d was turned into the city Register’s office. 1832 brought about theopening of the New York City Penitentiary on Blackwells Island. The AlmshouseDepartment is also created to operate the Almshouse, Bridewell, and the NYCPenitentiary. Five commissioners are also named to run the Department. The first stateprison matron is also hired at Auburn in 1832. In 1836 the Kings County Jail was started. This was before Brooklyn was part of New York City and therefore allowed the jail to beoperated under the jurisdiction of the Kings County Sheriff. In 1838 the Halls of Justice were finished after four years of construction. It wasdesigned as an Egyptian mausoleum, so the structure was very damp and dark. Manyother jails were also named after Egyptian influence. Next came the opening of NewYork’s Sing Sing prison for women in 1839. Eight years later, in 1847, educationprograms were started at Sing Sing. In 1848 a three-member “Board of Inspectors” wasstarted to be in charge of state prisons. In 1851 the Child Savers, a group of reformers that believed city children would besaved if they were sent to live with farm families, opened the New York Juvenile Asylum. New York then established the nation’s first institution for insane criminals. It was builton the grounds of the Auburn prison. In 1860 the new York City Department of PublicCharities and Correction replaced the Almshouse Department. This department now hadcontrol over the city’s public welfare and correctional institutions. In June of 1862 theNew York County jail was opened. It was also known as the Ludlow Street Jail. It wasthe replacement for the Eldridge Street Jail. In 1863 New York City’s Fourth District Prison was built in Manhattan. Itbecame known as the 57th Street jail which was also part of a court complex. In 1865New York City’s Seventh District Prison was built on the city’s west side. Corporalpunishment...
