Victorian Age Prisons

Prisons in the 19th Century London

http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/obp-wiki/images/e/e4/Newgate_prison_large.jpg

Why Victorian Prisons?

Victorian Prisons were built for a variety of reasons

• Crimes Increased from 5,000 crimes per year in 1800 to 20,000 in 1840

• Lowering the execution rates• Lowering the amount of

people sent to Australia and the New World

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2006/07/victyob190706_228x321.jpg

The Prison Reformation

Prisons Underwent Change in the Victorian Age

BeforeUnorganized

Only for prisoners awaiting trialsBadly kept

UnsafeUncared for

AfterOrganizedFully kept

Large safety measuresMore convicted prisoners

Looked afterLarge staff (guards, cooks)

Prison Blueprints

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kintzertorium/2718633767/

H.M. Prison •Grey is the old buildings• Pink is the new buildings

Hospital

Flour Mill

Eating House

Laundry

Bakery

Kitchen

Court YardLaundry

Exercise Yards

Carpenter Shop

Paper Shop

Safety Measures

• Walls• Cells• Guards• Chains• Occupying

– Hard Labor– Long Dull work– Forced Silence

• Exercising– Releases stress– Releases energy

http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/newgatcc.jpg

Methods that are still used today were common for Victorian Prisons

Crime and Punishment

• Children• Women• Men

• Reformation Schools• Women’s Prison• Prison

The people who were sent to prison changed in the 19th century. Before it was merely people awaiting trial but then it began taking in sentenced prisoners. The crimes committed ranged from petty theft to more sever felonies.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/07/28/article-1038627-020FD97200000578-835_468x435.jpg

Before the changes were made prison was disorderly

Daily Life in Prisons• Prisoners had strict schedules– Set wake up– Set meals

• Times and foods decided by prison

• No alcohol– Set work

• Labor, specifically hard-labor– Set exercise– Set religious activities

• Required mass services– Set family/friend visits

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Prisons in Great ExpectationsNewgate Prison

“It was visiting time when Wemmick took me in; and a potman was going his rounds with beer; and the prisoners, behind bars in the yards, were buying beer, and talking to friends; and a frouzy, ugly,

disorderly, depressing scene it was.” (Dickens,p.257)

• Showing the prisons before the Prison reformation• Pip’s views of the Prison• Bad state• Alcohol Allowed• Unorganized

http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/bonifield/pics/newgate1.jpg