City reforms included things like poverty reform. One step taken was to lower prices so that more people could afford things. Large poor houses were created, to rehabilitate and isolate the poor people. Not only did they reform poverty, but they also reformed its defenition to make the term poor, and poverty, a little less demeaning. People that tried to reform city and society turned to the making of penetentiaries, work houses, mental hospitals, orphanages, and reformatories, to deal with social problems. Before 1820, people used voluntary effort to deal with crime, now the cities were reforming that, making the town safer. People decided that it was time to try and protect the cities, and thought of trying to rehabilitate the criminals. Originally jails were made to hold criminals, before their punishment. Rehabilitation of criminals was the main plan for that time, and they tried that by instilling moral character, and discipline. Criminals were put to hard work, they were forced to read religous literature, and were reformed into law abiding citizens. The Asylums were basically made to house the poor and insane, and since the poverty rates were rising quick, it was a good idea to have these. People beleived that insane people could be healed if they were managed under strict conditions and environments. Work houses were created for the poor, to keep them busy and working hard. These houses banned them from drinking, gambling and idleness.