These institutions reflected the realities of the state at the time: brutality, a lack of knowledge, unconcern for inmates, carelessness, misuse of religion, political infighting, apathy and selfishness.

[1] Hence, the book argues that efforts to reform prisons in pre-Civil War New York were usually overseen by those who weren't sympathetic towards inmates.

This resulted in significant changes to penal systems because of a wide spread movement to reduce or abolish corporal and capital punishment in many countries.

And this model influenced Thomas Eddy and Philip Schuyler, who visited the prison in 1796, to advocate for building a state penitentiary in New York.

[3] Mr. Lewis's research provides a detailed account of the prison administration's focus on utilizing inmate labor during this period.