Lesson 15 C1700 - C1900 18th and 19th century Britain Flashcards
1
Q
When was Pentonville prison built??
A
in 1842
2
Q
Significance of Pentonville prison
A
New ideas about how prisons should be run and prisoners treated known as separate system
3
Q
Aspects and structure on Pentonville prison
A
- The wings housed dozens of individual cells and a staff base
- walls thick so prisoners can’t communicate
- Areas where prisoners were sent for fresh air and exercise, masked to prevent communication
- Each cells 4m x 2m with small bared window
Loom for working on as well as wash basin and a toilet
Bed, mattress, and blanket - prisoners took repetitive work, to begin with, done in cells - Prison chapel in 1862 had individual cubicles so prisoners couldn’t see each other
4
Q
Reasons for the separate system
A
- For rehabilitation , solitude was thought to be the best way to provide opportunity for reflection of crime, turn to religion and reform
- for retribution , boredom = pay for crime
- for deterrence
5
Q
Strengths and weaknesses of separate system
A
Strength
- clean, less disease
- some thought it was right level of punishment
Weaknesses
- continuous isolation had often led to mental illness and a high crime rate
- No education or instructions to learn new skills for after when being released.
