Final answer:
Alexis de Tocqueville was sent by France to study American prison reforms, but his insights extended to a broader critique of American democracy, confirming that the statement is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alexis de Tocqueville was indeed originally dispatched by the French government to the United States to report on American prison reforms. However, his observations went beyond the prison system as he marveled at the spirit of democracy throughout American life.
While Tocqueville held concerns about American democracy given his aristocratic background, his insights extended into a broader social and political critique. On this basis, the statement that Tocqueville was originally evaluating our prison system is True.