice system
with solitude allowing for reflection on misdeeds”.2 occurred, in particular because of an avant-garde
The resulting design response by Carlo Fontana intellectual, Cesare Beccaria (1738-94), an Italian
advanced the concept of cellular detention and philosopher and who argued against capital pun-

1
ishment and torture. Beccaria advocated utilitari- architecture, this notion of self-imposed behav-
an-imposed imprisonment as a form of punishment ioural regulation, by today’s standards, brought
and deterrence, but did not propose any means about an innovative and yet seemingly sinister
of architectural intervention, but rather, from the method by which to control prisoners in institutional
perspective of the law and its interpretation, out- settings. Bentham meticulously documented his
lined his (progressive) interpretations in Dei delitti e theories, although due to some of the more farci-
delle pene in 1764, which were later translated cal and fictional parameters associated with his
and published as On Crimes and Punishments. ideologies on the panopticon model it would ap-
Beccarian ideologies advocated that the severity pear that a degree of fanaticism existed.
of punishment should proportionately relate to the
gravity of the crime. His manuscripts began to in- “Panopticon”, a composition of the Greek words
fluence not only societal attitudes to imprisonment for “everything” and “sight”, became the literal
as institutions associated with “... metaphors for embodiment of Bentham’s idea, using specific
constraints on freedom, both literal and symbolic”,6 penal architectural forms that facilitate supreme
but also appear to have had a profound influ- levels of surveillance. This provided the capacity to
enced on Jeremy Bentham.7 create and coordinate authority and control the
direction of power between the two key compo-
PANOPTIC PRINCIPLES IN PRISONS AND nent relationships within the space: prisoners and
IMPRISONMENT guards. Bentham defined and proposed panoptic
theory to be relevant to a variety of applications in
Bentham was a 19th century British philosopher buildings and institutions such as hospitals, asylums
whose principles on crime, punishment, discipline and schools, though his enterprise was predomi-
and imprisonment significantly influenced under- nantly associated with prisons, where controlled
standing of architectural power and surveillance. surveillance is the prime objective. Despite this, the
Bentham has been instrumental to our contempo- theory was actually conceived by Bentham’s
rary understanding of how architecture can be brother, Samuel, to increase worker productivity by
strategically used to convey and control power- facilitating better “supervision” of workers in a fac-
related relationships between different groups of tory setting.12 Bentham, however, predicted that it
individuals in designated spaces. His philosophical could reform individuals and compel subjects to
position on punishment was well suited to the im- self-regulate behaviour and as such was “efficient
plementation of his ideologies in prison architec- as prisoners would soon come to expect continu-
ture and his texts on the law, democracy, utilitari- ous surveillance”.13 Bentham saw significant poten-
anism and government have further underpinned tial in criminal “reform” attributed to self-
more progressive societal attitudes towards crime, modification of one’s behaviour should the panop-
criminals and punishment. Beccaria and Bentham ticon be incorporated into prison design and op-
were opposed to publicly exhibited punishment, eration.14 It has been described as an architectural
particularly in the form of prolonged spectacles of apparatus, used to establish co-lateral relationships
merciless humiliation, torture and execution of of power, irrespective of the positions of people
criminals that lasted until the end of the 18th centu- involved, and as a “utilitarian mechanism of power
ry. What emerged from their combined philosoph- reduced to its ideal form”, not primarily intended
ical efforts was a paradigm shift in international to be a beautiful piece of architecture but about
attitudes to punishment and carceral architecture “being seen and never seeing, or always seeing
and the “theatrical representation of pain” and and never being seen”.15 This suggests that a cal-
the disappearance of the “great spectacle of culated and coordinated absence of apparent
physical punishment” which came to an end be- authority (guards) is anticipated to be translated
tween 1830 and 1848.8 With this, punishment be- into a sentiment of divine power, where the ob-
came determinable upon the construct of human server could be anywhere and nowhere, so one
perceptions of time, space and liberty, and with it, must considered him to be everywhere.16
incarceration was almost immediately favoured as
a standard form of punishment in its own right. Bentham believed that the “punishment is less for
Removing a person's liberty was now considered the punished, but for the deterrence of society”
the retribution for crime, and that a measured pe- and accordingly should produce extensive “ap-
