An account of the penitentiary, or State Prison, at Sing Sing, near New York, and of the discipline pursued towards the prisoners confined in it.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21504/saqj.12.2635Keywords:
Sing Sing Prison, Penitentiary discipline, United State - Prison reform, Nineteenth-century incarceration, American penal system, Moral rehabilitation, Prison architecture, Se:·ond Report of the Prison Discipline Society of Boston, Captain Lynds, Gerrish BarrettAbstract
In this detailed narrative, Captain Basil Hall recounts his 1829 visit to the State Prison at Sing Sing, New York, describing its architectural design, daily routines, and the unique system of silent discipline imposed upon inmates. Hall praises the American approach to prison management, emphasising the balance between strict order, moral reform, and productive labour. The report provides first-hand observations of the solitary cell structure, regimented schedules, and the moral influence of religious instruction under Chaplain Gerrish Barrett. Hall’s account offers valuable insights into early nineteenth-century penal reform and the evolving philosophy of incarceration, focusing on discipline, silence, and rehabilitation through structured routines.
Downloads
