Who invented the concept of jail or prison?

For most of history, imprisoning has not been a punishment in itself, but rather a way to confine criminals until a punishment (often corporal or capital punishment) was administered. There were prisons used for detention in Jerusalem in Old Testament times, and the Bible details the imprisonment of Joseph in Egypt. read more

The modern prison system was born in London, influenced by the utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham. Bentham's panopticon introduced the principle of observation and control that underpins the design of the modern prison. read more

Technically, the Walnut Street Jail, also in Philadelphia, came before Eastern State. The modern system, however, owes its roots to Eastern State — more than 300 prisons around the world take after its"radial" floor plan, which resembles a wagon wheel. read more