A Society for Alleviating Misery

From the very first, reformers attempt to tinker with and affect the burgeoning institution of the prison. The Quakers, or members of the Society of Friends, are deeply involved in penal reform and play a crucial role in its development. In 1776, inspired by the work of the Quaker Richard Wistar, a group of reformers founds the Society for Assisting Distressed Prisoners in Philadelphia. In 1786, after a change in the penal code, convicts begin working in the streets of Philadelphia in chain gangs. Many people become concerned that the prisoners are being mistreated, and as a result, the first group focused on prison reform rather than just aid, and the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons, is established the following year. Many prominent citizens, including Benjamin Franklin, are active members.

As prisons are built in many cities and states, reformers and their organizations grow more numerous. It is important to note that they do not reject the idea of imprisonment but focus rather on specific conditions within the institution. Often these reformers assert their belief in the benefits of incarceration while calling for discipline and humanitarianism when dealing with inmates.

The Iron Gag Used at Eastern State Penitentiary, 1833