Prisons

Revolution in prisons

Why was there a revolution in prisons during the Industrial Revolution? 

• Transportation was not the only alternative to hanging.
• Some people  thought that imprisonment was a better alternative.
• There were major problems in prisons.
• 1783. Sir George Paul, the sheriff  of Gloucestershire was keen to reform prisons.
• Problems:  
  • Many prisoners who were not found guilty could not  get out because they could not afford the discharge fee.
  • Warders were unpaid.
  • Few warders were in the debtor's prisons -prisoners could not be forced to do anything.
  • Some prisons where mixed with serious criminals & debtors-warders let the criminals have the same privileges as the debtors.
  • Prisoners already in the cell took control over new prisoners.
  • Prisons were mixed of men and women.
  • Prisons were dangerous. 
  • schools for crime - turning young prisoners into hardened criminals.
  • Conditions were so bad-many prisoners  died of disease.
• Changes in the 1800's:  
  • 1750 - Prisons played a big  role.
  • 1770 - John Howard's survey showed that there were only 4000 people in prison in the whole country 60% of them were debtors.
  • Over the next 100 years that were major changes: Imprisonment became the normal method of punishing crime.
  • Reforming prisoners became an aim of punishment.
  • The huge increase in prisoners led…