Reformatory
Reformatory, a common term for an institution that works to reform as well as to confine persons who have been convicted of a crime. The term is usually applied to correctional institutions for women and for young adult males who have been convicted for the first time. These offenders are considered by penologists to be more amenable to reform efforts than adult male repeat offenders. At one time federal and state prisons for women and first-time offenders were officially called reformatories, but they are now more commonly called “correctional centers.” Reformatories for juveniles are often called training schools, reform schools, and youth centers as well as correctional centers. Most reformatories give academic and vocational training. All reformatory inmates are eligible for parole.
The indeterminate sentence for a long time was an important part of the reformatory system in a number of states. The offender received a sentence of confinement for “not more than” a certain length of time, and an executive authority (such as the governor or a board) determined the actual length of the sentence, taking into account the inmate's behavior and response to the rehabilitation program.
John Griscom (1774-1852) was influential in developing the reformatory concept and in establishing the first reformatory in the United States, the House of Refuge in New York City, opened in 1820. Elmira Reformatory, in Elmira, New York, was the first state reformatory for young adults.