Doing Penance & The First Prison Cell

In 1790, after extensive renovations, a local jail in Philadelphia, Walnut Street, is reopened as a state prison for convicted felons. This new facility is greeted with great enthusiasm. It is considered the model for the Pennsylvania system and is often referred to as the first modern prison. The Quakers who establish Walnut Street are staunch critics of prevailing jail conditions — the fee system in which inmates are charged for amenities, the easy access to liquor, and the unsafe group housing. They believe imprisonment should both punish and reform criminals and that incarceration should take place within a comfortable, safe, and humane environment. Food, clothing, bedding, and medical attention are provided. The single-occupant cell design is more civilized, and prisoners now have ample time to study their Bibles, meditate, and do penitence — hence the term "penitentiary."

Despite its idealistic beginnings, Walnut Street soon runs into trouble. By 1816, overcrowding has led to violence and riots. The jail is closed in 1835.

Prison Cells at Sing Sing