The U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute was built in 1940 when President Franklin Roosevelt approved its location in 1938. One of the main reasons the penitentiary is located in Terre Haute is because the Chamber of Commerce raised $50,000 to buy the land for it to be built. The building of the penitentiary was important for Terre Haute citizens, because it would help the economy by supplying jobs. It is located at the intersection of State Road 63 and Springhill Drive on the south side of town. The prison holds only adult males. It is also the only federal prison to hold a death row. It was chosen to have a death row, because of its central location. One of the more famous prisoners to be put to death by lethal injection was Timothy McVeigh. Timothy McVeigh was responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing.
Furthermore, the U.S. Penitentiary was one of the first federal prisons to emphasize rehabilitation of offenders. Psychological and psychiatric treatments are provided, and prisoners are treated more humanely. They are referred to by names, not numbers. Also, education programs are provided to the inmates. The inmates are also given jobs through places like UNICOR, so they are not just sitting around all day.
The U.S. Penitentiary still stands in Terre Haute after 72 years. It is a formidable structure, that should scare anyone who even drives past it. I know I kind of get the chills when I drive past it, knowing that there are some very dangerous people inside. It is kind of ironic that one of Terre Haute's ugliest buildings is one that remains standing after all of this time. Who knows why people would want a federal prison with some of the country's most dangerous criminals in their backyard, but who knows why people in Terre Haute want a lot of things like the destruction of its greatest treasures. But, the point is, it is here if anyone is into looking at prisons for a tourist attraction!
Furthermore, the U.S. Penitentiary was one of the first federal prisons to emphasize rehabilitation of offenders. Psychological and psychiatric treatments are provided, and prisoners are treated more humanely. They are referred to by names, not numbers. Also, education programs are provided to the inmates. The inmates are also given jobs through places like UNICOR, so they are not just sitting around all day.
The U.S. Penitentiary still stands in Terre Haute after 72 years. It is a formidable structure, that should scare anyone who even drives past it. I know I kind of get the chills when I drive past it, knowing that there are some very dangerous people inside. It is kind of ironic that one of Terre Haute's ugliest buildings is one that remains standing after all of this time. Who knows why people would want a federal prison with some of the country's most dangerous criminals in their backyard, but who knows why people in Terre Haute want a lot of things like the destruction of its greatest treasures. But, the point is, it is here if anyone is into looking at prisons for a tourist attraction!
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