Final answer:
Alexander Maconochie developed the mark system for inmates to earn freedom by hard work and good behavior, which was an influential step towards rehabilitation-focused corrections and the current parole systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mark system which allowed inmates to earn their freedom through hard work and good behavior was developed by Alexander Maconochie. He was a 19th-century prison reformer who managed the Norfolk Island penal colony and introduced the system wherein prisoners could earn 'marks' for good behavior and hard work, which would eventually lead to their release. This progressive system was revolutionary in that it aimed to rehabilitate convicts rather than simply punish them, fostering hope and encouraging reformation. This innovative concept laid the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into parole systems used around the world today.