Urban Underworld

In the richly detailed autobiography of a pickpocket and con artist named George Appo, editor Timothy Gilfoyle brings to life the happenings of New York’s opium dens, organized crimes, and prisons that encompassed the quickly changing criminal underworld of late nineteenth century America. In doing so, a comprehensive introduction and various supporting documents, which consist of investigative reports and depictions of Appo and his world, all connect Appo’s life story with the bigger picture of urban New York and in what ways crime changed during this time in history. The autobiography also examines aspects like race and class that may have led some people to a life of crime, and the encounters of incarcerations and criminal justice that helped to define the nation’s criminal subculture. George Appo, being in the middle of all of this newfound criminalization, ultimately, found himself becoming part of the criminal underworld as he partook in pick pocketing, green goods scams, etc, as well as found himself in and out of prisons throughout his life. Overall, Appo’s unfortunate fall into criminal activity is due, for the most part, to impactful social changes that were taking place during this period. The social changes that were the most important in leading to George Appo’s life of crime were because of the influx of thousands of Chinese immigrants to New York City every year which led to the surge of opium dens, brothels and

But, in seeking this goal, they sacrificed the prisoners’ liberty within the prison to the extent they went insane. Solitary confinement and beatings are two examples of the terrible conditions. The search for finding a way cure deranged men led to unjust treatment against democratic ideals even though the reformers were trying to improve their lives.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. Everyone knows that you can’t help someone unless they want to help themselves. When the prison system was first established, the possibilities in rehabilitation were nothing like they are

Crime is a timeless component of society. For as long as humans have existed among each other, crime has coincided. Throughout time, crime has taken many different forms, some much more subtle than others. Alphonse Capone, a first generation American-Italian born in Brooklyn, would dramatically redefine the nature of criminality. Al Capone was a notorious Chicago mob boss who played a crucial role in the Chicago Outfit as well as the bootlegging industry. Throughout his rise to power in the Chicago, Capone took part in many nefarious dealings that culminated in the creation of a undisputed “King of Crime” until his death in 1947. However, Capone is a timeless figure, his impact on Chicago and influence he’s had on the world of crime, continues to live on.

In part 3, Morris (2002, p.171) discusses why prison conditions matter and why penal reformers, including himself, have devoted their lives and travelled thousands of miles

The distressing experience of operating as a prison guard in such a notorious penal facility as New York State’s Sing Sing Penitentiary is one that is unlikely to be desired by one not professionally committed to the execution of prison uniformity. However, the outstanding novel written by Tom Conover illustrates the encounters of a journalist who voluntarily plunged himself into the obscure universe of the men and women paid to spend the better portion of their lives behind prison barriers. In Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing, Conover creates a noteworthy document resonating personal emotional occurrences that nonetheless suggest the cultural sensitivity of a true prison guard. From the standpoint of our studies

The History of prisons goes through many eras. Many of these eras have a major impact on today’s prison system. The different was that the system worked and didn’t work really showed what was possibly and what should not be tried again. Each era tried to do something new are recreate something that had already been done by making changes to the way that they treated the inmates all the way to how they were housed and how much contact they had with one another. The different eras gave the present day prison system many great things to think about. Such as large capacity housing so you can properly use all the space in the prison and hold it to capacity. There is also the parole system that gives inmates a chance to work get out early and spend the rest of their sentence on the outside. These many great traits that the prison system today has all come from the hundreds of years of trial and error that occurred throughout the world.

This led to “stagflation” and high unemployment.” This “stagflation” let to the discomfort and discontent in the prison system. Prisons felt the effects of this oil shortage as well and led to their want to further voice their opinions. But, as if theses conditions weren’t bad enough, we were also going through a political reform as well as dealing with the end of the “Great Society” era. Things were bad both inside and outside prison walls. Prisoners heard about the incredibly horrific conditions outside of their walls and believed that they should be allowed to do, or at least say something about it.