riod could be apportioned to the severity of it.9 parent” suffering, with the least amount of actual
Deprivation of liberty punished the mind and soul,10 physical pain.17 Thus the success of panoptic theo-
and as such justification for the duration of a pen- ry is predominantly based on presumption, fiction
alty could not be regarded a proportionate ex- or illusion, exploiting separation and isolation by
change for the crime committed, rather, the non-verbal means of visual anticipation between
length is intended to achieve “useful transfor- the observer and the observed. Bentham’s panop-
mation of the offender during his term of imprison- ticon, a formal circular spatial arrangement, initi-
ment”.11 ates total surveillance of all the subjects by one
central inspector by specific light, space, propor-
Bentham advocated that as behavioural- tion, and strategic positioning. The external circular
environmental links exist, this notion could be ex- wall of the panopticon was systematically pierced
ploited in the prison setting through an efficient with window openings, one for each of the cells
and methodical spatial logic, one that imposes on within, sufficiently sized to ensure that prisoners
the spirit of the prisoner the notion to behave as were back-lit. As a result, prisoners could not see
required and not as he would like. Compelled by
2
Jonescu, Emil. 2011. “The Philosophical History of Punishment” Reflections Journal of Built Environment Research Unit. 2 (1): 35-41.

into the inspector’s darkened central observation structures. Of particular note, the Round House in
point, so had to assume they were always under Fremantle (1830-31), one of Fremantle’s first major
his gaze and would regulate their behaviour based buildings, strikes a remarkable physical panoptic
on this assumption (this principle also facilitates adherence, as does Rottnest’s Quad Native Prison,
what is today commonly known as the police line- built in 1871.20 Both buildings had a remarkable
up). resemblance to many other prison structures influ-
enced by panoptic philosophy, both international-
The origins of panoptic philosophy cannot be ac- ly and locally. About 19km away, Fremantle’s
curately described as it appears to pre-date the Round House is one of countless examples of archi-
philosophical conceptualisation expressed by Ben- tecture and architectural theory significantly influ-
tham. Panoptic theory may have been implicitly enced by precedent. Henry Reveley also oversaw
applied as early as the 17th century to manage the the construction of Fremantle Prison, and while of
spread of disease because efficient surveillance different visual character the operational and pro-
ensured differentiation and classification enough cedural attributes are in keeping with some of Ben-
to ensure that unauthorised people did not enter tham’s ideologies. It was expected that prisoners in
quarantined areas.18 Within this context, even by this type of facility undertake physical work,
contemporary definition the application of surveil- though the work was not intended to be produc-
lance bears a significant resemblance to opera- tive, but to “expend energy at a disproportionate
tional control in prisons. In publishing his works, rate to the return”,21 a common undertaking in
however, what Bentham achieved was to consoli- separate, silent prison systems (such as Fremantle
date his beliefs on crime and punishment and the and Pentonville). This ensured that control could
ideals of many reformers that inspired him, and be maintained by managing the possibility of any
influence a change in societal attitudes to pun- coordinated revolt conceived through tedium.
ishment and imprisonment. This was done through Such separation, isolation and de-individualisation,
progressive propositions of architectural applica- therefore, was considered a justifiable means of
tion to achieve anticipated behavioural out- control.
comes.
The panopticon was never realised in its entirety as
Nevertheless, Bentham’s ideals have been and it had been proposed, but as an operational con-
continue to be extensively studied, yet they are of cept in architecture it has had an overriding influ-
particular relevance to the WA context. This is as a ence on early prison design. It is unmistakably
result of the fortunate timing between advance- manifest in a significant number of international
ments in penology made by Bentham (and his prison examples. Stateville Prison (Illinois), built in
predecessors), the man who would assist him to 1925, essentially personifies the architectural repre-
convey his concepts in a documented set of pub- sentation 134 years after Bentham had conceived
lished drawings and ensuing colonisation of WA. it, as do other panopticon-inspired architectural
Bentham’s distinguished idea in architecture, the variations previously mentioned in WA and else-
panopticon, was drawn for him by English archi- where. This suggests that some specific aspects of
tect Willey Reveley in 1791. Bentham referred to Bentham’s published works were still considered
Reveley’s “ingenuity in his capacity as my profes- sound and deemed to be relevant generations
sional adviser to whom he I am indebted” for his later.
