History of Correction in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History of Correction in America - Essay Example Another facility of correction known as Bridewell was constructed in 1775 that was placed in New York City Hall Park although it's the independent war interrupted its construction. New York State Legislature in 1788 enacted a law to construct another correction facility named Almshouse and named twelve commissioners to oversee the construction. The commissioners began the department of correction in New York and they opened the first state prison in 1788 known as Greenwich State Prison. In 1817 another correction facility known as Auburn was opened which expanded in 1821 by opening a new wing. In 1951, the institution for insane criminals was established on the Auburn prison ground. This was an idea of a group of reformers that thought they would start child savers by sending city children to live with farm families. Their idea brought about the establishment of the New York Juvenile Asylum. Almshouse Department was replaced by New York City Department of Public Charities and Correction in 1851. The department took control of the city's public welfare and correctional institutions. Ludlow Street Jail also known as New York Country Jail was established in 1862 and in 1863 another jail was built in Manhattan known as New York City's Fourth District Prison. This became the 57th street jail that was part of a court complex. Another correction facility named New York City's Seventh District Prison was established along Manhattan city's west side in 1865. New York City was authorized by the State Legislature to separate the Department of Public Charity and Correction in 1873. This separation brought about the Public Charities Division and the Correction Division. Society for the prevention of cruelty to children was established after the division and it prohibited the confinement of children at Almshouse. Elmira Reformatory was established in 1876 and it based its practices on the reform theory rather than punishment theory. 1 Louis D. Pilsbury was appointed the first Superintendent of Prison and was assigned the fully control and responsibilities of all state prisons. Under Louis leadership brought about the establishment of the house of refuge for women and enactment of the penal code that emended the children's law. (Whitehead, Pollock and Braswell, 2003) Still under Louis leadership as the superintended of prison so the establishment of New York City's Fifth District Prison in 1885 which was a multi-tiered structure that included a forty double occupancy and a dormitory that held fifty prisoners. (Whitehead, Pollock and Braswell, 2003) Modern correction has changed the ancient theories of correction and reformer thought of bringing good part of the society into the jails and prisons. They have incorporated education, religion, work, and self-governance in they correction as they are certain that this would eventually rehabilitate the prisoners. This has brought about the establishment of education programs, prison industries and vocational programs in the prisons. They have also been establishment of specialized prisons in the modern correction. The use of corporal punishment also came to an end. There has been Prisoner's Rights Movement that gives the prisoners rights of freedom of speech and religion