8 - Imprisonment

Question 1

What was prison like in the 16-17th century?

Answer 1

A place for people awaiting trial and punishment, all types of offenders imprisoned together, very poor conditions

Question 2

What was prison like in the 18th century?

Answer 2

‘Bloody Code’ era, transportation to British colonies, hard labour

Question 3

Who insisted on prison reforms in the 18th century? E.g. paid staff, men and women should be separate

Answer 3

John Howard (Howard League of Penal Reform)

Question 4

What did the Prison Act 1898 ensure?

Answer 4

Abolition of hard labour - prison labour should be productive and not harmful to prisoners’ health

Question 5

When was the first open prison built?

Answer 5

1933

Question 6

What is the recidivism rate in the UK?

Answer 6

52%

Question 7

Does the UK have a problem with overcrowding in prisons?

Answer 7

Yes, historically

Question 8

Is suicide more or less common in prison?

Answer 8

Suicide is more common in prison

Question 9

Is prison a safer place than the outside world?

Answer 9

Homicide rate is much lower, deaths due to illness are much lower, so possibly prison is safer than the outside world

Question 10

What are some concerns of prison inmates according to Toch (1977)?

Answer 10

Privacy, safety, structure, support, emotional feedback, social stimulation, activity, freedom

Question 11

What did Wooldredge (1999) report about prison inmates?

Answer 11

Inmates were more depressed, anxious, stressed