Quakers. The inventor of the penitentiary was William Penn, of Pennsylvania fame. The idea was to put people in a quiet place alone and allow them to become penitent before god. Penitent = penitentiary.
In other words, putting people in jail is religious torture. I'm surprised no one has tried to fight it on first amendment grounds.
Quakers. The inventor of the penitentiary was William Penn, of Pennsylvania fame. The idea was to put people in a quiet place alone and allow them to become penitent before god. Penitent = penitentiary.
In other words, putting people in jail is religious torture. I'm surprised no one has tried to fight it on first amendment grounds.