Prison Cells is a photograph by Steve Gass which was uploaded on March 25th, 2017.
Prison Cells
A row of cells at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. Built in 1886, the Ohio State Reformatory was designed to humanely rehabilitate... more
by Steve Gass
Title
Prison Cells
Artist
Steve Gass
Medium
Photograph
Description
A row of cells at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. Built in 1886, the Ohio State Reformatory was designed to humanely rehabilitate first-time offenders, and was initially applauded as a positive step toward prison reform. However, conditions rapidly deteriorated. After 94 years of operation, the prison’s legacy became one of abuse, torture, and murder. Denounced by civil rights activists for its "brutalizing and inhumane conditions,” the prison eventually shut down in 1990. The imposing architecture, modeled to resemble Old World German castles and Victorian Gothic churches, succinctly conveys the atmosphere of the prison. Inmates recall deplorable conditions, including rats, inedible food, and disease. Violence among prisoners was an everyday way of life.
Uploaded
March 25th, 2017
