Case Study 4: Pentonville Prison in the Mid Nineteenth Century

Question 1

When was Pentonville prison built?

Answer 1

In London in 1842.

Question 2

Why was this prison built?

Answer 2

To house the increasing number of criminals that were no longer being transported to Australia.

Question 3

What was the separate system?

Answer 3

Kept prisoners away from other inmates by keeping convicts in solitary confinement up to 23 hours a day.

Question 4

What were three reasons for the separate system?

Answer 4

1) Solitude was thought to be the best way to rehabilitate prisoners and give them an opportunity to reflect on their crimes.
2) Prisoners were not open to bad influence.
3) Retribution; isolation and boredom made convicts pay for their crime. Was also a deterrent.

Question 5

How was the prison designed to isolate prisoners?

Answer 5

• Thick walls to stop communication
• Prisoners would perform repetitive work tasks such as untwisting ropes (oakum)
• Wore masks so they couldn’t see eachother

Question 6

What are strengths of the separate system?

Answer 6

• In comparison to other prisons, it was cleaner and there was far less disease.
• Many believed that it provided the right level of punishment.

Question 7

What are the weaknesses of the separate system?

Answer 7

• Continuous isolation led to mental illness and high suicide rates
• There was no education or training for convicts to utilise once they were released back into society.

Question 8

Why was the silent system introduced?

Answer 8

There was a demand for tougher conditions in prisons since people feared that prisons were becoming too soft.

Question 9

How did the government respond to public opinion about prisons becoming soft?

Answer 9

They introduced the 1865 Prisons Act.

This included dull and repetitive food, the silent system, wooden bunks for prisoners and the use of hard and pointless labour for criminals.