input with reference to key ideas that Reveley
proposed to make Bentham’s vision plausible.19 It Bentham’s theories have been extensively studied,
appears that Willey Reveley collaborated with but French philosopher Michel Foucault can be
Bentham to realise Bentham’s philosophical posi- credited with interpreting Bentham’s in such a way
tion in a conceptual architectural form. Therefore it that it became accessible to a wide-ranging au-
would appear that Reveley also possessed note- dience. Foucault’s interpretation and delivery with
worthy theoretical aptitude and the technological relevance to the function of modern societies has
skill to not only translate philosophical ideas into a gained Discipline and Punish international notoriety
convincing panoptic architectural model, but also as a required text for research of Bentham’s theo-
to make a considered contribution to the architec- ries, punishment, control and surveillance. Foucault
tural discipline that does not appear to have much argued on this background that disciplinary sys-
appreciated or recognised the significance of his tems, and prisons in particular, with the panopti-
work. con as the ideal were social failures. He consid-
ered that the way in which disciplinary systems
This architectural knowledge was clearly imparted crushed individuality and individual freedom ne-
by both Bentham and Reveley to Henry Reveley, gated positive social endeavours such as rehabili-
Willey Reveley's son, who became the first English- tation and calm relations between individuals, de-
Australian colonial civil engineer to the Swan River scribing it as a “machine to carry out experiments,
settlement in 1829. This is a direct connection be- alter behaviour and allow continuous examina-
tween Bentham (and thus the content of his in- tion”.22
spired predecessors) and WA penal history, occur-
ring during the period that WA was being colo- CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES, PANOPTIC
nised. This suggests a historical continuance; a PRINCIPLES IN SHORT-TERM CUSTODIAL FACILITIES
transfer of knowledge of both philosophical and
architectural content which is noticeably ex- In relation to released (allegedly reformed) prison-
pressed in many of Henry Reveley’s prominent ers, it was once accepted they would be indoctri-

3
nated with attributes of panopticism, instilled of the inadequate acknowledgement and brief
through long-term exposure to custodial settings, in nature of his almost fleeting suggestion relating to
the form of a tolerable paranoia. It was hoped the implementation of panoptic architecture into
that this desirable disorder would lead to contin- other types of facilities, in particular short-term cus-
ued self-regulatory behaviour in specific circum- todial facilities, that little, if any, existing published
stances after release into society and could be investigative works relate to the possibility that
proclaimed as a rehabilitative response. 23 there may be considerable relevance to the use of
an entirely architectural panoptic response in
In light of this, while there might be detrimental short-term custodial facilities, more so than the risk
side-effects to the mental and physical wellbeing of ridicule for considering or proposing such a no-
of long-term custodial prisoners, architectural pan- tion on seemingly antecedent philosophy.
