Des Prisons et des prisonniers
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- SIGNED
- Versailles: Klefer, 1840
Versailles: Klefer, 1840. Folding engraved plate and 2 folding letterpress plates, letterpress tables in the text. Unopened in original printed blue wrappers. Slight wear to the extremities of the wrappers, otherwise excellent. First edition of this groundbreaking plan for an overhaul of the French penal system. Here Vingtrinier, a prison physician in Rouen, details his ideas for making prisons humane, hygienic, and efficacious in order to produce reformed society members and reduce criminal recidivism. His plans include apprenticeships through patronage for prisoners, a comprehensive healthcare program, and separation of prisoners based on age, health, mental capacity, and severity of crimes. He frequently references prison codes in other cities and countries and their effectiveness and describes how penal systems changed over time. He vehemently opposes agricultural penal colonies in favor of teaching prisoners trade skills.
Vingtrinier’s work helped to expose the cruelty and filth of French prisons in the early 19th century, and as a result encouraged the largest reform of a penal system to date.
Brunet VI: 4096.
Vingtrinier’s work helped to expose the cruelty and filth of French prisons in the early 19th century, and as a result encouraged the largest reform of a penal system to date.
Brunet VI: 4096.