Final answer:
Imprisonment has historically transitioned from a means to hold the accused until punishment to a system focused on balancing rehabilitation with punishment. The criminal justice system, influenced by reform movements and legal amendments, continuously evolves to address concepts like bail, humane treatment in prisons, and equitable sentencing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolution of Imprisonment and Criminal Justice Reform
The statement that originally, imprisonment was used predominantly as a means to hold the accused until an official punishment was handed out, reflects historical changes in the purpose and nature of incarceration. Throughout history, conditions and philosophies have evolved significantly regarding the treatment of those accused and convicted of crimes. The criminal justice system of the past often used severe and public punishments such as executions, which were a spectacle and aimed at deterrence. Notions of punishment and rehabilitation have seen reform, with the Eighth Amendment, among other legal guidelines, ensuring that punishment is not "cruel and unusual" and that bail is set fairly. Throughout the 1800s, the evolution continued as capital offenses were reduced and public executions ceased, which marked a shift towards more humane treatment and the concept of rehabilitation within prisons and jails.
Reformers of the 19th century worked to create institutions that would not only incarcerate but also attempt to rehabilitate criminals, often focusing on non-capital crimes and this gave rise to the establishment of prisons as well as rehabilitative programs within them. Contrariwise, jails have traditionally been places of short-term confinement. As time progressed, the justice system has continually grappled with balancing the goals of rehabilitation, deterrence, and punishment, a debate that extends into modern times with discussions about the death penalty and the treatment of juvenile offenders.