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CC CH 3

Correctional History: The 17th - 20th Century

Chapter 3 Overview

The Walnut Street Jail

  • Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1773)

    • Initially operated as a jail and remodeled in 1790.

    • Regarded by many scholars as the "first prison."

    • Prison section was created based on reforms modeled after English and European jails.

Key Figures and Philosophies

Dr. Benjamin Rush

  • A physician, reformer, and signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

    • Led transition efforts through the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons.

    • Operation ideals rooted in Quaker beliefs emphasizing reflection on the Bible and non-violence.

Legislation and Philosophy

  • General Assembly of Pennsylvania (1789) enacted legislation based on Rush's recommendations.

    • Birth of the Pennsylvania prison system with a foundational philosophy of penitence aimed at reform and redemption.

    • Architectural designs were facilitated to support this philosophy.

Penitentiary Practices

  • As outlined by Roberts (1997), incarceration emerged as a form of punishment with a rudimentary classification system.

    • Inmates were provided individual cells for penance.

Challenges and Critiques

  • Ultimately, the realities of the Walnut Street Jail were starkly different from the intended reforms:

    • Overcrowding and institutional collapse led to deterioration by 1816.

    • Beaumont and Tocqueville (1831) noted significant issues:

      • Inmate corruption due to contamination.

      • General apathy and indolence within the system.

Newgate Prison - New York City

  • Model inspired by Walnut Street Jail, established in 1917.

    • Warden Thomas Eddy, a Quaker, pursued rehabilitation, religious redemption, and work programs without the use of corporal punishment.

    • Facilities included a prison hospital and school; however, overcrowding resulted in violent outbreaks.

The Pennsylvania Prison Model: Separate System

Western Pennsylvania Prison

  • Established in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1821) with less scholarly attention than its Eastern counterpart.

    • Designed for solitary and separate operations, prohibiting labor.

    • Inmates were kept isolated to minimize contamination.

Eastern Pennsylvania Prison

  • Built in Philadelphia (1829) to replace Walnut Street Jail; epitomized the Pennsylvania model.

    • Architect John Haviland designed large cells with running water and flushing toilets.

    • Initially, inmates were barred from work, with contact limited to clergy and vocational instructors.

    • The model aimed for reform but was criticized for inducing insanity in inmates under strict confinement.

Issues in Separation

  • Complete separation was intended, yet evidence suggested failure in execution.

    • An investigation by the joint committee of Pennsylvania Legislature in 1834 discovered numerous problematic issues with the separation model.

    • Ongoing debates highlighted its questionable value, leading to adaptations of the Pennsylvania model in other institutions despite serious issues.

The New York (Congregate) System

  • Preference shifted towards the New York model over Pennsylvania:

    • Disavowed solitary confinement after 1822.

    • Beaumont and Tocqueville (1833) advocated for solitary at night but silence during the day while working.

Notable Prisons

Auburn Prison

  • Located in Auburn, New York (built between 1816-1819).

    • Elam Lynds, a strict disciplinarian, became the first warden in 1821.

    • It implemented a congregate system with silent work, moving away from solitary confinement.

Sing Sing Prison

  • Modeled after Auburn Prison and built by inmate labor near New York City.

    • Notably referred to as "sent up the river" due to its location.

    • Communication between cells was allowed; the prison reproduced the Auburn model framework and was replicated across the United States.

Early Prisons and Jails

Lack of Reform

  • Beaumont and Tocqueville (1833) criticized various state prisons:

    • New Jersey flagged as vice-ridden.

    • Ohio was described as barbarous and New Orleans had deplorable conditions, with inmates housed with hogs.

Jail Conditions

  • Much worse conditions than prisons; structural inadequacies and lack of operation standards were prevalent.

    • The absence of reform was attributed to independently operated state systems.

The State of Prisons

Mid-19th Century Observations

  • Original prison objectives of reform seemed lost, noted violent and degrading conditions.

    • The causes of deterioration were debated between implementation and conceptual failings.

Dorothea Dix's Contributions

Evaluation of Prisons and Jails

  • A humanitarian and reformer known for her studies of prisons and jails (1843).

    • Conducted a study across several states focusing on conditions and advocated for the Pennsylvania model.

  • Found issues with overcrowding and understaffing, disputing inmate discipline and degradation.

    • Opposed long sentences for minor crimes, highlighting inadequate food and water.

The Failure of Reform

  • By the mid-19th century, prisons were no longer seen as reformatory institutions.

    • Investigative reports revealed alarming conditions: overcrowding and lack of supervision were rampant.

The 1870 American Prison Congress

  • Marked the first significant prison reform initiative.

    • Held in Cincinnati, striving to rejuvenate original ideals of reform and establish the Declaration of Principles.

The Elmira Reformatory

Initiatives and Strategies

  • Established in New York (1876) focused on rehabilitation principles and a graduated rewards system.

    • Zebulon Brockway led the initiative, integrating Maconochie's and Crofton's ideas.

  • Targeted younger inmates (ages 16-30) for educational and vocational training.

Constraints and Setbacks

  • Funding setbacks led the reformatory to revert to older practices.

    • The 'marks system' employed for discipline and encouraging reform, ultimately aimed at reducing sentences.

Developments in Corrections

Creation of Probation and Parole

  • Emerged in the first half of the 19th century as a strategy for community rehabilitation under supervision to decrease reliance on incarceration.

Southern and Northern Prisons

Distinct Trajectories

  • Southern prisons evolved post-Civil War due to changes in societal labor needs.

    • Substitution of prison labor for former slave labor significantly increased incarceration.

  • Northern prisons adapted similar structures to Auburn, maintaining control through stringent discipline, with little focus on reform.

Transformation into Industrial Prisons

  • By late 19th to early 20th century, contract systems evolved into industrial prisons.

    • Inmates worked under state or private contracts to produce goods for sale or state needs, although restrictions on labor arose due to union pressures and economic situations.

Correctional Institutions

Stateville Prison

  • Established in Illinois (1925) with a panopticon design responding to prior prison failures.

    • Intended as a correctional institution, it ultimately became a big house prison.

  • Characterized by the "convict code" under Warden Ragen's strict control.

Prevailing Themes in Correctional History

  • Funding concerns remained a crucial challenge throughout history.

    • Issues included securing adequate funds, effective use of inmate labor, and expenditure management.

Open-Access Student Resources

  • Available resources include quizzes, eFlashcards, Sage Journal Articles, and multimedia content at edge.sagepub.com/stohressentials3e.