optic ideologies appear better suited to short-term
custodial environments such as police lockups. A panoptic architectural response, it would ap-
Within this lockup environment, observation and pear, could be of benefit to a spatial rationale
behavioural self-regulation could lead to a de- associated with police lockup facilities, which only
creased likelihood of assault and self harm. Thus require exceptional levels of surveillance when
short-term custodial facilities may provide a setting used in the short term. Although, prima facie, po-
more appropriate and conducive to exploiting lice lockups or short-term custodial facilities appear
some of the observational benefits that panoptic to share a common historical thread, contempo-
architecture could provide, avoiding long-term rary institutional requirements for short-term deten-
psychological detriment pertinent to long-term tion or for un-sentenced prisoners require a con-
custody. Bentham, makes specific philosophical siderably dissimilar architectural and philosophical
reference to the appropriateness of operational typology and operational strategies. Therefore one
and architectural application of the panopticon key responsibility of the architect is to offer a hu-
for use with people who have not been sentenced mane environment that respects the dignity of
or charged.24 None of the theories appear, how- those detained, of staff and visitors, while also
ever, to have been implemented or critically ana- providing the exceptionally high level of tactical
lysed for congruity to the specialised functions of a parameters required. Despite this, and in acknowl-
police lockup, a facility which has a unique role in edgement of infinite individual, cultural, societal
the criminal justice system: to temporarily accom- and situational variables, architectural environ-
modate “civilians” whose guilt has not yet been ments alone cannot guarantee that every philo-
determined by a court and are to be presumed sophically motivated design manifestation ex-
innocent. plored will achieve the anticipated outcome, but
should inherently facilitate the organisation’s func-
In fact, the United Nations Social Defence Re- tion au minimum.26
search Institute eloquently, yet pessimistically
points out that: Having a duty of care, innovative design consid-
erations which ameliorate incidents of depression,
“... very little is known about the isolation, stress, anxiety and violence are to be
psychological impact of physical vigorously considered as beneficial strategies for
prison conditions. It is by now fairly complying with statutory requirements. The archi-
clear that the main hypothesis pro- tect in lockup design should therefore not discount
posed a century or so ago— the concerns of human respect and dignity, but
confinement and isolation invite re- promote and conceptualise advanced organisa-
flection and amendment—has been tion-specific strategies to deal with specialised re-
disproved. Confinement and isola- quirements relative to a facility’s unique function.
tion are at best short-term security The ability to maintain constant control to ensure
measures [and emphasises im- safe conditions for both prisoners and staff is par-
portance of a relevant study] which amount to both police lockups and prisons, but it
could and should be researched”.25 appears that from an architectural standpoint so-
cial and functional relationships continue to be
Nevertheless, Bentham’s proposed idea in archi- secondary considerations to security. This need
tecture was keenly adopted by philosophers for not, however, be a considered research focus. An
speculation, ridicule and research, and used to a organised consortium of expertise is required to
degree in a misguided way. The accumulation of generate the strength required to reform existing
Benthamite literature is a testament to a consistent methods of practice.
modus operandi which essentially seeks to discred-
it Bentham's theories while offering a general (au- Prisons form part of a broader set of disciplinary
thor's perspective) overview of his life and works institutions that, generally speaking, attempt to
based on the overviews of others. It is astounding manage insular society through order, though ex-
that the preponderance of existing works and re- ponential diversities in function, operation and cir-
search has been dedicated to the relevance of cumstance exist compared with police facilities
panoptic theory in prison architecture and institu- intended to temporarily detain, not imprison.
tions and not to short-term custodial facilities, to Through trial and error and extensive research,
which Bentham makes specific, albeit brief refer- modern prisons have significantly evolved into a
ence in his letter XVII. It is perhaps in consideration typology aligned with specific functional require-
ments, which is no longer to rehabilitate but to se-
4
Jonescu, Emil. 2011. “The Philosophical History of Punishment” Reflections Journal of Built Environment Research Unit. 2 (1): 35-41.

curely detain prisoners for the benefit of society’s given situation, even if the situation appears to
safety. Subsequent architectural approaches defy logical reasoning.30 With this, they cite the
much more closely achieve the goal of total sur- Jonestown mass suicides as an example of social
veillance by using cells around an open dayroom conditioning over individual attitudes and beliefs,31
with a central observation point to achieve nearly yet equally, another more recent example is the
total visibility. This style of prison is known as a “new London Riots. (See also Stanley Milgram’s Obedi-
generation”, which implements a direct or indirect ence Experiment, which describes obedience to
supervision philosophy of greater staff involvement people in positions of power and authority as a
with inmates. It is claimed that with this style of normal example of social influence.32) Therefore, a
prison there have been significant reductions in syndicate of experienced practitioners in conjunc-
violent conflicts among staff and prisoners and tion with field expertise has the propensity to gen-
reduced isolation, nonconforming to inmate cul- erate the required critical juncture of representa-
tures and hierarchies in comparison with radial, tive dialogue to withstand the disparaging num-
axial and linear plans. Further to this, “greater staff- bers that oppose progress or reform and a move
inmate contact leads to positive relations, which away from existing practice that is clearly flawed.
