Eastern State Penitentiary: History and Significance

Introduction

• Eastern State Penitentiary was operated by Pennsylvania from 1829 to 1971.
• Initially, prisons were experimental; Eastern's separate confinement system was controversial and expensive.
• Reflects changing ideas about crime and punishment in America.

Early Punishments

• Before prisons, crime equated with sin; punishments included fines, public humiliation, flogging, branding, banishment, and death.
• Jails were for holding people pre-trial or pre-sentencing, not as punishment.

Enlightenment Influence

• 18th Century Enlightenment: Crime seen as a result of state corruption, not sin.
• Influential thinkers like Cesare Beccaria advocated for rational, humane punishments.
• Pennsylvania Prison Society: Advocated for humane treatment and reform of convicts influenced by English reformer John Howard.

Early American Prison Reforms

• Walnut Street Jail reforms: Separation of debtors and felons, solitary cells for serious criminals.
• Other states followed suit, reducing death penalty crimes and building prisons.

The Auburn System

• New York's Auburn Prison: Introduced the "silent system," requiring silence and group labor.
• Criticized for abandoning humanitarian ideals in favor of discipline.

The Pennsylvania System

• Eastern State Penitentiary: Funded in 1821, opened in 1829.
• Quaker-influenced design emphasized solitary confinement to promote penitence and reform.
• Architectural Challenges: Required isolation, plumbing, heating, and ventilation.

Criticisms and Controversies

• Critics pointed out the system's expense, inefficiency, and potential for abuse.
• Harsh punishments documented, including starvation, water baths, and the iron gag.
• Notable investigations revealed abuses and breakdowns in discipline.

Changing Demographics and Social Impact

• Concerns about crime linked to emerging lower classes and immigrants.
• Racial tensions and prejudices influenced inmate demographics.

Industrialization and Prison Labor

• Transition to Auburn's model allowed for prison labor on an industrial scale.
• Eastern struggled with productivity as the market for handmade goods disappeared.

20th Century Changes

• Overcrowding continued; Eastern became a maximum-security facility.
• Reforms introduced: Parole system, educational programs, some congregate activities allowed.
• Notable escapes and continuing discipline issues in the 1920s and 30s.

Mid-20th Century Developments

• Eastern's Closure: Officially closed in 1970, due to aged facilities and changing prison policies.
• Became a historic site, reflecting on the ongoing challenges of prison reform.

Conclusion

• Prisons still fail to reform or deter crime, with rising incarceration rates.
• America's prison philosophy continues to be challenged but remains largely unchanged.

Key Figures and Concepts

• Cesare Beccaria: Enlightenment thinker advocating for rational punishment.
• John Howard: English prison reformer influencing American reforms.
• Quakers: Religious group influencing Eastern's design and reform philosophy.
• Silent System vs. Separate System: Competing models of prison discipline.
• Charles Dickens: Notable critic of the separate system's impact on prisoners.

Modern Implications

• The challenges faced by Eastern State reflect broader issues of crime, punishment, and reform in society.
• Current trends show a continuation of historical patterns of overcrowding and ineffective reform.