Punishments

• Silent system to more humane prisons

  1902- hard labour ended (crank/treadmill)

  1922- end of silent system- no solitary confinement, visits allowed

  1933- open prisons; prepare prisoners for normal life after prison; could leave during day to go work

  1967- Parole; good behaviour led to reduced sentences

  Reasons for change; return of reform ideas- influenced by Prisons Commissioner Alexander Patterson
• Alternatives to prison

  1907- Probation officers

  1967- Suspended sentences

  1972- Community service

  1990s/2000s- Electronic tagging

  Reasons; cost of prison was high, belief that environment could have a negative impact on inmates
• Treatment of young offenders

  1902- Borstals

  1948- Criminal Justice Act created detention centres

  1963/1969 Children and young persons acts- focus on caring; reduced age of criminal responsibility to 10

  1982- Youth custody centres replaced borstals

  Reasons for changes; focus on reformation; avoid negative impact of prisons
• Death penalty developments

  1900- death penalty available for 4 crimes

  1908/1933- hanging of under 16s/18s ended
• Miscarriages of justice

  1953- Derek Bentley witnessed the murder of a police officer by his friend. The judge ruled that Derek's comments made him guiltly of murder and sentenced him to be hanged. His friend was under 18 and couldn't receive the death penalty. He had a mental age of 10 and MPs and the public wanted the courts to show mercy. Protests took place. Derek was still hanged.

  1956- Ruth Ellis killed her abusive boyfriend and was hanged.
• Death penalty- Acts

  1957 Homicide Acts restrictions.

  1965 murder Act + 1969 Amendments ends use of death penalty.

  1998 final abolition.
• Reasons for changes to the death penalty

  Changing public opinion due to; miscarriages of justice, influence of religion, humanitarianism, influence of WWII
• Purpose of punishment

  Reform / rehabilitation increasingly seen by government as most important purpose. Deterrent still important especially to press and much of public.
• Individuals

  Alexander Patterson- influence on prisons and young offenders

  Roy Jenkins- Reforms on abortion, homosexuality and death penalty
• Science and technology

  Links to old crimes being committed in news ways, especially online but also terrorism

  Developments in alternatives to prison; electronic tagging