Crime and Punishment

Why was there a revolution in punishment and policing By 1850 the Bloody Code had been swept away Prison sentences became the most common punishment Professional police forces set up

What were the reasons for these changes? The work of reformers like Elizabeth Fry and Sir Samuel Romilly which persuaded Sir Robert Peel to make the changes abolishing the Bloody Code Rising crime and fear of crime Changing attitudes to the Code and punishment in general Government getting more involved

Why was the Bloody Code abolished by the 1830s? Public executions were not working Juries would not convict Ideas about punishment were changing

Reasons for transportation To provide a less harsh punishment that courts would accept To provide a deterrent To reduce crime by removing criminals To claim Australia To reform criminals Courts would convict Crime levels went up Australia clearly part of the British Empire Many convicts made fresh starts in Australia

The Changes in Prisons What were the problems in prisons before the changes?

Problems in Prison Gaolers not paid Debtors mixed with serious criminals New prisoners often had to make payments to cell mates Prisoners had to pay for their keep Prison cells often filthy & overcrowded Men & women prisoners mixed Old ships (hulks) were used to keep prisoners – high death rate

What changes were made to the prisons? A cell in Pentonville prison A hammock for sleeping A loom for working What does this tell you about changing attitudes to punishment?

Changes to prisons (2) New Pentonville prison, built in 1842 What can we learn from this about attitudes towards punishment?

Changes in prisons (3) Prisoner in his cell, working the crank Could be turned 20 times a minute, 10,000 times a day for over 8 hours What was the purpose of this?

Changes in prisons (4) Prisoners on the treadmill 48 steps a minute in silence, up to 9 hours a day What was the point ?

19 th century Prisons (5) Prisoners in exercise yard Wearing masks (blindfolds), walking in silence at intervals What was the purpose?

19 th century prisons (6) Picking oakum, pulling apart and cleaning a 3 foot length of tarred ship’s rope each day Worked in silence

19 th century prisons (7) Prisoners at a religious service They sit separately

Why did prisons change so much in the 19 th century? Separate or silent? Work – useful or pointless? Time off for good behaviour? What seemed to be the main attitude towards punishment after 1850?