3.3.1
Changes to the Prison System
Pentonville Prison
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.
![Illustrative background for Design of Pentonville](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/4637a9cb-e1ad-482e-8994-e7788ea9ea8c/pentonville,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Design of Pentonville ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/4637a9cb-e1ad-482e-8994-e7788ea9ea8c/pentonville,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Design of Pentonville
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.
![Illustrative background for The separate system](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a77d100a-24b1-499f-9fb3-bc2348141526/lonely-hand,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for The separate system ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/a77d100a-24b1-499f-9fb3-bc2348141526/lonely-hand,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
The separate system
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.
![Illustrative background for Activities in Pentonville](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/073811da-b1fc-435f-994e-724afc772c57/praying-hands-rosary,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Activities in Pentonville ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/073811da-b1fc-435f-994e-724afc772c57/praying-hands-rosary,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Activities in Pentonville
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.
![Illustrative background for "Useful work"](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/1.1.1 - Types of cells/weaving-2809829_640-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for "Useful work" ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/biology/1.1.1 - Types of cells/weaving-2809829_640-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
"Useful work"
"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
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.
![Illustrative background for The Gaols Act](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/e33fc859-4254-41e0-85b1-21e97e8b95fb/prison-guard-prisoner,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for The Gaols Act ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/e33fc859-4254-41e0-85b1-21e97e8b95fb/prison-guard-prisoner,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
The Gaols Act
The Gaols Act
- The Gaols Act applied to the 130 biggest prisons in the country and had a number of key principles.
![Illustrative background for Classifying prisoners](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/244ee6be-35e2-4111-b88f-8fc2eccad76d/prisoner-jumpsuit,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Classifying prisoners ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/244ee6be-35e2-4111-b88f-8fc2eccad76d/prisoner-jumpsuit,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Classifying prisoners
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.
![Illustrative background for Religious instruction](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/76457307-32d7-4d0d-b17e-613c5501dd0c/shutterstock_758935006,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Religious instruction ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/76457307-32d7-4d0d-b17e-613c5501dd0c/shutterstock_758935006,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Religious instruction
Religious instruction
- Attending church and receiving religious instruction would be a large part of the inmate’s time in prison.
![Illustrative background for Staff in prisons](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/eb8c0824-597f-4f91-a3e5-3d7b72ed69e0/prisoner-guard-prison,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Staff in prisons ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/eb8c0824-597f-4f91-a3e5-3d7b72ed69e0/prisoner-guard-prison,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Staff in prisons
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.
![Illustrative background for Hygiene in prisons](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/2.2.1 States of matter/water-glass-theme-water-16490-min-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
![Illustrative background for Hygiene in prisons ?? "content](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/courseImages/chemistry/2.2.1 States of matter/water-glass-theme-water-16490-min-min,h_400,q_80,w_640.jpg)
Hygiene in prisons
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
1.2Nature 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
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