THE ORIGINS OF THE PRISON SYSTEM IN AMERICA, EARLY THEORIES OF CORRECTIONS AND METHODS OF PUNISHMENT, AS WELL AS EARLY EFFORTS AT REFORM AND IMPORVEMENT OF PRISONERS' CONDITIONS, ARE OUTLINED. EMERGING HUMANITARIAN THOUGHT AND CHANGING IDEAS IN ALL AREAS OF SOCIETY HAD AN IMPACT ON PENOLOGY AND THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. EXPANSION OF THE SYSTEM FROM THE NORTHEAST TO THE SOUTHERN AND WESTERN STATES AND VARIATIONS IN CONSTRUCTION, REGIMEN, AND OVERALL PHILOSOPHY AMONG REGIONS ARE DISCUSSED. WIDESPREAD HUMANITARIAN MOVEMENTS GAINED IMPORTANCE IN THE POST-CIVIL WAR ERA, AND THE CONCEPT OF THE REFORMATORY WON SUPPORT. THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION SAW THE INCREASED USE OF CONVICT LABOR AND THE GROWTH OF PRISON FACTORIES. EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS FOR PRISONERS FOLLOWED. THE STATE OF PRISONS BY THE 1890'S IS EVALUATED, INCLUDING PRISON MANAGEMENT, STANDARDS OF LIVING, AND DISCIPLINE. A CHAPTER ON THE DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTHERN PRISONS LOOKS AT CHAIN GANGS, RACISM, AND BRUTALITY. PRISONS IN THE GREAT WEST EVOLVED FROM THE 'MAKESHIFT PENOLOGY' OF THE TERRITORIES. THE TWENTIETH CENTURY BROUGHT NEW VIEWS ON REHABILITATION AND CLASSIFICATION AND AN INTEREST IN PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING. WITH THE 1950'S AND 1960'S CAME CONFRONTATION, RIOTS, CONCERN WITH PRISONERS' RIGHTS, AND A SEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION. PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE ARE PROJECTED. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED, AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTES FOLLOW EACH CHAPTER.