methods of punishment

• transportation and reasons for it

  act of 1678 sent criminals to Virginia, Maryland, west indies

  • alt to hanging
  • reduce crime + cost of imprisonment
  • reform through hard work
  • help colonise GB empire
• transportation to the USA

  banishment set up under transportation act 1717

  1718 - 1776 >30,000 GB prisoners -> USA

  ends 1776 with American war of independence

  • overcrowding in GB prisons

  sentences las 7/14 years or life
• prison hulks


  disused ships, emergency prison accommodation to hold prisoners awaiting transportation

  conditions were very bad: 1776 - 1778 >1/4 prisoners died
• transportation to australia


  discovered by captain cook 1770

  1788 - 1868 160,663 convicts transported >2,200 from wales

  ships 1st dock in Botany Bay 26th Jan 1788

  average 5 ships per year

  good behaviour - ticket of leave or conditional pardon

  work e.g. building roads
• welsh transport


  263 welsh women sent inc Frances Williams - stole laundry

  lewis lewis - merthyr rising leader

  John frost - Newport chartist

  dai'r cantwr - Rebecca riots
• the end of transportation

  1868

  not enough of a deterrent + expensive

  aus resented their country being used as a human dumping ground

  1839 New South Wales refuse to accept more criminals
• modern prisons


  categorised A B C D based on crime

  D = open prisons, relaxed regime, rehab

  fines for motoring crime
• alternate methods


  probation 1907

  suspended sentences 1967

  parole 1967 - reduce sentence for good behaviour

  community service 1972
• who was John Howard


  born 1726

  1755 captured by French pirates - 1st hand

  reformer
• what did JH find out/do

  journey across Europe to survey prisons

  wrote "the state of prisons in eng + wal"

  said welsh prisons in terrible state, Caernarfon = derelict
• what was JH proposals

  sound sanitary roomy spaces

  salaries for gaolers

  training to reform

  inspection of prisons

  solitary confinement
• what did JH achieve

  influenced MP Alexander popham

  gaol fever bill: prisons regularly cleaned, doctor, sickroom

  jail release fee should be abandoned

  jail fever continues - no funding
• who was sir George O Paul

  high sheriff of gloucester
• what did GOP find out/do

  1784 wrote "thoughts on the alarming progress of jail fever"

  concerned with Gloucester prison
• what was GOP proposals

  new style of prison

  worked with architect William blackburn
• what did GOP achieve

  gloucester prison act 1785

  prisons to fit 3 requirements

  • security - perimeter wall of 5.4m
  • health - well ventilated, exercise yards, bath + check up on arrival
  • separation - gender, gaol: awaiting trial, house of correction: minor, penitentiary: serious
• what did Elizabeth fry do/find out

  visited Newgate prison 1813

  found

  • overcrowded: 120 women in 1 cell
  • slept on floor
  • drinking + swearing
  • unsanitary
• what were Elizabeth fry's proposals

  reform prisons for women

  focus on work, education, religious teachings
• what did Elizabeth fry achieve

  formed association for the improvement of women prisoners in Newgate

  Ladies prison committees

  • ensure new rules
  • female wardens
  • schools
  • regular work