Auburn Prison
Auburn Prison is a
prison located in
Auburn,
New York,
USA. Constructed in
1816, it was the first
state prison in New York, the site of the first execution via
electric chair, and the namesake of the "Auburn System," a correctional system believed to rehabilitate prisoners.
William Kemmler, who murdered his
common-law wife, was executed with the new device in
1890. Today, the prison is known as the
Auburn Correctional Facility. It is classified as a
maximum security facility and is located on State Street in Auburn.
|
The current front of Auburn Prison. Note the two guard towers on either side and Copper John on top |
The prison charged a fee for tourists in order to raise funds for the prison. Eventually, to discourage most visitors, the fee was increased.
Besides the history of the place, its best known locally for the statue of a colonial soldier atop the apex. For disputed reasons, this figure is called "
Copper John".
*
Robert Chambers, the "
preppy murderer"
In contrast with the purely reformatory type prison instituted in Pennsylvania, introduced by the
Quakers, the Auburn System modified the schedule of prayer, contemplation, and humane conditions with work.
Prisoners were compelled to work during the day, and the profit of their labor helped to support the prison. Prisoners were segregated by type of criminality into different locations within the prisons and by the use of special clothing. The traditional prison uniform, consisting of horizontal black and white stripes, originated in Auburn. The prisoners had their heads closely cropped and walked in lines, keeping step with their heads bowed. Each prisoner placed a hand on the shoulder of the person in front to maintain a rigid separation.
There was a communal dining room so that the prisoners could gather together for meals, but a code of silence was enforced harshly at all times by the guards. Thus the inmates worked and ate together, but in complete silence. At night the prisoners were kept in individual cells (even though the original plan called for double cells).
For several decades, this system was adopted by other jurisdictions. This system was also called the "Congregate System."
Sing Sing Prison, also in New York, was built using this system under the supervision of former warden of Auburn,
Elam Lynds.
