What did the early prison system primarily focus on?

The early prison system primarily focused on punishment through confinement. This approach emerged during a time when the prevailing belief was that the primary purpose of incarceration was to deter crime and maintain order by isolating offenders from society. The philosophy behind this system was rooted in retribution—inflicting suffering as a response to wrongdoing—as opposed to rehabilitation or reform.

Prison facilities were often harsh and punitive, prioritizing physical confinement over the provision of educational or rehabilitative services. The focus was on ensuring that offenders served their time as a form of paying their debt to society, rather than preparing them for a constructive reintegration into the community after their release. This punitive mindset influenced prison policies and practices well into the modern era, although contemporary corrections systems have gradually shifted towards more rehabilitative approaches over time.