GOLDEN AGE OF

PENOLOGY
(1870 – 1880)
 The period from 1870 – 1880 was called the
Golden Age of Penology because of the following
significant events:
O In 1870, the NPA or National Prison Association or
ACA American Correctional Association was
organized and its first annual Congress was held in
Cincinnati, Ohio. In this Congress, the association
adopted a “Declaration of Principles” so modern
and comprehensive in scope that when it was
revised in 1933, little amendments were made.
O In 1872, the 1st International Prison Congress
was held in London. As a result of this congress,
the International Panel and Penitentiary
Commission, an inter-government organization
was established in 1875 with headquarters in
Hague, Netherlands.
O The Elmira Reformatory was considered as the
forerunner of modern penology, was opened in
Elmira, New York in 1876. The features of
Elmira were training school of institutional
program, social case work in the institution and
extensive use of parole.
O The first institution for women was established
in Indiana and Massachusetts in 1873 and 1877
respectively.
Two Rival Prison
System
in the History of Correction
 Auburn Prison System
O This is also called as “Congregate System”.
O The prisoners are confined in their own cells
during the night and congregate work in
shops during the day. Complete silence was
enforced.
Pennsylvania Prison System
O This prisons system is also called as “Solitary
System”.
O Prisoners are confined in single cells day and
night where they lived, they slept, and they
ate and receive religious instructions.
Complete Silence was also enforced. They are
required to read the Bible.
Prison System
During Early History of
Imprisonment
 Bridewell System
O Under this system and prostitutes were given
work while serving their sentences.
 Sing Sing Prison
O This became famous or rather infamous in the world
over and was plot of many movie film because of the
sing sing bath which was inflicted aside from
floggings, denials of reading materials and solitary
confinement. The shower bath was a gadget so
constructed as to drop a volume of water on the head
of a locked naked offender. This became frequent
when flogging was declared illegal in 1847.
 St. Michael System
O This emphasize the rehabilitative concept and
pioneered the segregation of prisoners and
forced silence to make the prisoners
contemplate their wrongdoings.