How was a penitentiary different from earlier prisons?

A penitentiary differed from earlier prisons primarily in its focus on rehabilitation rather than mere punishment. While earlier prisons often emphasized confinement and labor, penitentiaries aimed to reform inmates through structured programs, solitary confinement, and moral instruction. This shift reflected a growing belief in the possibility of rehabilitation and the moral responsibility of society to reform offenders. Additionally, penitentiaries typically offered a more organized environment with a distinct separation of inmates based on their crimes and behavior.