Prison Reform
By Clayton McHenry
Prisons In 1736-1819
There weren't really any prisons, only temporary jail cells, which held criminals temporary till they are hanged, or get whipped. There were 3 warnings for most crimes, till they get hanged for the third warning.
The Occurrence of State Prisons
After 1819, many states began to open state prisons. These prisons consisted of large cells containing multiple inmates in each cell, and giving them boozes. There was few activities that were available in these prisons, and escapes happened often.
The Auburn System
This system introduced a method of having inmates all have separate cells, and were unable to talk to other inmates when eating, or working. There were a few problems: overcrowding and insanity. Inmates were often chained together when working.
The Arrival of Juvenile Facilities
After the War of 1812, America decided to take children out of jail. They developed juvenile detention centers for children. This was pushed by reformist who realized children are in the same place with murderers and rapists.
The Goals of the Reformists
- Separate children, women and sick from prisons
- Improve Prison life
- Provide ability to change
- Reduce brutality
- Provide basic literacy
- Prison libraries
Leaders of the Reform
- Dorthea Dix-uncovered the horrid of the prisons
- Dr. John Galt- Started psychiatric hospital
- Louis Dwight- Spread of Auburn system
- Francis Lieber
- Samuel Gridley Howe
Achievements
- Two "best" prisons in the world in Pennsylvania
- Prison libraries
- Separation of children and sick
- Less brutality