Pentonville prison

• During which period were people particularly worried about rising crime rates?

  Victorian period (1837-1901)
• What was the public's attitude towards prison as a punishment during the Victorian period?

  They increasingly supported prison as a punishment
• When was Pentonville Prison built?

  1842
• What was the purpose of the 'separate system' implemented at Pentonville Prison?

  To keep prisoners separate from each other
• What was the intended benefit of giving prisoners solitude in the separate system?

  To reflect on their actions and increase the likelihood of reform
• How many prisoners could Pentonville Prison accommodate?

  520 prisoners
• What were the dimensions of the cells in Pentonville Prison?

  4m by 2m
• What basic facilities were provided in the cells at Pentonville Prison?

  Heating, ventilation, plumbing, and a toilet
• Why were prisoners not allowed to leave their cells?

  To prevent them from seeing or speaking to each other
• What type of work were prisoners required to do at Pentonville Prison?

  Repetitive and boring work, such as oakum picking
• What did oakum picking involve?

  Unravelling old rope
• What measures were taken to prevent interaction between prisoners during exercise or chapel?

  Elaborate systems such as face masks
• What mental health issues did many prisoners suffer from due to lack of human contact?

  Depression and psychosis
• Who raised concerns about the mental health of prisoners?

  Reformers like Elizabeth Fry
• How did prison conditions change later in the 19th century?

  They became harsher and focused on punishment rather than rehabilitation
• What phrase was declared regarding the treatment of prisoners later in the 19th century?

  "Hard labour, hard fare and hard board"
• What did "fare" and "board" refer to in the context of prison conditions?

  Fare meant food, and board meant sleeping on wooden boards