An 18th century idea to put fear and deterrance back into prisons? | Alex Brown

In the 18th century, utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham devised a new kind of prison, one that would create the illusion of constant surveillance of its inmates by a single guard ensuring safety and security throughout the institution. This was known as the ‘panopticon’. It involved a single 360-degree observation tower in the centre of a circular prison in which the guard in the tower could see any prisoner at any given time but the prisoners cannot see the guard and must therefore assume they are under surveillance. This article will propose that a nearly entirely digital panopticon could well be the means to decrease violence within prisons, act as a deterrent to would-be criminals, and serve as true psychological punishment for crime in an age where prison is no longer felt to be a deterring place. 

Tackling inmate violence has been a recurrent issue for the British government and this has been the case for decades- it continues to haunt with assaults on inmates and staff increasing by 5% and 10% respectively in 2019. Moreover, self-harm in prison is at an all-time high with a rise of 22% over the same period, totalling now over 60,000 annual incidents. 

In order to tackle this violence as self-harm, the general response has been that prisons need more staff to enact further surveillance. But what if, in fact, prisons as they are require fewer staff? It would not only save expenses for the taxpayer in an area that already costs over £2.4 billion, but would allow for inmates to be better categorised in terms of tendency to commit violent behaviour and / or self-harm. 

A panopticon would allow for constant surveillance of prisoners meaning both the most vulnerable and dangerous can simultaneously be more effectively wardened. Furthermore, a modern panopticon would utilise digital surveillance in order to watch every prisoner from the central observation tower with only a few guards in the central tower to monitor cameras and ensure the smooth running of the prison. Other prison staff can then be relocated to a safer off-site area where they can conduct their duties without fear of assault; the digital aspect could also remove the need for hundreds of guards to be constantly patrolling, with cameras taking the lead.

Fears, naturally, may arise over the ‘right to privacy’ and the argument would be made that prisoners still possess these, even in the most heinous circumstances. However, to this I respond that the system herein being proposed is no more invasive than any existing prison, what I am suggesting is merely a more effective way of watching inmates because of the cost savings and the removal of danger for all involved. 

Secondly, many will suggest that during work and exercise times there remains a threat of violence and harm but the panopticon’s design would effectively allow for better categorization of the inmates meaning that more violent offenders can be watched more rigorously during exercise, work time and more generally overall. Some may say the isolation is counter-productive to the idea of preventing self-harm since it is likely this isolation that is the main cause, however, in the first instance, it would allow for harm to be prevented entirely. 

This design would also act as deterrent for would be criminals due to the psychological effect being here would have on them. The circular design of the prison and the closed-off nature of each cell enforces the sense of isolation for the inmates. This, however, could be mediated by providing productive materials such as books to pass time. The psychological punishment of lessened human interaction, even with guards, would ensure a level of punishment that has not yet been tested in UK prisons since we rely so heavily on the simple psychology of ‘going to prison’ as a deterrent when prisons are no longer an imposing place to many criminals. 

Through this ultimate isolation and punishment it is likely inmates would be led towards rehabilitation- as a newer and firmer result of fear of returning. In a 2015 One Poll survey, 74% of those surveyed felt that money should be reallocated to prevent future crime. This is a solution that certainly ought, in my view, to be trialled.

In an age where each prisoner costs £26,000 annually to look after, and where they can receive visitors at all times, their lives are made comfortable regardless of their crime. We need an alternative that will put fear back at the heart of our prisons yet cut costs. A modern, digital panopticon will ensure psychological rehabilitation of prisoners through genuine fear of reincarceration as well as provide the digital surveillance that can prevent violence and control prisoners more effectively. The government should be seeking to place law and order back at the heart of conservatism and the first step towards doing this is to get tough on prisons.

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