The constructing of a contemporary corrections ethic in the tradition of social contract theory: An extrapolation from the work of political philosopher John Rawls

Abstract

The conditions of jails and prisons in the United States are more often than not deplorable and hidden from public view. The inhumane treatment of prisoners and their appalling living conditions are untenable and require justice.

This project will explore the ways in which John Rawl's theory of justice may be used to construct a corrections ethic in the context of jail and prison culture for correctional facilities in the United States. It considers the varied and complex challenges faced while attempting the humane treatment of those incarcerated. The tradition of social contract theory espoused in the writings of such political philosophers as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and more recently amplified in the work of the late Harvard political philosopher John Rawls will be explored and interpreted. This project creates a foundation for the creation of a corrections ethic grounded in social contract theory.