Crime And Punishment Flashcards
For paper 1. (179 cards)
1
Q
The Middle Ages
A
1000-1500
2
Q
Anglo-Saxons
A
500AD-1066
3
Q
Normans
A
1066-1100
4
Q
Later Middle Ages
A
1100-1500
5
Q
Blood Feud
A
> Could lead to a cycle of violence.
>If a person was killed, the person’s family has a right to kill the murderer and so on.
6
Q
Saxon Crime Prevention 8
A
>Tithings >Hue and Cry >Trial by Jury >Trial by Ordeal >Wergild >Execution >Mutilation >Prisons
7
Q
Tithing
A
> Group of 10 boys over the age of 12. If one member broke the law, the others brought him to court or faced a fine.
Community policing
Used to stop crime as there was no police force until 1829.
8
Q
Hue and Cry
A
> Victim/witness raised an alarm and whole village was expected to hunt down the criminal or face a fine.
Community policing.
9
Q
Trial by Jury
A
> Relied on local community.
Jury was made up of men from the village who knew both the accused and the accuser.
They would give their version of events and the jury would make a verdict.
Solved problems and decided punishment.
10
Q
Trial by Ordeal
A
> If jury couldn’t decide whether accused was guilty or not, the saxons turned to trial by ordeal.
There was trial by hot water, hot iron, blessed bread, cold water.
All bar cold water took place in church.
This is because they were very religious so turned to God for the verdict.
11
Q
Wergild
A
> Compensation paid to the victims of crime or to the families.
Made sure no further violence occurred.
It was unequal - noble = 300 shillings, freeman = 100 shillings.
Allowed victim to continue feeding his family.
12
Q
Execution
A
> Only serious crimes like treason against the king face execution.
It deterred.
Showed importance of the king as he was chosen by God.
13
Q
Mutiliation
A
> Re-offenders were punished harshly.
Corporal punishment.
Cut off hand, ear, nose.
Deter from further offences.
14
Q
Prisons
A
> Only used for holding criminals before trial as it was expensive to build and to run.
Ensured that the criminal wouldn’t escape before trial.
15
Q
Norman Crime Prevention Continuity
A
> Hue and Cry
Tithing
Most of the saxon laws,
Capital punishment
16
Q
Norman Crime Prevention Change and Continuity
A
> Wergild: money/ compensation given to the king,
>They kept trial by ordeal but introduced trial by combat,
17
Q
Norman Crime Prevention Change
A
> Murdrum Fine
Forest Laws
Trial by Combat
Church Courts
Harsher on women, term social crime was introduced.
Norman-French became official language and court procedures were in Latin - the English understood neither.
18
Q
Murdrum Fine
A
> After many Norman soldiers were killed, William made a law that if a Norman was killed the whole village would have to pay a fine.
19
Q
Forest Laws
A
> Trees could no longer be cut down for fuel or building.
Forest inhabitants were forbidden to own a dog or a bow and arrow.
If you were caught hunting deer your first two finger were cut off.
Re-offenders were blinded.
20
Q
Trial by Combat
A
> The accused fought the accuser until one was dead or unable to fight.
Loser hung as God had judged them guilty.
21
Q
Church Courts
A
> Separate courts for churchmen that tended to be more lenient.
22
Q
Social Crime
A
> An offence that the community turned a blind eye on. Occurred with forest laws.
23
Q
Crimes 1500-1700
A
> Heresy
Treason
Vagabondage
Witchcraft
24
Q
Heresy
A
> Having a different set of religious beliefs to the ruler.
Seen as a crime against the church and an offence to God.
Seen as a danger to others.
Heretics were punished by death, execution unless they took the opportunity to recant.
Recanted in public, making a statement that you have changed your religious beliefs.
25
Treason
>Connected with heresy, a challenge to the authority of the ruler.
>Betraying one's country usually by attempting to kill the king.
>In order to deter, the gunpowder plotters were hung, drawn and quartered.
>Catholics were banned from legal professions until 1829.
>5th November 1605.
26
Vagabond
>A person without a settled home or regular work who wandered place to place and lived by begging.
>Deserving Poor
>Sturdy beggar.
>1570s, vagabonds rose following a series of bad harvests.
>Late 1590s, years of even greater poverty, wages at lowest since 1200.
>London had largest amounts as many went there in search of work.
27
Sturdy Beggar
>Someone fit to work but begged and wandered for a living instead.