allow for greater surveillance”.27 To the detriment of progress, the considered appli-
cation of credible, select components of panoptic
In short-term custodial facilities, this philosophy philosophy have not been given the same oppor-
does not associate itself with issues of institutional tunity to evolve in short-term custodial facilities as
cultures and hierarchies, but the reduction of as- they have in the less suitable long-term prison envi-
saults and violence against staff and other detain- ronment. It is not a case of building a panopticon
ees would be of significant benefit when consider- as Bentham suggested, but of extrapolating and
ing the function of police lockups. It appears that developing some of the relevant core constituents
contemporary philosophies have had little influ- of the theory, a theory that is still considered rele-
ence on current West Australian police lockup de- vant today. While the subject matter surrounding
sign, which has not significantly progressed con- the panopticon is still debated among academics,
ceptually since early settlement. Certainly, minor but only modest developments have ensued in
interventions have, in the form of add-ons, been practice, the contemporary relevance, therefore,
implemented due to coroners’ recommendations appears to skirt around a seemingly controversial
and due to advances in technology, but the over- issue.
riding philosophy of intent, the core ideas and
overriding principles of these institutions do not No matter how we try to distance ourselves from
appear consistent with significant changes in poli- the objectionable notion that a panopticon ever
cy, training, procedure and accountability of the be built in a contemporary society, Foucault accu-
custodians who work in them and the expectations rately concludes that our society already exists
and values of contemporary society, and could and ultimately functions as a panoptic machine.33
benefit from operational and architectural recon- Throughout every society panoptic philosophy is
sideration and restructure. evident in number and diversity that challenge
comprehension, yet we are socially pre-
CONTEMPORARY PANOPTIC CONSIDERATION conditioned to an extent that its imposed effects
are sub-cognition, thus panoptic spaces exist, and
It may be a faux pas to mention the panopticon in are for the most part, imperceptible. To behave as
association with contemporary spatial or theoreti- an ostrich achieves little to disassociate one’s self
cal consideration. The absurdity of some of Ben- from the relevant architectural or theoretical dis-
tham’s propositions by contemporary standards course that ought to be taking place.
and the almost zealous way in which his ideologies
are at times portrayed by academics make it diffi- Panoptic spaces in society have the capacity
cult to separate fact from fiction and pertinent modify behaviour so that it conforms to an ac-
from preposterous. However, opposing long- ceptable norm – for example libraries, public foyers
established attitudes and beliefs invites criticism, and public squares – in which behaviour is modi-
and people will go against their own beliefs, atti- fied and appropriately adapted due to situational
tudes and understanding of fact to abate “what and observational vulnerability. This arguably sur-
others think of us and the way they act towards passes accepted notions of mere reactive polic-
us”.28 Furthermore, literature has the ability to dra- ing, as in certain circumstances sophisticated sur-
matically influence perception,29 particularly if veillance matrixes have the capacity to circum-
what has been academically published has inces- vent or limit the potential for offences from ever
santly negative undertones. Thus, maintaining rep- occurring. Modern societies comprise a complex
utation appears to be a contributing factor as to hierarchy of surveillance networks including the
why nonconformist contemporary panoptic atti- internet and social media, passive public surveil-
tudes at an individual level are limited, as such a lance, monitored mechanical devices, global posi-
position would almost certainly preclude ac- tioning systems and satellite triangulation and
ceptance of one’s position on the matter. Zimbar- tracking technologies such as mobile telephones,
do and Leippe attest that within social situations so “observation is no longer limited to ... a single
exist power and capacity to override ingrained open building”34.
differences of thought between people, uniting
them so that they respond in the same way in a

5
CONCLUSION current trends in prison design, London, The Archi-
tectural Press Ltd, p. 15.
