THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF THE FIRST PRISONS, THE USE OF TORTURE TO EXTRACT CONFESSIONS AND AS A FORM OF PUNISHMENT, AND THE DEPENDENCE OF PRISONERS ON CHARITY FROM PASSERS-BY FOR THEIR FOOD ARE ASPECTS OF THE MEDIEVAL PRISON SYSTEM WHICH ARE DISCUSSED. THE TOWER OF LONDON, BRIDEWELL, AND OTHER WELL-KNOWN PRISONS ARE DESCRIBED AS THEY WERE DURING THE SIXTEENTH AND SEVENTEENTH CENTURIES. EARLY ATTEMPTS AT REFORM AND THE CONCEPT OF ALTERNATIVE PUNISHMENTS SUCH AS TRANSPORTATION OUT OF BRITAIN, ARE EXAMINED. CONDITIONS AT NEWGATE PRISON, ONE OF LONDON'S MOST NOTORIOUS, ARE DESCRIBED, AS WELL AS THE UPSURGE OF VAGRANCY AS A CRIME, THE PROLIFERATION OF DEBTORS' PRISONS, AND OTHER EIGHTEENTH CENTURY PHENOMENA. THE WORK OF SUCH REFORMERS AS ELIZABETH FRY AND JEREMY BENTHAM AND THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE PRISON CONDITIONS ARE VIEWED. NINETEENTH CENTURY GOVERNMENT LEGISLATION REGARDING PRISONS IS DISCUSSED WITH ITS VAST REORGANIZATION OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF PRISONS. THE GROWTH OF A SOCIAL CONSCIENCE AND GREATER PUBLIC CONCERN WITH PRISON CONDITIONS; THE CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMINALS AND SEPARATE TREATMENT FOR JUVENILES, THE MENTALLY DEFICIENT, AND OTHER SPECIAL CASES; AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN PRISONS ARE EXAMINED. THE INCREASED EMPHASIS ON ALTERNATIVES TO IMPRISONMENT AND ON REHABILITATION SINCE WORLD WAR II AND RESULTING LEGISLATION AND REFORMS ARE EVALUATED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX ARE PROVIDED.