Assessing Contemporary Imprisonment through the History of 19th Century Prisons

This essay explores the evolution of the UK prison system from the 19th century to the present day, and assesses what can be learned about contemporary imprisonment from the history of 19th century prisons. It covers the different types of prisons, their management, and the changes in the system over time. The essay also discusses the current state of the UK prison system, including concerns such as overcrowding and staff shortages.

Assess what can be learned
about contemporary
imprisonment from the
history of the 19th century
prison

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK...............................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
The behaviour of the criminal as well as the crime can be studied by the help of
criminology based on various related factors. Criminologist in order to come to on
conclusion studies various aspects such as their reason behind the commitment of such
act, characteristics of the people who commit crime, the probable effects as well as
different methods for the prevention of the same. Moreover criminology is just an study
of crime whereas on the other hand the application of the aspects of criminology is
addressed as criminal justice. The criminal justice helps in ascertaining whether the
concerned person stands accused or not and accordingly one is being subject the
punishment where one of the common way is of the imprisonment and fines(Calkin,
2021). The following essay is based on the contemporary imprisonment from the history
of the 19th century prison along with the comparison with current prevailing system.
TASK
The term prison has been acquired from Latin term which in simple terms means to
seize. Further as per the dictionary of Oxford English, the term has been defined as the
any place which stands efficient for the receipt of the individuals who by the due
process of the law has been subjected to certain imprisonments or are asked to be put in
safe custody till the pending of the punishment. The prison system of the United
Kingdom has made a great progress with the evolution of the time and most importantly
with the emerging categories of the crimes. Earlier in nineteenth century the prison
system of the country was very much complicated. Mainly the prisons were bifurcated
into two major heads which are the local prisons and the convict prisons. Where the
convict prisons were subjected under the direct control of the home office. Whereas the
local prisons were managed and controlled by the whole host of different local
authorities from countries until the Act of 1877 Prisons Act(Clark, 2021. Furthermore
in the convicts prisons the types included are the public works prisons, penitentiaries
and the prison hulks whereas on the other hand the Goals, lock-ups and the bride wells
are included in the local prisons. Because of this specific categorisation, the historians
had confined the scope to only two heads. Also one in order to have a brief knowledge is

required to know the fact that what sort of prisons were existed in the early scenario
along with the their conducts and happenings within these institutions. The prisons of
nineteenth century contains complex information such as the operational dates
jurisdictions, population statistics, the list of survivors, etc. There were also debtor's ,
military prisons as well as hulks which were used specifically for the prisoners of war.
Also the institutions for reformatories and criminal asylum were also established as a
part of prison system)(Egwea, 2021.
Moreover, at the very first the tower of London,in year 1078 was used as a prison
specifically for the enemies of the king. Later in 12th century for the purpose of ensuring the
peace the establishment an maintenance of the goals was included in the royal charters which
were granted to the towns. Later in the provisions of imprisonment were also extended to the
public individuals which was earlier limited to the people who owned the money of crown and
failed to repay. Further in year 1895 the the new era was ushered with respect to the system of
prison in Britain. In which the establishment of the more specialists prisons for several type of
criminals along with the range of non- custodial options for those who has been convicted of the
crime. Even though there was a new interest among policy makers with respect the fact of
rehabilitation but at the same time there lied the limited effect on the various number of prisoners
who remained confined in the ordinary local prisons(Gray, and et.al., 2021).
Later with the evolution of the time in twentieth century, in Britain the prisons were
being used as the major form of punishment for the individuals who were subjected to the
commit any crime. The method of transportation was made to an end by the 19th century along
with the minimum use of corporal punishments. Also the punishments in the form of death
penalty was completely abolished by the year 1965. later after the year of 1922, the harsh and
severe regimes of the prisons were changed drastically. As a result of which the prisoners were
made to subordinate with each another and also their uniform which were arrow marked and
shaving of hair was abolished. Also the prisoners were given the access of better foods along
with the benefits of the availability of the courses of education. Also the freedom with respect to
the wearing of their own clothes was allotted to the prisoners. In this era the aim of the
authorities was shifted towards more of the reformation of the individual rather than only
punishing them(Holloway, and et.al., 2021). Which means the primary aim was to rehabilitate
and reform the concerned offenders via the method of giving proper education and training. But

