History of Penal Reform

In the late 18th and early 19th century, why were many youth confined in jails and penitentiaries?

• They were all involved in serious criminal activities.

• There were no other options available for their confinement.

• They were all mentally ill.

• They were all from wealthy families.

Who were the pioneering penal reformers that organized the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism?

• Thomas Eddy and John Griscom

• John Adams and Thomas Jefferson

• Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton

• George Washington and James Madison

What was the primary goal of the Society for the Prevention of Pauperism?

• To increase the number of adult jails and prisons

• To oppose housing youth in adult jails and prisons

• To promote child labor

• To support the construction of more penitentiaries

When was the New York House of Refuge established?

• 1800

• 1825

• 1850

• 1900

What was the significance of the New York House of Refuge?

• It was the first institution designed to house poor, destitute, and vagrant youth.

• It was the first adult penitentiary in New York.

• It was the first school for juvenile delinquents.

• It was the first mental asylum for youth.

Which cities followed New York in establishing similar institutions after the New York House of Refuge?

• Chicago and Los Angeles

• Boston and Philadelphia

• Washington D.C. and Miami

• San Francisco and Seattle

What was the average number of youth in a house of refuge?

• 100

• 200

• 500

• 1,000

Which institution housed over 1,000 youth?

• Chicago House of Refuge

• Boston House of Refuge

• New York House of Refuge

• Philadelphia House of Refuge

What were Houses of Refuge primarily used for in the first half of the 19th century?

• Confining adult criminals

• Confining poor and delinquent youths

• Providing education to the wealthy

• Housing homeless families

What issues did Houses of Refuge quickly confront?

• Lack of funding

• Overcrowding, deteriorating conditions, and staff abuse

• Insufficient educational programs

• Lack of medical facilities