Оборнская тюрьма: История бунтов и строгого режима

Maximum security state prison in New York, US

Auburn Correctional Facility is a state prison on State Street in Auburn, New York, United States. It was built on land that was once a Cayuga village. as Auburn Prison, it was the second state prison in New York (after New York City's Newgate, 1797–1828), the site of the first execution by electric chair in 1890, and the namesake of the "Auburn system," a correctional system in which prisoners were housed in solitary confinement in large rectangular buildings, and performed penal labor under silence that was enforced at all times. The prison was renamed the Auburn Correctional Facility in 1970.

Auburn has "a long history of controversy, scandal, and riot." It has been the site of several notable riots over the years, including November 1820 and a race related riot in 1921. The most serious were two related incidents in the summer and winter of 1929. On July 28, 1929—only a week after a similar incident at Clinton Prison in Dannemora—inmates sprayed acid in an officer’s face and gained access to the prison's armory. Prison shops were set on fire, six buildings were destroyed, and four prisoners escaped. Two inmates were killed and one wounded, and five officers were injured. Later that year, on December 11, Warden Edgar Jennings and six guards were taken hostage by a group of inmates, some of whom had obtained guns in the July riot and concealed them in the interim. This uprising caused the death of Principal Keeper George A. Durnford as well as eight prisoners. Three inmates were later charged, convicted, and executed at Sing Sing for their roles in the riots. On November 4, 1970, inmates succeeded in seizing control of the facility and held 50 people, including guards and outside construction workers, hostage for more than eight hours. The incident was attributed to increasing racial tensions and to prisoners' rights being violated.

Copper John is a statue of an American Revolutionary War soldier that stands atop the Auburn Correctional Facility. It has entered the local lexicon as a reference to the prison and aspects of it, for example, getting sent to Auburn Prison is "going to work for Copper John." "John" was originally a wooden statue that was erected atop the administration office of the prison in 1821. In 1848, the statue had weathered so much that it was taken down and a new statue was made out of copper by the prisoners in the prison foundry. In 2004, the New York state government became aware that the statue was fashioned to be "anatomically correct" and ordered the statue to be "incorrected". Some correctional officers made an impromptu protest by passing out T shirts showing the iconic statue and reading "Save Copper John's Johnson"; but the statue was nonetheless removed, his penis was filed off, and remounted in August.

The warden was an administrative position appointed by the New York State Commissioner of Correction. Currently, the heads of all New York State correctional facilities are termed "superintendent". William Britten (warden) (?–1821) 1816–1821. He was a master carpenter and builder of the prison. He became the first warden. Elam Lynds (1784–1855) 1821–1825 (first term). He was also a principal keeper. J. Warren Mead February 1, 1897 – February 1, 1905, 14 executions. Charles K. Baker (acting) February 1, 1905 – December 15, 1905, 1 execution. George W. Benham December 15, 1905 – May 26, 1913, 24 executions. Charles F. Rattigan May 26, 1913 – May 1, 1916, 9 executions. Brigadier General Edgar S. Jennings 1929. John L. Hoffman 1930. He had a heart attack while in office and retired. Frank L. Heacox (1876–1953) 1930 (acting warden). John F. Foster 1944–1950. Robert E. Murphy 1950–1963. John Deegan (warden) 1969–1971. Harry Fritz (warden) 1971–1974. Robert J. Henderson 1974–1989. (as warden)
Hans G. Walker 1989–2002. (as superintendent)
John W. Burge 2002–2006. (as superintendent)
Harold D. Graham 2006–2018. (as superintendent). Timothy "GAR" McCarthy 2018 – March 10, 2022. (as superintendent)
Joseph E. Corey March 17, 2022 – present (as superintendent)

The principal keeper operated the prison on a day to day basis. Many went on to become wardens. Elam Lynds (1784–1855) circa 1825.