the issue arose after the 1960, when the prisons of the country become overcrowded which
resulted in the limited excess of the training and courses to all the concerned prisoners. In this
era the4 prisoners were mainly categories into four major categories depending on the various
aspects such as their age, seriousness of crime, risk of escaping and the level of threat which they
pose to to the public which were named as A,B,C and D respectively.
Moreover, by the year 1934, the institutions named open prisons were established by the
officials of the country. These institution had more relaxed rules as compared to the earlier ones.
The open prisons were considered as the new method of punishment. Here the offenders were
given the freedom for moving out of the institution in the day time for the purpose of the work.
Also there were no big fencings and walls and offender were also given the freedom to keep the
keys of their own respective rooms. But here the prisoners were mad bound to return at nights
back to the premises of the prison(McMillan, and et.al., 2021).Also specifically of the inmates
the required training and courses were carried out. Further there were also present the number of
prisons in the country which were having their own workshops and farms for the purpose of
training the inmates for their respective careers. The said form of prisons became famous mainly
after the world war second reason being they got overcrowded due to this. The primary focus of
the officials was to resettle the offenders into society as a measure of preventing the re
offending. The majority of prisoners which were bought in the open prisons were more of a first
time offenders or the ones who have committed the minor crimes. Other are transferred from the
prisons of the higher category near the end of their respective sentences to prepare for the
purpose of their life back in the society. But at later stage because of the raising controversies of
the easy access of alcohol to the prisoners the institutions were subjected to the bad publicity.
Moreover, in this era the the first only female prison was established in London by the name of
Holloway prison. It was considered as one of the largest only female prison which has continued
till 21st century by the year of 2016. Also in this era the especially for the young prisoners, the
Borstals were established. They were introduced as an alternative to prisons. The very first such
institution was opened in the year 1902 in Kent(Statham, Winder, and Micklethwaite,
2021).Also many a times the offender bearing age bracket of 15 to 21 years were also subjected
to this form. The primary aim of these prisons was to reform the youngsters of the country while
giving them the adequate access of the education courses and trainings. But the Borstals ere said
to have the strict rules and the offenders were also subjected to whipped because of which the

said institutions were abolished in the year 1982 by the authorities of the country. Later the
government of the country introduced the youth detention centres reason being the majority of
the prisoners were released from the Borstals because of their official closure. In the year 1988,
the young offenders institutions were established by the officials of the country. They mainly
were set up for the age group of the 18 to 21 years old. Also here the inmates were subjected to
the education of the total twenty five weeks. This stage was considered as the last resort after the
stage of probation and non custodial sentences. In this the prisoners of young age was also sent
to the training centres or the children homes for the purpose of securing the future of the child.
In Wales there stand no young offenders institutions(Turner, and Moran, 2021).
Further with respect to the current scenario which is of the twenty first century the prison
system of the country has been completely modified from that of the earlier one. In early s of the
year 2004 the officials of the country announced that the prevailing system of the prison will be
unified in to the new system which is of the National offender management service. But as of
2008 the rationalisation of the system of prison management is still under process along with the
advent of concept of titan prison. Moreover the six new prisons mainly for the purpose of
reforms are established by the government while making the prison governors in charge of
operations and budget. The penal charities claimed reforms would be subjected to failure if
prisoners were crammed into filthy institutions while having no staff. Currently in United
Kingdom, there are 117 prisons in England and Wales. Where most of them are governed and
controlled by the Majesty's Prison and Probation Services. Further other than this in total thirteen
prisons of the country are being operated by the private companies whereas the other five are
being operated by the G4S and Sodexo. The total population of the prisons has been subjected to
the large change by the year 2010.
Moreover the demands with respect to the prisons as well as their staffs have tend to become
more complex over the period of last ten years even though the population of the prison has been
rarely changed. Also the proportion of the population of the offenders with respect to the
category of men and women has changed drastically over the previous years. As in early 1900 it
was mere two percent which in the current scenario is about seventeen percent. Moreover, in the
west Europe the imprisonment rate of the England and Wales is the highest as compared to the
others. The authorities of the country disclosed that in year 2018 the population in the prison was

around 83,000 which by according to the ministry of justice of the country will make a rise up to
around 86,000 as of the end of the year 2023(Wilburn, and et.al., 2021). In current scenario,
some of the major concerns which makes a great impact on the working system of the prisons is
the less level of staffs, overcrowding due to large number of offenders, increased availability of
the cannabinoids. Further even though the fall in crime rates the population of the prisons tends
on increasing while facing the same concern of less number of require staff to it. Similarly with
the continuing years the number of prison officers are keep on decreasing in number rather than
their increase in number with the increase in prisoners.
CONCLUSION
From the following essay it can be summarised that the prison system of the country has
been subjected to the drastic evolution with the passing of centuries and years. As earlier in the
nineteenth century the prisons mainly were classified only into two major heads which were the
local and convict prisons reason being there lies the less bifurcation of the crime. But with the
evolvement of the time there are taking place the various types of crime where in accordance of
the same the offenders are being subjected to the forms of punishments. In current era the more
focus is given on the overall reform of the individual rather than only by punishing him.

REFERENCES
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