Religion and the Development of the American Penal System

Between the years of 1820 and 1913, penitentiaries and reformatories came to be in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts. The rise of these institutions is not simply a result of historical and theological trends, but was directly influenced by the American religious community. Drawing on various primary source materials, the author evaluates the influence of the religious community on the American penal system, with specific emphasis on the role of prison chaplains.