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Walnut Street Jail Expansion
The first penitentiary in the United States following penitentiary ideals, such as single cells, personal crafts, isolation 'from temptation', aiming to reform rather than punishment. Quakers played a large role in the facility's design and application, originating in Philadelphia in 1790. -
Pennsylvania System
AKA the Separate System.Prison system where inmates had separate cells and never interacted with other inmates or people outside of the prison. The methods were based on solitary confinement in efforts to promote penitence and reformation. -
Auburn State Prison
Auburn State Prison, located in Auburn New York, opened in 1816. Auburn shifted into the model for prisons in the United States, due to its silence, group labor, and corporal punishment system. -
Auburn System
The Auburn System reflected the change in the Pennsylvania system of solitary confinement. These systems differed because the Auburn System allowed prisoners to work during the day and only be in solitary cells at night. Yet, the prisoners were still forced to remain silent at all times. -
The New York House of Refuge
Established in New York in 1825, this institution was the first separate institution for juvenile offenders. -
Eastern State Penitentiary
One of the first penitentiaries where the separate system was implemented. Located on Cherry Hill in Philadelphia, the prisoners were "in cells 16 feet high, nearly 12 feet long, and 7.5 feet wide." Though the cells were large many inmates suffered immensely from the extreme isolation. -
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Jacksonian era
Period of 1829–1837, marked by the presidency of Andrew Jackson, rising industrialism, a shift from agrarian to industrial economics, and a growing division between the North and the South. Really marked the construction of penitentiaries on a large scale. -
Sing Sing Penitentiary
Established in Ossining, New York, and initially using the auburn prison system. In 1839 the first steps to improve conditions for female inmates happened here. At this penitentiary, the female inmates were actually guarded and attended by matrons and female supervisors. -
New York Prison Association (NYPA)
The New York Prison Association (NYPA), was established to dig deeper into the cause of crime. This reform movement wanted to focus on the societal circumstances that increase the rate of crime. NYPA also began to assist prisoners with adjusting to free life after the end of their sentence. -
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Reconstruction era
Following the American Civil War, there was a more devoted focus on prison reform. -
Elmira Reformatory Facility
The Elmira system was different from other prisons as it had a concentration on psychological methods as opposed to physical as a means of reform. Instead of labor, silence, and obedience, prisoners were given indeterminate sentences and were allowed more self-discipline.