the Department of Charities became theWelfare Department.In 1900 Eastern prison opened. Its actual construction began in 1894. In 1921Eastern became the Institute for Defective Delinquents Then some years later it went backto its original function as a reformatory for young inmates. In more modern days it turnedinto a maximum-security prison for male felons and also a medium-security prison thathoused 180 inmates. There is also much history of corrections all over the nation dating back to the1700’s. It seems that until the late 1700’s prisons were horrible places. They wereunclean and unsafe. Prisoners received improper food and care, corporal punishment andphysical torture were used on a regular basis. The 19th century brought about many newdevelopments in America. America was the first nation to hold convicted criminals areasaway from those awaiting trial. America also outlawed torture and corporal punishment,which was mentioned earlier in New York’s history. Americans brought about two main developments. The first was the PennsylvaniaSystem. This included the Walnut street Jail which housed one inmate per call. It wasalso based on the plan for housing monks in a monastery. The Pennsylvania system alsostarted the idea of constant solitary confinement. This idea was not very popular. Theprisons took up too much space and did not house enough prisoners. They also did notallow for group work or living. Next was the Auburn system, started by the Auburn prison in New York. Thissystem is known for its tier or congregate system. The prisoners were all in the sameareas for meals, exercise, and work. The philosophy of this system was based on fear ofpunishment and silent confinement. Silence was always required and punishment was theresult if the rule was broken. This system was preferred over the Pennsylvania systembecause it allowed for prison labor. The Auburn system was cheaper because morepriso...
