3.2.2
Punishment in Industrial Society 2
Prisons
Prisons
Prison became the main method of punishment during the Industrial Period and as a result, it saw huge changes.
![Illustrative background for The prison system](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/43e9c3d5-28d9-4a93-8b7c-dd3025a02280/shutterstock_753619510,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for The prison system ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/43e9c3d5-28d9-4a93-8b7c-dd3025a02280/shutterstock_753619510,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
The prison system
The prison system
- The prison system at the beginning of the Industrial Period was basic.
- Everyone was housed together; men, women, children, debtors and lunatics - regardless of the crime committed.
- Prison wardens were unpaid and earned money by charging the inmates fees for their cell, food, clothing and their release.
![Illustrative background for Conditions in prisons](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/601be67d-9d19-4f9d-bade-171d4f4f7ee0/fence-prison-hands-,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Conditions in prisons ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/601be67d-9d19-4f9d-bade-171d4f4f7ee0/fence-prison-hands-,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Conditions in prisons
Conditions in prisons
- The poor relied on charities to pay their prison fees whilst the richer inmates could afford a single cell.
- Prison was damp, dirty and a hotbed of criminal instruction which made it a very dangerous place to be.
![Illustrative background for John Howard](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/3fba2487-0107-4ee7-9e33-50edfe5b6f04/checklist-ticklist-tick-list-,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for John Howard ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/3fba2487-0107-4ee7-9e33-50edfe5b6f04/checklist-ticklist-tick-list-,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
John Howard
John Howard
- John Howard (1726 - 1790) inspected prisons in Bedfordshire and wrote a report in 1777 about the general state of prisons.
- He made a number of proposals about changes to the system including:
- Better accommodation.
- Changes to the fees.
- Improving diet.
- Paying prison guards.
![Illustrative background for Elizabeth Fry](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/12f870ee-f3bb-4421-864b-e29bc65289c0/elizabeth-fry,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Elizabeth Fry ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/12f870ee-f3bb-4421-864b-e29bc65289c0/elizabeth-fry,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Elizabeth Fry
Elizabeth Fry
- Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845) was a Quaker with strong religious views and her belief that everyone had some good in them led her to try to further reform prisoners.
- She visited Newgate Prison in London and was horrified to find inmates kept together regardless of crime. She aimed to deal with this and the exploitation of female prisoners by male guards.
- Fry established a school for children in Newgate Prison and set about teaching them useful work so they could get work when they left prison and avoid reoffending.
![Illustrative background for Separate and silent systems](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/1e7b6f2f-efb6-48ce-af8e-0e1448016941/prisoner,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
![Illustrative background for Separate and silent systems ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/1e7b6f2f-efb6-48ce-af8e-0e1448016941/prisoner,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Separate and silent systems
Separate and silent systems
- The 1830s saw the introduction of the separate system.
- The main principle was that inmates were kept in solitary confinement, contact with others was limited and the main aim was to reform prisoners by expecting them to complete useful work.
![Illustrative background for Changing attitudes to retribution](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/2bad0e1f-f6c3-4fae-9c28-7f48c353725b/silent,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
![Illustrative background for Changing attitudes to retribution ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/2bad0e1f-f6c3-4fae-9c28-7f48c353725b/silent,h_400,q_80,w_640.png)
Changing attitudes to retribution
Changing attitudes to retribution
- The 1860s saw attitudes move from reform back to retribution. Prisoners in the silent system were expected to remain silent at all times.
- Beds were replaced with harsh wooden bunks and better food was replaced with hard fare, which was a basic monotonous diet.
- Hard labour was also a feature, where prisoners would complete daily pointless tasks, like turning a crank, walking a treadmill or sometimes oakum picking.
1Medieval England, 1000-1500
1.1Changing Definition of Crime in Medieval England
1.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
1.3Case Studies From 1000-1500
2Early Modern England, 1500-1700
2.1Changing Definitions of Crime
2.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
2.3Case Studies From 1500-1700
318th & 19th Century Britain
3.1Changing Definition of Crime in Industrial Britain
3.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
3.3Case Studies From 1700-1900
4Modern Britain, 1900-Present
4.1Changing Definition of Crime in Modern Britain
4.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
5Whitechapel Local Study
5.1The Geographical Area & Living Conditions
5.2The People of Whitechapel
Jump to other topics
1Medieval England, 1000-1500
1.1Changing Definition of Crime in Medieval England
1.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
1.3Case Studies From 1000-1500
2Early Modern England, 1500-1700
2.1Changing Definitions of Crime
2.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
2.3Case Studies From 1500-1700
318th & 19th Century Britain
3.1Changing Definition of Crime in Industrial Britain
3.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
3.3Case Studies From 1700-1900
4Modern Britain, 1900-Present
4.1Changing Definition of Crime in Modern Britain
4.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment
5Whitechapel Local Study
5.1The Geographical Area & Living Conditions
5.2The People of Whitechapel
![Go student ad image](/en-GB/revision-notes/_next/image?url=%2Fen-GB%2Frevision-notes%2Fimages%2Fgo-student-uk-ad.jpg&w=640&q=100)
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered