| In 1870, the first National Prison Association Congress passed a resolution identifying the goal of prisons to be rehabilitation of inmates. Prior to that time, the primary function of prisons was considered to be punishment for those who committed crimes, and protection for society. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, and carrying through the twentieth century, the role of recreation within prisons has often been debated. While some feel that prisons should be for punishment and therefore there should be no recreation made available, others considered the primary function of recreation programs to be a means of increasing productivity and controlling behavioral problems. Some felt that recreation was necessary in order to occupy the minds of inmates, thus crowding out the evil thoughts that motivated criminal activity, while others considered recreation to be an essential tool through which individuals' creative and expressive talents could be developed (Byers, 1884; Codding, 1911; Johnson, 1989). Regardless of the motive, by the turn of the century, many correctional institutions provided access to a wide variety of recreation activities including sport, music, drama, and special interest clubs. Yet, as we enter the twenty first century, there are still many who feel that recreation services have no role to play within the walls of prisons. |