... of a more reformist approach to punishment have shaped the prisons of today. 1.1. Origins of Reformation Era of Enlightenment During the 1600's, society embraced a system of belief in science and rationality. This period is known as the era of 'Enlightenment'. Social, religious and legal areas of society were hugely impacted by this new way of thinking. Before this scientific advancement, Foucault (1991) was of the view that law and punishment was largely concerned with severe physical torture and public displays of death. Cesar Beccaria (1764) published 'On Crimes and Punishment', portrayed itself as a modern development that moved beyond the classical view of punishment. He encouraged the theory of 'Rational Thought' and incarceration as punishment for crimes committed that broke the 'Social Contract' that every citizen enters into when belonging to a society. He condemned the use of the death penalty as a form of crime prevention and that punishment ...

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