Religion and the Development of the American Penal System

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The book explores the development of penitentiaries and reformatories in Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts from 1820 to 1913, highlighting the significant impact of the American religious community on the penal system. It emphasizes the contributions of prison chaplains and utilizes primary source materials to assess how religious beliefs shaped the evolution of these institutions. The author argues that this transformation was not merely a historical trend but deeply intertwined with theological influences.