Imprisonment

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File:Antti Rannanjärvi & Antti Isotalo.jpg

Antti Rannanjärvi and Antti Isotalo, the infamous Finnish "puukkojunkkaris", imprisoned in 1869

Imprisonment or incarceration is the restraint of a person's liberty for any cause whatsoever, whether by authority of the government, or by a person acting without such authority. In the latter case it is considered "false imprisonment". Imprisonment does not necessarily imply a place of confinement with bolts and bars, but may be exercised by any use or display of force (such as placing one in handcuffs), lawfully or unlawfully, wherever displayed, even in the open street. People become prisoners, wherever they may be, by the mere word or touch of a duly authorized officer directed to that end. Usually, however, imprisonment is understood to imply actual confinement against one's will in a prison employed for the purpose according to the provisions of the law.<ref>"Imprisonment". The New International Encyclopedia. Second Edition. Dodd, Mead and Company. New York. 1915. Volume XII. Page 35.</ref> Generally gender imbalances occur in imprisonment rates, with incarceration of males proportionately more likely than incarceration of females.<ref>Codd, Helen (Winter 2013). "WOMEN AND IMPRISONMENT". Wagadu, Journal of Transnational Women's and Gender Studies. 11.</ref>

HistoryEdit

AfricaEdit

Before colonisation, imprisonment was used in sub-Saharan Africa for pre-trial detention, to secure compensation and as a last resort but not generally as punishment, except in the Songhai Empire (1464–1591) and in connection with the slave trade.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> In the colonial period, imprisonment provided a source of labor and a means of suppression.<ref name=":0" /> The use of imprisonment has continued to the present day.<ref name=":1" />

AustraliaEdit

Incarceration in what became known as Australia was introduced through colonization. As noted by scholar Thalia Anthony, the Australian settler colonial state has engaged in carceral tactics of containment and segregation against Aboriginal Australians since colonizers first arrived, "whether that be for Christian, civilizing, protectionist, welfare, or penal purposes." When settlers arrived, they invented courts and passed laws without consent of Indigenous peoples that stated that they had jurisdiction over them and their lands. When Indigenous peoples challenged these laws, they were imprisoned.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

England and WalesEdit

In English law, imprisonment is the restraint of a person's liberty.<ref>Archbold Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice. 1999. Chapter 5. Section II. "Sentences of Imprisonment".</ref> The 17th century book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:

Imprisonment is no other thing than the restraint of a man's liberty, whether it be in the open field, or in the stocks, or in the cage in the streets or in a man's own house, as well as in the common gaols; and in all the places the party so restrained is said to be a prisoner so long as he hath not his liberty freely to go at all times to all places whither he will without bail or mainprise or otherwise.<ref>John Rastell. Termes de la Ley. 1636. Page 202. Digital copy from Google Books.</ref>{{#if:|{{#if:|}}
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Imprisonment without lawful cause is a tort called false imprisonment.<ref>Clerk and Lindsell on Torts. Sweet and Maxwell. Sixteenth Edition. 1989. Paragraph 17-15 at page 972.</ref> In England and Wales, a much larger proportion of the black population is imprisoned than of the white.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

ReleaseEdit

When a prisoner completes serving their sentence, starts probation, or is given a compassionate release<ref name="Bureau of Prisons">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> they are no longer considered prisoners and are released to the outside world. A prisoner of war may be released as a result of the end of hostilities or a prisoner exchange. Prisoners serving a full life or indefinite sentence may never be released.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Released prisoners may suffer from issues including psychiatric disorders, criminalized behaviours and access to basic needs. Some criminals, particularly criminals convicted of serious crimes (felonies or indictable offenses,) are given restrictions after release, including bans from buying firearms or jury duty exclusion. Post release resources may be provided by the authorities.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Various factors have been investigated as to their influence on post-release recidivism, such as family and other relationships, employment, housing and ability to quit drug use.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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