Indiana State Prison

The Indiana State Prison is located in Michigan City, Indiana about convert|50|mi|km east of Chicago. [ [http://www.mapquest.com MapQuest: Maps, Directions, Gas Prices & Business Directory ] ] It is a maximum security prison for adult males; however, minimum security housing also exists on the confines. [ [http://www.in.gov/indcorrection/facility/spu/general.htm Indiana State Prison ] ] The average daily inmate population in November 2006 was 2,200. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN] The Indiana State Prison was established in 1860. [ [http://www.in.gov/indcorrection/facility/spu/general.htm Indiana State Prison ] ] It was the second state prison in Indiana. [ [http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/ihb/press/instateprisonpr.html IHB: 404 ] ] One of the most famous prisoners to be in the Michigan City prison was bank robber John Dillinger, who was released on parole in 1933. [ [http://www.hollywoodusa.co.uk/GravesOutofLA/dillenger.htm John Dillinger's grave ] ]

History

The history of the Indiana State Prison dates back to 1859 when the state legislature granted $50,000 for a new state prison [Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN. ] It was named “State Prison North”; as opposed to “State Prison South” which was the first state prison located in Jeffersonville, IN (and later moved to nearby Clarksville). [Bongen, Paula. “Indiana State Prison Timeline.” Indianapolis, Indiana Historical Society. ] The prison space at Jeffersonville became too scarce, calling for a new prison to be built in Michigan City. [Wilson, Helen. The Treatment of the misdemeanant in Indiana, 1816-1936. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1938] . Later, State Prison South became the Indiana Reformatory and State Prison North became known as Indiana State Prison. [ “Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.]

In 1860, convert|100|acre|km2 in Michigan City were purchased for $4,500. The first warden, Charles Seely, was the superintendent in charge of construction and was the general handy man. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.] The first building was the Temporary Prison Building which was convert|200|ft|m long and made of red brick. A year after Michigan City Prison opened, prison labor outside of the institution started; inmates were employed at a cooperage firm making barrels, receiving 38 cents a day. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.] The first prison school was started in 1861 where prisoners would learn from the chaplain five days a week. Later the prison started charging 25 cents per visitor to boost prison revenue. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.]

At the turn of the century, the prison was increased to twice its size. By 1930 prisoners were placed in two cell houses that contained 230 and 340 cells respectively, and three dormitories, which were considered among the best in the country. [Garrett, Paul W., and Austin H. MacCormick. Handbook of American Prisons. New York: National Society of Penal Information, 1929] During that same time period, convert|900|acre|km2 of farmland were in use by the prison on land leased by the stateGarrett, Paul W., and Austin H. MacCormick. Handbook of American Prisons. New York: National Society of Penal Information, 1929] . A hospital was built in 1943 that was almost convert|1000|sqft|m2. In the late 1950’s, arguably one of the finest state recreational facilities was opened at the prison. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.] From 1960 to 1990 only minor renovations were implemented at the State Prison. In 1992, a new type of food door with locking capability for each cell was designed. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.] A year later, the first hot meal was served in the dining room, and in that same year, the inmates received three meals a day for the first time. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.] Soon thereafter, a new riot system was put into effect in Dormitories E and F. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.]

Michigan City is known for having housed two famous inmates during its tenure. John Dillinger served as an inmate in 1929 and was there almost a year before he was paroled. Three years later, ten men escaped from the prison. The mastermind behind the plan was supposedly John Dillinger. [“Indiana State Prison History.” Available on request from Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, IN.] Another famous inmate was D.C. Stephenson. In 1922 Stephenson became one of the most powerful Grand Dragons of the Ku Klux Klan. In 1925 he raped a woman named Madge Oberholtzer. She died a month later from either poison or bite marks from being raped. That same year he was convicted of second degree murder and was sent to the Indiana State Prison for 31 years. [ [http://www.centerforhistory.org/indiana_history_main7.html Indiana History Chapter Seven ] ] Michigan City had a cemetery for prisoners when the prison first opened in 1860; however, that cemetery no longer exists. The new prison cemetery in Michigan City has around 350 prisoners buried on the premises. [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~inlpccem/cemeteries/Indiana_Prison/Indiana_State_Prison.htm Indiana State Prison Cemetery ] ] Sam Thomas was the first offender buried in the new cemetery on June 10, 1927. [ [http://www.rootsweb.com/~inlpccem/cemeteries/Indiana_Prison/Indiana_State_Prison.htm Indiana State Prison Cemetery ] ]

Before 1913 all executions in Indiana were done by hanging or lynching. On February 20, 1914, the first electrocution occurred. From 1913 to 1994 executions were performed via electric chair. Lethal Injection has been used in Indiana from 1995 up to the present [ [http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/death/deathrow.html Death Row ] ] . Currently all state executions of men must be carried out in the Indiana State Prison.

References