Changing the Narrative of Incarceration: Ethical Interpretation of Prison Museums

Authors:

• Devon Bond, Museology Graduate Program
• Chair: Jessica Luke
• Dan Berger
• Sondra Snyder>

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Abstract:

U.S. prisons have historically been sites of debate, contestation, and uprising. Historic prison museums are part of the dialogue around the U.S. penal system. In the past, these museums have been criticized for upholding and reinforcing existing mechanisms of power, control, and classification, but more recently they are attempting to prioritize access, discourse, and social responsibility. The purpose of this research study was to investigate if and how historic prison museums engage visitors in thinking about contemporary issues of incarceration. The study was designed as a descriptive survey. A total of 55 adults were interviewed, 32 at Old Idaho Penitentiary, Boise, ID, and 23 at Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA. Results demonstrate that adults visiting prison museums do think about contemporary issues of incarceration during their visit, issues such as the daily lives of incarcerated people, mental health of prisoners, the death penalty, and issues of race. However, the ability of prison museums to challenge visitors’ mind-sets around incarceration was limited. Prison museum staff can use the results of this study to advance institutional goals towards ethical interpretation of the site. Additionally, museum staff can use the results of this study to better understand how to engage visitors in other controversial or politically sensitive issues.