At the urging of New York Gov.
Alfred E. Smith, Lawes accepted the
wardenship of Sing Sing Prison in 1920 on the condition that it not be
a political appointment and he had complete oversight of the
institution. A staunch believer in prison reform and rehabilitation, he
remained warden there until 1941. Lawes consistently donated the income
from his books, films and popular radio shows to upgrades within the
prison.