Pentonville Flashcards
What were the reasons for why new prisons were needed by the 1840s
Prison pop estimates to increase by 1000 more unless alternatives found.
Industrialisation,urbanisation, rising pop and increased poverty levels led to a huge rise in criminal rates- as towns&cities saw emergence of a criminal underclass, prisons became overcrowded & expensive to fund.
Many dying of illness and disease.
Gaolers often corrupt.
What were Howard’s recommendations( for prisons? )
Prisoners kept in solitary confinement- prevent spread of negative influences & give them time to reflect on wrong doings.
Transportation or just the threat of it would reduce crime rate.
He believed firmly that prisons could reform and rehabilitate criminals, and his research and findings were influential in bringing about a change towards the function of prisons
Why were prisons in increasing demand?
Reform of bloody code therefore more prisons need to be built to house prisoners (1839 prisons act led to the building of more, including Pentonville).
Decline in transportation- no longer a solution to overcrowding and now worse than ever
Who designed Pentonville prison, what system was it based on? Why did it become a place for executions?
Captain Joshua Jebb.
Based on separate system .
Newgate prison closed in 1902
What was the original intention for prisoners at Pentonville. Why did chaplains have influence on prisoners?
Reforming through religious exhortation , rigorous discipline & separate confinement?
In separate booths “coffins” so has to listen and couldn’t talk to eachother. Had time to reflect on religious teachings.
What hard labour did prisoners do at Pentonville
Oakham picking- cut old rope and strike with mallet to remove hardened tar and then shredded into fibre to be reused.
Shot picking- pass common ball down line for no reason- exhaust prisoners.
Treadhweel- power generators to grind corn and pump water .
The crank. Small wooden box with a crank- could be made more difficult and required number of turns for punishment.
Some prisoners hated pointless tasks more than meaningful ones
Did Pentonville work?
Rather than reforming and improving prisoners kind it instead became associated with high rates of mental disorders, self harming and suicide.
By the end of 1840s annual reports of the prisons commissioners were compelled to admit that there were problems with the system
What systems were used when in Pentonville
1840s separate system based on reform
1860s silent system to deter
It evolved with changing attitudes towards prisoners
Despite expansion, why Pentonville still overcrowded in the 20th century
Uk prison numbers doubled between 1990 and 2020
Increase in longer prison sentences
Rising crime rates
More people in prison awaiting trial.
Some cannot afford to pay fines and end up in prison instesd
What criticisms have been made of Pentonville in last 20 years
2003 chief inspector of prisons blamed overcrowding for poor standards at Pentonville- basic needs for inmates not provided regularly.
inadequate access to education.
2009 gross misconduct charges.
2007 rat & cockroach infestations, not enough staff, poor conditions for mentally I’ll inmates.
Changes that happened in 20th century to prisons
Separate institutions for young offenders,
Probation&parole allowed for rehabilitation,
Flogging limited and then abolished in 1948,
Death penalty abolished 1969,
Community sentences for minor offences
