A Vindication of the Separate System of Prison Discipline from the Misrepresentations of the North American Review, July, 1839

A Vindication Of The Separate System Of Prison Discipline From The Misrepresentations Of The North American Review, July, 1839 by Frederick Adolphus Packard. This pamphlet defends the Pennsylvania separate confinement system against criticisms published in the July 1839 North American Review. Packard argues that insulation of prisoners is attainable with proper vigilance, citing reports from the Western and Eastern Penitentiaries, and rebutting witnesses such as Newcomb and Robbins as biased or misrepresented. He contrasts the Pennsylvania plan with the Auburn system, asserting that total solitude, though strict, best prevents contamination, and that keeping prisoners apart enables religious instruction and marketable trades to promote reform. The work surveys legislative reports and international authorities (Britain, France, Prussia, Belgium) who generally favor separation for moral and reformative ends. It also addresses health, cruelty, and cost, contending that abuses found in other systems are not inherent to solitary confinement. Overall, Packard argues that separate confinement is humane, practical, and superior for reform and public safety.