Latessa goes to great lengths in his text to introduce the bases of the American Penal System, its rich history and reasons why we as a progressive society rely on Penology as a means of social control. In the Youtube video that you should have watched, everything that Latessa writes about came to light in a visual documentary; therefore it is my hope that your palate is renewed with a different insight on the American Penal System. 

1. Discuss what you learned regarding the assigned videos for this week and to mention specifics from the textbook that really caused you to question the way in which punishment, incarceration, and justice is handed out in our society. Many of you all come from various walks of life and have unique opinions about the criminal justice system, while I encourage your opinion, I ask that your opinion be informed on the readings and videos assigned thus far.
2. What do you think of the move from public torture and corporal punishment to imprisonment as an effective means of punishment? Do you think the United States should return to public torture? Do you think Public Torture/Corporal Punishment would best emulate the deterrence and/or retribution prong(s) that incarceration aims to achieve for people who commit crime? Why did the United States decide to stop public torture and corporal punishment?