28
Deserving Poor
>Those who were poor through no fault of their own (sick,widowed.)
29
Why was there an increase in vagabondage in the 16th Century?
>Fall of the cloth industry led to a rise in unemployment.
>Inflation caused prices to go up faster than wages.
>No more wars so soldiers unemployed.
>Closure of the monasteries so there was less help for the poor.
>Landowners kept sheep instead of crops so less workers were needed.
>No national system to help the poor.
>Rise in population put pressure on food and jobs.
30
Houses of Correction
>An early type of prison used to hold vagabonds and prostitutes. They were whipped and made to work before being sent back to their parish.
31
People's views on vagabondage
>People felt idleness was wrong as it was against religious teachings.
>More likely to commit crimes (e.g thefts, assaults).
>Thought to spread disease.
>Threat to social order - the rich were concerned about large groups of poor wandering the country.
>Early media spread concerns.
>People worried about cost of vagabonds - each village raised poor rates to help the genuine poor, however they didn't want to pay for sturdy beggars.
32
Laws - Vagabondage
>1531: They were whipped then sent back to their birthplace.
| >1598: Whipped, and if 2nd time then sent to houses of correction.
33
Witchcraft
>Invocation of alleged supernatural powers given by the devil to control people or events, practices typically involving sorcery or magic.
>Matthew Hopkins was Witchfinder General in 1645.
34
Attitudes towards witchcraft
>Attitudes towards witchcraft changed towards witchcraft during late 16th century due to:
- economic problems
- after Henry VIII became head of CoE it was treated as a crime against the king.
- Rising vagabondage made people more suspicious of the poor.
35
Convicting a witch
>They would confess after being beaten or deprived of sleep.
>Neighbour accused them.
>If there were unusual marks on their body.
36
Punishment - witchcraft
>Execution (most common).
| >Estimate of 400-1000 hung for witchcraft.
37
Decline in Witchcraft
>People started becoming better off reducing tension in villages and towards superstition.
>Growing number of people taking more rational view. From 1660, the reign of Charles II saw huge increase in scientific experiments and discoveries. Many things once seen as witchcraft had now been explained by science.
>Last execution for witchcraft was in 1684.
>Laws concerning witchcraft were abolished in 1736.
38
Law Enforcement 1500-1700
>Population rise led to more crime - 1500= 2.5m, 1700= 6m.
>Many people now lived in rural areas - London= 50,000.
>In rural parts people knew each other, in towns anonymity made it easier for criminals to act.
>Increased wealth saw a rise in good in homes and businesses.
>Wealthy were obvious so highly visible target for robbery.
>It was easy to pass unnoticed in a large, busy town.
>In crowded areas tehre was an increased opportunity for theft, pickpocket.
>Growing number of businesses made more opportunities for crimes like fraud.
>Growth of towns led to more crime.
39
Types of court
>Royal Courts
>Manor Courts
>Church Courts
40
Royal Courts
>Serious crimes.
| >Could order execution - after which the court would take their property.
41
Manor Courts
>Minor crimes.
>Witnesses were important.
>Villagers decided who won the case.
>Representatives of the lord acted as judges deciding the sentence.
42
Church Courts
>Only tried churchmen.
>Lighter sentences - couldn't sentence the death penalty.
>All members of the clergy could read and write therefore literacy tests would prove that they were with the church.
43
Later Middle Ages - Background
>At the end of the Civil War, Henry II became King. He wanted to restore the authority of the King.
>In 1154, he brought together Saxon and Norman laws to create the English Common Law.
>The church remained a powerful legal force and kept its own court.
>Power of King was important for law enforcement.
44
Later Middle Ages - Law Enforcement Methods
```
>Constable
>Coroner
>Sheriff
>Posse
>Royal Court
>Could escape death penalty
>Abolishment of Trial by Ordeal in 1215.
>Manor Courts.
>Wergild - to the King.
>Benefit of the Clergy
>Sanctuary
>Serious crimes and re-offenders punished by death.
```
45
Constable
>Well-respected member of the community who volunteered for a year.
>He would organise the Hue and Cry and inform the coroner of any unnatural deaths.
46
Coroner
>Royal official.
>Would be informed of any unnatural deaths and listen to witnesses to find out what happened.
>He would then contact the sheriff if the Hue and Cry was unsuccessful.
