How did Jeremy Bentham influence the idea of the penitentiary?

Jeremy Bentham was a pivotal figure in the development of the penitentiary, advocating for prisons to function as institutions for both punishment and personal reform. His influence on penology is primarily defined by two key contributions:1

The Panopticon

In 1791, Bentham published designs for the Panopticon, a revolutionary architectural model for a prison. The structure consisted of a circular building with cells along the outer wall facing a central rotunda, where guards could maintain constant, invisible surveillance over all inmates. Bentham believed this design would ensure that "morals [were] reformed, health preserved, industry invigorated, [and] instruction diffused". While his specific design was not fully adopted at the time, its radial plan and emphasis on surveillance significantly influenced the construction of later penal institutions, such as the Stateville Correctional Center.234

Philosophical Advocacy

Beyond architecture, Bentham was a pioneer of prison reform who applied his principle of utility to legislation. He argued that because punishment is inherently an evil, it should only be employed when it promises to prevent a greater evil. Alongside reformers like John Howard, Bentham helped generate the public outrage necessary to push for a national system of inspection and the establishment of dedicated penitentiaries.41