Prison reform was a viable aspect of the Reform Movements in the 1800s. Reformers wanted to evidently punish prisoners but they also wanted to make sure they maintained a sense of humanity. They did this by reconstructing prison systems, seeking ways to treat the mentally ill and more. Document A highlights the importance of good treatment to prisoners in order for them to be rescued and eventually work to become viable members of society. This document

In the Fourth Annual Report from the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the City of New York in 1829 (Document A), the flaws of the traditional system was flawed. Due to the flaws, new institutions were going to be constructed which “by religious and moral instruction,..and by giving them industrious and orderly habits, rescuing them from vice and rendering them valuable members of society”. This philosophy for helping prisoners become “valuable members of society” helps expand democratic ideals even in the illest members of

In the world, changes need to be made. Some people dedicate their lives to improving the world and making it a better place. In the early 1800s, one woman decided that the prison and mental health systems could be improved to be kinder and more effective institutions. She saw a change to be complete in the world and made it her task to recreate the prison and mental health systems in a new and superior style. Throughout the years, prisons and mental health asylums have changed greatly, especially concerning unfair prison treatment, the reform movement, and today’s important impact.

It is interesting to see how our prison came about. Through the years and centuries we have been trying to find the right way to deal with criminals. Yes, criminals where dealt with brutally and maybe too brutal for the crimes committed. Today someone can commit murder and get 25 years. I don't feel that during these 25 years the criminal will really get reformed. How many prisoners get out of prison and go back to society as normal people. It seems to me that they usually have been in prison for so many years they have trouble going back to society. The only way they know how to live is how they lived in prison. In prison they get a bed to sleep in, food and clothing and they don't have to work hard for it. So they are quick to commit another crime to go back there. Seeing this happen over and over I feel that you really can't reform our prisoners or the prisons they are locked up in. In Prays essay we

The Fourth Annual Report stated that prisons should separate the young from the old, as well as educate the prisoners with religious instruction (Document A). These reforms stem from rehabilitation as opposed to punishments. By teaching the prisoners how to live good lives, they would be able to succeed in society after serving their time. Rejoining society increases democratic ideals by keeping them out of prison in the future, thus increasing voters and bettering future society members. Another part of the prison reforms included the destruction of debtors prisons. Lower class members who could not pay off debts were put into prison, losing the ability to vote for the time being. This produced unequal elections. By removing debtor prisons, a more equal expansion of voting was able to take place. Stemming from prison reforms, progress was also made with the mentally ill. Previously, the mentally ill, which included a range from mentally disabled to depressed, were seen as embarrassments. Led by Dorothea Dix, improvements were made in the treatment of the mentally ill in asylums. Reformers informed the public of the horrible conditions of the asylums, in their fight for better treatment. They wanted the mentally ill to gain a more equal role in

It was handled through family and willingly efforts. Prisons were for criminals to serve time for punishment not for them to rehabilitate and eventually return to the community. Eventually, mentally ill people would end up in prison as well because there were no facilities for mental illness treatment. Reformers felt as though social issues could be redeemed by creating public institutions to particularly deal with social problems. The creating of public institutions was penitentiaries. The purpose of this institution was to transform the violent individuals into good citizens that abide by the law. This includes hard work, and religious teaching. Prisons began to disappear as reformers established workhouses to keep the poor, drunks, and gamblers on the right path. Soon after, the mentally ill treatment housing was

During this period the rise of urban gang rule and mobsters was unprecedented, mainly emerging from minority immigrant groups (Jewish/Italian/Irish). Initially the gangsters of the period were seen as high achievers as they were associated with the proletariat and seemed to be capable of rising above there roots, even during hard times in America, and achieve wealth. When considering the socio-economic factors it is easy to understand why such men were considered as "gangster-heroes"[3] who represented the people, however the only way that gangsters could achieve this wealth, subsequently fulfilling the American Dream, was by stealing it. " Accruing capital meant accruing power over others"[4].