Prison Design
Jeremy Betham and the Panopticon Prison Design
Jeremy Betham (15 February 1748- 6 June 1832) was an English author, jurist, philosopher and legal and social reformer. He was the man that came up with the idea of Panopticon. The word Panopticon comes from 'pan' meaning 'all' and 'opticon' meaning 'to observe'. The concept is to allow an observer to view prisoners without them being able to discern if they were being watched or not.
The original design consists of a circular structure with an 'observation' or an 'inspection house' at the centre. Bentham thought this design could apply to a whole range of institutional buildings including "Madhouses", hospitals and schools.
The original design consists of a circular structure with an 'observation' or an 'inspection house' at the centre. Bentham thought this design could apply to a whole range of institutional buildings including "Madhouses", hospitals and schools.
In 1786, Bentham travelled to Krichev in White Russia (present day Belarus) to visit his brother, Samuel. Samuel was involved in managing industrial products and it was him, who actually came up with the idea. Samuel had an idea of a circular building at the hub of a larger compound. This would enable a small number of managers to oversee a large and generally unskilled workforce. Jeremy began to further develop his brother's idea with a particular interest in applying it to prisons. He defined it in a series of letters to his father. The Panopticon prison was intended to be cheaper then other prisons as it required fewer staff. He told the Committee for the Reform of Criminal Law, "I will be the gaoler. You will see... that the gaoler will have so salary-will cost nothing to the nation" Bentham also intended that the prisoners would perform menial labour such as 'walking on wheels to spin looms or run a water wheel'. This would decrease the running cost of a prison and provide a possible source on income.
When Betham returned to Britain, he published his ideas in a book but continued to perfect and work on them for many years. He was determined to see his design built. He attempted to interest authorities in Ireland and France but to no avail. He then tried to interest prime minister, William Pitt to restore an scheme that had been abandoned for a National Penitentiary in England. In the end, he persuaded Pitt and in 1793, he was given £2,000 for work on the project. The intended site was 'Battersea Rise' but the proposed plans ran into difficulty with objections. A number of other sites were reviewed but eventually a site at Millbank (near the Thames). It was purchased by Bentham on behalf of the crown at a price of £12,000. The land condition was extremely poor. The land was 'marshy' and far too small but the government insisted that this was to be an 'experimental prison'. This showed that there was no real dedication to the project. This was proven when in 1801, William Pitt resigned as Prime Minister and in 1803 under the new administration, the project was abandoned. Bentham was devastated. He commented saying that Henry Addinton's administration had 'murdered [his] best days'.
A few years later, the government once again revived the idea and in 1811 returned to the idea of a Panopticon prison. Bentham was 63 at the time but he was still willing to be the governor. Once again, there was no real backing to the project and Bentham lost all hope. He then decided to try and get financial compensation for his years of fruitless effort. He first claimed for nearly £700,000 but in the end he received £23,000. Bentham was bitter about his idea being rejected.
A National Penitentiary was built on the Millbank site but by a different man. This man was called William Williams but he did not follow the idea of a Panopticon.
The prison opened in 1816.
To this day, no true Panopticon prison has been built although many prisons if not all have been in someway influenced by the idea. The reason behind is that the concept of Panopticon, is, in reality, too difficult to achieve with the technology of the time. The prison that is the nearest to the concept of Panopticon is 'Presidio Modelo' in Cuba which is now abandoned. Something close to Bentham's original idea has only now become possible through 20th and 21st century technology - notably CCTV - but this has eliminated the need for a certain architectural design.
When Betham returned to Britain, he published his ideas in a book but continued to perfect and work on them for many years. He was determined to see his design built. He attempted to interest authorities in Ireland and France but to no avail. He then tried to interest prime minister, William Pitt to restore an scheme that had been abandoned for a National Penitentiary in England. In the end, he persuaded Pitt and in 1793, he was given £2,000 for work on the project. The intended site was 'Battersea Rise' but the proposed plans ran into difficulty with objections. A number of other sites were reviewed but eventually a site at Millbank (near the Thames). It was purchased by Bentham on behalf of the crown at a price of £12,000. The land condition was extremely poor. The land was 'marshy' and far too small but the government insisted that this was to be an 'experimental prison'. This showed that there was no real dedication to the project. This was proven when in 1801, William Pitt resigned as Prime Minister and in 1803 under the new administration, the project was abandoned. Bentham was devastated. He commented saying that Henry Addinton's administration had 'murdered [his] best days'.
A few years later, the government once again revived the idea and in 1811 returned to the idea of a Panopticon prison. Bentham was 63 at the time but he was still willing to be the governor. Once again, there was no real backing to the project and Bentham lost all hope. He then decided to try and get financial compensation for his years of fruitless effort. He first claimed for nearly £700,000 but in the end he received £23,000. Bentham was bitter about his idea being rejected.
A National Penitentiary was built on the Millbank site but by a different man. This man was called William Williams but he did not follow the idea of a Panopticon.
The prison opened in 1816.
To this day, no true Panopticon prison has been built although many prisons if not all have been in someway influenced by the idea. The reason behind is that the concept of Panopticon, is, in reality, too difficult to achieve with the technology of the time. The prison that is the nearest to the concept of Panopticon is 'Presidio Modelo' in Cuba which is now abandoned. Something close to Bentham's original idea has only now become possible through 20th and 21st century technology - notably CCTV - but this has eliminated the need for a certain architectural design.
If you wish to read the letters that Jeremy Bentham wrote, please follow this link! (http://cartome.org/panopticon2.htm)
Sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon#Conceptual_history
http://cartome.org/panopticon1.htm
Sourceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon#Conceptual_history
http://cartome.org/panopticon1.htm