Which facility is often cited as the first U.S. penitentiary?

• A. Sing Sing
• B. The Walnut Street Jail
• C. Alcatraz
• D. Eastern State Penitentiary

Answer: (B)

Understanding the origin of the penitentiary system in the United States and how early facilities shaped confinement and reform. The Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia, opened in 1773, is often cited as the first U.S. penitentiary because it represents an early move from simple holding jails to a purpose-built facility that used a structured regime aimed at reform. It introduced regular rules, scheduled routines, work, and a centralized approach to discipline, signaling a shift toward the idea of confinement as a means to reform behavior. This set the groundwork for later, more fully developed penitentiary models. While later institutions like Eastern State Penitentiary (noted for the separate-confinement system), and others such as Sing Sing and Alcatraz, are important milestones, Walnut Street is commonly recognized as the earliest step in the U.S. penitentiary movement.