industrial punishment

• Number of capital crimes increased (Bloody Code)
• in 1688 were 50 capital crimes
• in 1810 there were 222 capital crimes
• attitudes changed - bloody code not working.
• Judgement of Death Act 1823

  Judges could change death penalty to prison or transportation (unless crime was treason or murder)
• Punishment of Death Act 1832


  Cut number of capital crimes to 60
• Capital Punishment Amendment Act 1868


  Ended public execution
• Prison was the main punishment at the end of industrial times
• Prison


  • Allowed people to reform
  • Was a strong deterrent
  • Society was safer with prisoners locked up
  • Prisoners had to pay for almost everything as guards weren't paid (had to pay for food and to be released etc)
• Prison reformers -> John Howard and Elizabeth Fry
• Separate System (Prison Act 1834)


  1. Allowed out for an hour a day (had to wear a mask)

  2. Increased suicide rate (felt isolated)

  3. Slowly became the silent system
• Robert Peel


  1. Cut the Black Act (hanged for poaching)

  2. Ended the Bloody code

  3. Passed the Gaols Act 1823 which introduced many of Howard's and Fry's ideas

  4. Prison Act 1835 - Prison inspections

  5. Created Metropolitan police (MET)