This article traces both the history and worldwide influence of a system of complete separation of prisoners from each other during their entire sentence and the unique architecture developed and instituted on a large scale at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia in 1829. Although not followed in other U.S. prison systems, the so-called Pennsylvania System was adopted, along with the architecture, in most of Europe, South America, and large parts of Asia until early in the 20th century. This article considers the successes and failures of the system and assesses its place in the history of corrections.
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