Crime and punishment topic 5 Flashcards
What happened when someone was accused of a crime in Saxon times
They faced trial by a jury made up of men from the village
What happened if the jury couldn’t decide whether a victim was guilty
They turned to trial by ordeal, which took place in a church
What were four ways of trial by ordeal
Trial by blessed bread(used for priests) - it was believed if they were guilty they would choke
Trial by hot iron - the accused picked up a hot iron, if their hand got infected after three days of being wrapped they were considered guilty
Trial by hot water - accused put hand in hot water, same thing as hot iron
Trial by cold water - accused was put in a pond/river on a rope. If they floated they were guilty
What was the mundrum fine introduced by the Normans
This had to be paid by the entire region if someone there killed a Norman
What was wergild
Compensation paid to the victim of the crime or their families
What were some common medieval punishments
Whipping/flogging for crimes like stealing, stocks and pillory for crimes like swearing, mutilation for regular offenders or theft, execution for serious crimes by hanging and imprisonment for debtors
What was trial by combat
Men in a dispute fought each other until one was killed or they could fight no longer. If you lost you were guilty and if you won you were hanged
Which forms of punishment continued into Tudor times
Whipping, the stocks and pillory
Why was there more crime in Tudor times
Many moved to the city hoping to find work and when they couldn’t find it often turned to crime
What were the stocks
A wooden framework which held petty criminals by the ankles - its main purpose was public disgrace and humiliation
What was the pillory
A wooden framework which held criminals by the neck and wrists. Used for criminals such as dishonest traders and sexual offenders who sometimes killed by stones thrown
What was the death penalty used for in Tudor times
Treason, murder, counterfeiting, arson
How much would a thief have to steal to be executed in Tudor and Stuart times
Goods valued over one shilling
How many crimes carried the death penalty by the end of the seventeenth century
50
How many crimes carried the death penalty at the end of the eighteenth century
Over 200
Where was the place for execution in London during the eighteenth century
Tyburn, where Marble Arch is now
What was transportation
Punishing criminals by sending them overseas
Give some reasons for transportation
Alternative for hanging which sometimes felt too extreme, imprisonment was too costly, it would reduce crime in Britain by completely removing the criminals
What did the 1717 Transportation Act allow criminals to do
Choose transportation to America instead of branding, whipping or hanging
How was a profit made from transporting convicts
Firms would ship prisoners to American colonies then sell them for up to £80
Why did transportation end
Due to the American War of Independence
What were prison hulks(industrial era)
Old warships and merchant ships converted into floating prisons
How many prisoners died on prison hulks between 1776 and 1778
More than a quarter
Where were convicts transported following its discovery by Captain Cook
Australia
Which convicts were the least fortunate in the Australian colonies
Farm workers as they might be taken to a remote and isolated farm at the mercy of their master
Who was the most fortunate in the Australian colonies
Skilled workers eg blacksmiths and carpenters as they were seen as most valuable
What were some rewards that convicts could get from good conduct
Ticket of leave - freedom to work and live in a particular district
Absolute pardon - cleared their sentence, they could go home
Conditional pardon - the convict was free but couldn’t go back to their own country
Why did all transportation end
Australians resented their country being a dumping ground, New South Wale refused to have any more convicts and it was expensive
How bad were conditions in prisons
Very bad. Many were on the edge of starvation, gaolers charged inmates for basic necessities
Who was John Howard
He inherited a large sum of money and became High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. He was shocked by the conditions of jails in England
What four suggestions did John Howard make for prisons to Parliament
Sound, roomy, hygienic buildings, salaries for gaolers, training for prisoners to help them reform, inspection of prisons
What did the Gaol Fever Bill involve
Prisons must be cleaned regularly, have ventilation, annual whitewashing and a regular doctor
What was the downside of the Gaol Fever Bill
It didn’t say how what it involved would be enforced.
What did George O Paul do
He changed the poor conditions in prisons by improving security - making the walls higher and arranging the buildings so staff could see what was going on, improving health by isolating newly admitted prisoners and making prisons well ventilated, he also separated prisoners into separate areas
Who was Elizabeth Fry
A very religious Quaker who improved prison conditions for women by giving them rules to follow, appointing female warmers, creating religious schools and giving them regular work eg needlework and knitting
What did the Gaols Act of 1823 include
A prison had to be set up in every county
JPs had to inspect prisons, gaolers received salaries, prisons had to be secure and healthy
What was the separate system
An attempt to reform prisoners through isolation, religious teaching and productive work
How many prisons were using the separate system by 1850
Over 50, however it was very expensive
What was the silent system
An attempt to deter prisoners from reoffending by making prison life as harsh as possible. Silence was enforced and the system depended on fear and hatred. This was cheaper however prisoners often turned insane or committed
What were the main areas of the first Prisons Act
Hard labour, hard fare and hard board
What were the main areas of the second Prisons Act
Placed all prisons under Home Office Control
What was the borstal system in the 20th century
An educational system focused on routine and discipline set up for young offenders
When were borstals abolished
1982
What were borstals replaced with
Short sentences at youth detention centres
What are open prisons
When inmates are instead put to work on farms /making boots
What are other alternative methods of punishment
Probation and parole, community service
