No one likes to see big imposing buildings with tall brick walls and barbed wire on top And behind those thick walls is another imposing building with little shrapnel running through it large grates to let in light, and men and women dressed in orange roamed the heavily guarded courtyard. They are imposing and daunting buildings, which would detract from the attractiveness of a community. But worse than seeing a new building like this going up in your community is seeing an already impressive building expand into your neighborhood. These imposing buildings remind society that the world is not as safe as we would like to believe, that among us there are quite a few less than tasteful citizens. Expanding our nation's prisons is not necessary to benefit society because prisoners cost society more than money, do not reform prisoners, and do not treat them fairly. But prisons weren't always like this. Before 1800 the idea of ​​prisons did not exist. When someone committed a crime and was tried in court, the judge had the power to find the accused guilty or not guilty. If the accused was found not guilty, he could walk away without further punishment. However, if he or she was found guilty, “the criminal was usually given the end of a rope or the swing of an axe” (Murphy 57). In the mid-1800s the prison system was created, however these prisons were self-sustaining. The inmates did it all. They cooked and cleaned, painted and repaired what needed repairing, made their own clothes, and made plaques for the outside world. The prison staff merely supervised and kept an eye on the prisoners; the staff did not provide any labor. But the prisons……half paper……ersies. New York: Greenhaven, 2005. Hanrahan, Clare, ed. American prisons. Opposing points of view. New York: Greenhaven, 2006. Henry, Stuart. “The threat of incarceration does not deter criminal behavior.” Haley 45-46. “Imprisonment is beneficial.” Stalcup 26.Irwin, John and Michael Snedeker. “Prisons are violent and dehumanizing.” Tipp 93-95.Kishner, Brandi. “Prison labor exploits prisoners.” Hanrahan 121-2.Lightner, David. "Diary of a Prisoner." Prisons. New York: Greenhaven, 2006. 25.Murphy, Francis T. “Prisons Should Punish Inmates.” Stalcup 57.Rogers, Joseph W. “Prisons Alone Cannot Reduce Crime.” Tipp 55.Stalcup, Brenda, ed. American prisons. Opposing points of view. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1997. Taylor, Jon Marc. “The prison system doesn't work.” Stalcup 21-22.Tipp, Stacey L, ed. American prisons. Opposing points of view. San Diego: Green Haven, 1991.