During what era was education and treatment considered luxuries in prisons?

The correct choice highlights the punitive era of corrections, which is characterized by a focus on punishment over rehabilitation or education within the prison system. During this time, the primary goal of incarceration was to inflict suffering and to deter crime through harsh treatment. As a result, educational programs and treatment options for inmates were often viewed as unnecessary luxuries rather than essential components of offender management.

In contrast, other eras, such as the rehabilitative era, emphasized the need for reform and personal development through education and therapy, recognizing their importance in reducing recidivism. The industrial era focused more on labor and work programs to keep inmates occupied, while the community corrections era moved towards integrating offenders into society with support systems, which also places significant emphasis on education and treatment. The punitive era stands out as one where those aspects were largely neglected in favor of strict, harsh confinement.