It can be said that early forms of punishment re-
flected a dark period in humanity when punish- 3. United Nations Social Defence Research Insti-
ments for “crimes” more closely resembled tor- tute, Prison Architecture, p. 15.
turous and barbaric ritual. Enthusiastically ap-
proved by the spectators that gathered in public 4. Johnston N. 1973, The human cage: a brief histo-
squares to witness these practices, generations ry of prison architecture, New York, Walker and
later these faceless hordes now define crime and Company, p. 13.
consider appropriate punishment to be entirely
different. A monumental shift in the core idea of 5. United Nations Social Defence Research Insti-
what punishment actually was and what it could tute, Prison Architecture, p. 15.
or should be revolutionised the concept of retribu-
tion by apportioning prescribed periods of incar- 6. Zimbardo P. 2007, The Lucifer effect: how good
ceration as a proportional representation of the people turn evil, London, Edbury Publishing, p. 21.
severity of crimes committed. However, research
into carcerative architecture is largely appor- 7. United Nations Social Defence Research Insti-
tioned to long-term custody, namely prisons. This tute, Prison Architecture, pp. 15-17.
inclination is clearly evident in the number of prom-
inent intellectuals that redefined and reformed the 8. Foucault M. 1975, Discipline and punish: the
entire conceptual fibre of crime and punishment birth of a prison, trans. A. Sheridan, London, Pen-
and at the same time altered societal attitudes guin Books Ltd, p. 14.
towards imprisonment as a result. During this pro-
gressive period Bentham, a 19th century British phi- 9. Beccaria C. 1764, ‘Dei delitti e delle pene’ in
losopher, introduced the notion of using panoptic Crimes and Punishments, trans. J. Farrer, 1880, Lon-
principles in prisons to achieve long-term behav- don, Chatto & Windus, p. 150.
ioural modification and thus prisons would not
simply hold prisoners but would “rehabilitate” 10. Foucault, Discipline and punish, p. 11.
them. Moving forward over two hundred years it is
accepted that prisons have never successfully re- 11. Foucault, Discipline and punish, p. 244.
habilitated prisoners, but have separated them
from society to temporarily remove the risk of their 12. Steintrager J. 1977, Bentham: political thinkers
reoffending. A panopticon was never built, though no. 5, London, Alden Press, p. 79.
of the many aspects that the panopticon com-
prised and the various applications to which it 13. Gandy O. 1993, A panoptic sort: a political
could be applied proposed by Bentham (panoptic economy of personal information, Colorado,
principles in short-term custodial facilities), a num- Westview Press, p. 22.
ber of elements were implemented and, one
could consider, tested in some prisons. Neverthe- 14. Atkinson C. 1969, Jeremy Bentham: his life and
less contemporary moves towards revisiting pan- work, New York, Augustus M. Kelley Publishers, p.
optic discussion in carcerative environments fail to 141.
consider short-term custodial facilities where the
elementary notion of panoptic rationale could 15. Foucault, Discipline and punish, pp. 203-205.
benefit all occupants in such a space without the
psychological detriment alleged to occur should it 16. Bozovic M., (ed.), 1995, Jeremy Bentham: the
be implemented in long-term custody. Overriding panopticon writings, London, Verso, p. 9.
negative attitudes surrounding panoptic discourse
prolong the continuation of little genuine consid- 17. Bozovic, Jeremy Bentham, p. 5.
eration next to the condemnation and denuncia-
tion (some considered component) panoptic im- 18. Foucault, Discipline and punish, p. 195.
plementation routinely receives. Due to existing
lack of knowledge and research into short-term 19. Bentham J. 1787b, ‘Panopticon letters: post-
custodial architecture, panoptic theory, or any script part I’ in M. Bozovic (ed.), The works of Jere-
theory for that matter, does provide a genuine my Bentham, London, Verso, pp. 97-114.
platform for further research and consideration of
short-term custodial facility architecture. 20. Ferguson R. 1986, Rottnest Island: history and
architecture, Perth, University of Western Australia
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2. United Nations Social Defence Research Institute
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representative closed institutions and analysis of 22. Foucault, Discipline and punish, p. 203.

6
 Jonescu, Emil. 2011. “The Philosophical History of Punishment” Reflections Journal of Built Environment Research Unit. 2 (1): 35-41.

23. Semple J. 1993, Bentham’s prison: a study of

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