Changes to the Prison System

Pentonville Prison

The building of Pentonville Prison was a turning point in the use of prisons as it aimed to reform its inmates rather than just being designed to deter as prisons had been previously.

Design of Pentonville

Pentonville was designed with a central area and the prison wings were spokes from the centre so that there could be fewer guards required to run the prison.

The separate system

The prison was based on the principle of the separate system, where prisoners spent the majority of their time alone and in their cells, in order to keep them away from the influence of other criminals.
The separate system was effective in isolating prisoners but it also led to many going mad, nervous breakdowns and even suicide amongst inmates.

Activities in Pentonville

Prisoners exercised in the yard wearing masks to avoid them being able to communicate with others.
Religious instruction was a large part of life in Pentonville and the chapel was constructed with boxes for inmates to sit in whilst in Church to again avoid contact with others.

"Useful work"

Cells contained a bed and weaving loom for work.
Prisoners did ‘useful work’ in order to prepare them for when they were released. This cell design made a separate prison extremely costly to build.

Robert Peel and the Gaols Act, 1823

The main principle behind Peel's ideas was to reform prisoners and make them less likely to reoffend once they were released.

The Gaols Act

The Gaols Act applied to the 130 biggest prisons in the country and had a number of key principles.

Classifying prisoners

Prisoners were to be classified according to their crimes, so the most hardened criminals would not be housed with first time offenders.
Male and female prisoners would also be separated.

Religious instruction

Attending church and receiving religious instruction would be a large part of the inmate’s time in prison.

Staff in prisons

Prison warders were to be paid and local magistrates would have to visit regularly to ensure that warders were doing a good job.

Hygiene in prisons

The Gaols Act stated that prisoners should have access to fresh water, fresh air and good food.

1Medieval England, 1000-1500

1.1Changing Definition of Crime in Medieval England

1.1.1Early Medieval Society

1.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

1.2.1Enforcing the Law in Medieval Society

1.2.2Punishments in Medieval England

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Medieval Society

1.3Case Studies From 1000-1500

1.3.1The Church

1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Church

1.3.3Grade 9 - Medieval England

2Early Modern England, 1500-1700

2.1Changing Definitions of Crime

2.1.1Early Modern Society

2.1.2Crime in the Early Modern Period

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Crime

2.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

2.2.1Punishments in Early Modern Society

2.2.2Law Enforcement in Early Modern Society

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Law Enforcement

2.2.4Grade 9 - Early Modern England

2.3Case Studies From 1500-1700

2.3.1Key Individuals

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies 1500-1700

2.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies From 1500-1700

318th & 19th Century Britain

3.1Changing Definition of Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.1Society in Industrial Britain

3.1.2Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Industrial Britain

3.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

3.2.1Punishment in Industrial Society

3.2.2Punishment in Industrial Society 2

3.2.3Policing in the Industrial Period

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment

3.3Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.1Changes to the Prison System

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.3Grade 9 - 18th & 19th Century

4Modern Britain, 1900-Present

4.1Changing Definition of Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.1Society in Modern Britain

4.1.2Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Modern Britain

4.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

4.2.1Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.2Attitudes Towards Punishment

4.2.3Capital Punishment

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.5Grade 9 - Modern Britain

4.3Case Studies 1900-2000

4.3.1Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.2End of Topic Test - Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies 1900-2000

5Whitechapel Local Study

5.1The Geographical Area & Living Conditions

5.1.1Accommodation in Whitechapel

5.1.2Living Conditions

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Whitechapel Local Study

5.2The People of Whitechapel

5.2.1Alcohol & Immigration

5.2.2Prostitution

5.2.3Racial Tensions

5.2.4End of Topic Test - The People of Whitechapel

5.2.5Grade 9 - Whitechapel

5.3Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.1The Police Force in Whitechapel

5.3.2Jack the Ripper

5.3.3Challenges Facing the Police

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.5Grade 9 - Policing Whitechapel

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