Reforming Passions Flashcards
When was the modern prison built?
Around the end of the 18th century where for decades there had been growing concerns amongst existing methods of detaining and punishing criminals not working. Pressure began to build for prison reform
What were the changing attitudes in how prisoners should be treated when the prison reform at the end of the 18th century took place?
The reformers felt that punishment should be both more humane and more consistent. The new prisons would be dedicated to disciplining the hearts and minds of criminals as opposed to disciplining and working their bodies. They would attempt to cure the prisoner of crime as though crime was a disease rather than punish their bodies for the crime they had commited
How did the extremely appalling conditions of Oxford Castle impact England’s other prisons?
The appalling state of Oxford prison spurred John Howard (The High Sheriff of Bedford) to visit other prisons across the country to see if they too were in such a dire state like Oxford’s
Who was prisoner warden before Daniel Harris?
Solomon Wisdom was not a salaried public servant like Harris was. This meant that they were obliged to supplement their meagre wages out of money they exacted from the prisoners themselves by a variety of means ranging from selling liquor and ale to outright extortion
How did Daniel Harris get promoted to the main prison warden?
Wisdom and Harris had a disagreement over a load of rubbish that was stored in the debtors’ yard. Harris ordered it to be removed and upon his demand, Wisdom bullied an inmate called David Gadsdon to draw a caricature of Harris which was then posted up inside the prison for everyone to see. After the prisoner governors saw the caricature, Wisdom was dismissed and Harris was promoted in his place
Why did Daniel Harris have the prisoners’ conduct the refurbishment work on the site?
It was done not only because it was practically convenient and cheap, but it was also because he regarded the public work as part of the prisoners’ rehabilitation which highly linked to the prison system’s changing mentality of fixing the mind as opposed to the body
How was the prison reform conducted to Oxford’s prison?
The conditions of the prison not only changed but also the way it was ran. Better ventilation and sewerage as well as the introduction of a sick ward coincided with facilities for better bathing, and cleaner, airier corridors. The new prisons provided their inmates with uniforms and separate cells with behaviour being heavily. Alcohol was out and useful work was in
