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Union soldiers being held at Andersonville, a Confederate prison.

Union Prisoners Confined at the Confederate Prison at Andersonville

Union soldiers being held at Andersonville, a Confederate prison.

Assyrians flaying prisoners alive.

Assyrians Flaying Prisoners Alive

Assyrians flaying prisoners alive.

Castle Thunder, one of the Confederate prisons known for its abominable conditions.

Castle Thunder, Richmond, VA, Where Union Prisoners Were Confined

Castle Thunder, one of the Confederate prisons known for its abominable conditions.

A county courthouse and jail.

Courthouse and Jail

A county courthouse and jail.

HM Prison Dartmoor is located in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. Its high granite walls dominate this area of the moor.

Dartmoor Prison

HM Prison Dartmoor is located in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. Its high…

A Christian philanthropist who was a major driving force behind new legislation to make the treatment of prisoners more humane.

Elizabeth Fry

A Christian philanthropist who was a major driving force behind new legislation to make the treatment…

A prison; a place for the confinement of persons arrested for debt or for crime.

Jail

A prison; a place for the confinement of persons arrested for debt or for crime.

"And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound." Genesis 40:2-3 ASV <p>Illustration of Joseph in the prison with two of Pharaoh's officers. Joseph leans against the wall between the two men, his left arm raised as he speaks. He wears only a tunic. One prisoner (right), sits on a bench and hides his face, leaning away from Joseph. The other man (left) sits on a bench and looks up at Joseph with hands clasped as if begging. Three small steps lead to a wooden door on the left.

Joseph in Prison with the Cup-Bearer and the Chief Baker

"And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief…

The gaol was a colonial prison building for York County, Maine and served as a jail from 1719 to 1879.

The Old Jail at York

The gaol was a colonial prison building for York County, Maine and served as a jail from 1719 to 1879.

Saint Paul and Saint Peter in prison, one seated, both bound in chains. One man has a book on his lap. Five prisoners come before the two apostles, kneeling or holding their arms out to them. A small fountain erupts from the floor when Peter prays. The prisoners are able to be baptized in the fountain.

Paul and Peter in Prison, Baptizing Other Prisoners

Saint Paul and Saint Peter in prison, one seated, both bound in chains. One man has a book on his lap.…

"And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. And he called for lights and sprang in, and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:27-30 ASV <p>Illustration of the jailer kneeling on one knee at Paul's feet in the jail. Paul stands above him with arms open and Silas is sitting on a bench leaning toward and reaching out for the jailer. A lamp is burning on the ground next to the jailer's sword. The door to the jail is in the corner.

Paul and Silas in Jail - the Jailer Kneels Before Paul

"And the jailor, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was…

"And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands." Acts 12:7

Peter Delivered from Prison by an Angel

"And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter…

"And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him." Acts 12:9-10 ASV <p>Illustration of Peter being led out of the door to the prison by a glowing angel with wings. Inside the door, soldiers and guards are asleep on the floor inside an arched, domed prison. The city street opens into the distance.

Peter Emerges from Prison after Being Saved by an Angel

"And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought…

"And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and guards before the door kept the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shined in the cell: and he smote Peter on the side, and awoke him, saying, Rise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands." Acts 12:6-7 ASV <p>Illustration of Peter seated on the prison ground between two sleeping soldiers. An angel stands over him with his hand raised.

Peter Liberated from Prison Chains by an Angel

"And when Herod was about to bring him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers,…

"And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him." Acts 12:8-10 ASV <p>Illustration of Peter being led out of prison by the hand of an angel. Both Peter and the angel have one hand raised to heaven in praise and celebration. Sleeping guards sit on the ground.

Peter Released from Prison by an Angel

"And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And he did so. And he saith unto…

An illustration of a prison.

Prison

An illustration of a prison.

Firapell the Leopard reading the message from King Lion to pardon the wrongfully imprisoned Bruin the bear and Isegrim the wolf. The king pardons them after discovering Reynard's stories of treason were lies.

Reynard the Fox: Firapell the Leopard

Firapell the Leopard reading the message from King Lion to pardon the wrongfully imprisoned Bruin the…

"A rogue is caught - if him you'd safely find, / Fetter each limb, and then securely bind. / Dealing with slippery man that may do wrong, / Fast bind your bargain, make it sure and strong, / So that the wriggling, twisting he may make / Is vain, the contract strong, he cannot shake."—Barber, 1857

Safe Bind, Safe Find

"A rogue is caught - if him you'd safely find, / Fetter each limb, and then securely bind. / Dealing…

No prison is big enough for Boss William Tweed.

Boss Tweed is Too Big for Prison

No prison is big enough for Boss William Tweed.