5. The Creation of the Modern Prison System
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, America shifted from ad hoc penal labor systems to more formalized institutions. Penitentiaries and reformatories emerged, promising rehabilitation but often perpetuating racial and economic exploitation through regimented prison labor. These facilities institutionalized practices that had begun during Reconstruction, further entrenching the connection between punishment and profit. For more on the evolution of prisons and their historical context, see Britannica.
