Thursday, March 12, 2009

Possibilities of Sovereign and Disciplinary Power in the Prison System

There may be more to the prison system than a corrective institution, this essay will explore elements of sovereign power that can exist within the prison.
Posted by at

1 comment:

  1. David MaciasMarch 12, 2009 at 10:42 AM

    In the institution of the prison, Foucault would explain how the prison is a mechanism of disciplinary power, these are society's institutions of correcting individuals, restoring them so that they are fit for reemergence into society once released form prison. The prisoner is subject to a regimented schedule, his/her “liberty” is “deprived”, the “liberty” that's supposed to be his/her “right and property” (11). In the prison, the prisoner's “soul” is what is punished, through the strict schedule of the prison system, and through depriving the freedom of the prisoner. The prisoner is also subject to constant surveillance, yet another characteristic of disciplinary power (172). The prisoner is no longer executed publicly, no longer made an example of to the general public, it becomes a private punishment. Although the modern prisoner can still be subject to an execution, today it is done in a humane way (16).
    It can be argued, however, that the prison is a combination of both sovereign power and disciplinary power. The disciplinary power aspect of the prison, previously mentioned, is the regimented schedule, the disappearance of the public execution, the overall privatizing of punishment. However, inside the prison exists a different structure, one of the guards and the prisoners.
    The prisoners may see the guards, and more specifically the warden, as a sovereign, visible power. They may fear upsetting any of the guards as they may receive punishment within punishment, further punishments within the prison system.. Although the guards or warden cannot execute an prisoner, they can isolate, take away what little privilege the prisoner may have, ultimately make their prison stay as uncomfortable as possible. It is therefore, in the prisoner's best interest to maintain order within prison, and stay on the guards good side, to prevent any further punishments. Other prisoners will see the deviant individual as an example of what they should not attempt. Furthermore, a prison is a closed and small society, word of the punished can get around rather quickly. This would be very similar to the public execution of sovereign power. Thus, as one can see, these few examples can demonstrate how the modern prison can serve as both an institution of disciplinary power, with elements of sovereign power.

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)