47
Sheriff
>Royal official.
| >Be informed of any unsuccessful Hue and Cry and send a posse to track down and imprison the accused.
48
Posse
>Group of around 15 males.
>Could be summoned to join the posse.
>They'd track down criminal under the sheriff's orders.
49
Escaping the death penalty
```
>Go to a sanctuary and leave the country within 40 days or face trial.
>Go to a church court.
>Claim benefit of the Clergy
>Buy a pardon from the King
>Needed for the army.
```
50
Abolishment of Trial by Ordeal
>Abolished in 1215` by Pope Innocent III.
51
Benefit of the Clergy
>Accused claims the right to be tried in a more lenient church court.
>Used by anyone loosely connected to church.
>Only meant for priests.
>Test - read verse from Bible but many learnt it by heart.
52
Sanctuary
>If someone running from law reached the church, they'd claim sanctuary.
>No one could remove them.
>They had 40 days to decide whether to face trial or go abroad.
53
Social Changes - Early Modern - 1500-1700
```
>Economic Change
>Political Change
>Landowner's Attitudes
>Religious Turmoil
>Population Growth
>Printing
```
54
Early Modern - economic change
>England becoming wealthier overall, but majority of people were poor.
>The poor were vulnerable to rises in food prices from bad harvests.
>Fall-off in trade - unemployment - hardship.
55
Early Modern - political change
>This period saw the greatest rebellion, the English Civil War 1642-49.
>This lead to King Charles I's execution.
>Created feeling of insecurity and fear.
56
Early Modern - landowner's attitude
>Landowners were becoming richer and had a growing influence during the period.
>They encouraged laws that defended their rights, power and property against those they regarded as a threat.
>More suspicion of poor due to their rising numbers and they wanted to keep them in place.
57
Early Modern - religious turmoil
>Religious changes made by Henry VIII in the 1530s caused unrest and confusion.
>This was followed by more religious upheaval as the country switched from Protestant to Catholic and back again.
>Each side accused the other of being in league with the Devil, increasing the public belief in evil and supernatural explanations for events.
58
Early Modern - population growth
>Population growth between the 16th and 17th century made it harder to find work.
59
Early Modern - printing
>Printing was invented in 15th century so there were more books, pamphlets and broadsheets.
>Favourite topic for pamphlets was crime especially witchcraft and vagabondage.
60
Law Enforcement 1500-1700
```
>The Army
>Parish/town constable
>Citizens
>Nightwatchmen
>Sergeants
>Justices of the Peace
>Hue and Cry
>Rewards
>Courts
>Habeas Corpus
```
61
15-1700 - The Army
>Change
>Used to put down riots and capture organised criminal gangs.
>They diffused potential crime and deterred riots as easily as it stopped them.
62
15-1700 - Parish/Town Constables
>Both
>Remained main defence against crime.
>Part-time, no uniform/weapons.
>Dealt with minor crimes.
>In charge of suspects until their trial.
>Power to inflict punishments such as whipping.
>Helped organise hue and cry.
>Only voluntary and had other commitments too.
63
15-1700 - Citizens
>Continuity.
>If they were robbed, it would be their responsibility to get a warrant and track down the criminal and bring him to the constable.
>Expected to deal with crimes themselves.
>Process was long-winded and it was hard for the criminal to be found.
64
15-1700 - Nightwatchmen
>Change.
>Patrolled streets at night.
>Poorly paid and little use.
>Pointless as he could only arrest drunks and vagabonds.
65
15-1700 - Sergeants
>Change.
>Employed in towns to enforce market laws about the weighing of goods and collect fines if traders were behaving badly.
>Helped to diffuse fraud in towns and villages.
66
15-1700 - Hue and Cry
>Continuity.
>Alarm raised to look for criminal.
>Could easily become disorganised and only worked for less populated areas.
67
15-1700 - Justices of the Peace
>Both.
>JPs.
>Set up in the Middle Ages but became key part of law enforcement in Tudor times.
>Judged in manor courts.
>They could fine people, send them to stocks and pillories or order them to be whipped.
>Helped enforce law and manage criminals, but only with local and minor crimes.
68
15-1700 - Rewards
>Change.
>Rewards were offered for arrest of particular individuals of more serious crimes.
>Helped catch the criminal and prevented them re-offending.
69
15-1700 - Courts
>Both.
>Relied on local jury.
>Manor courts - local and minor crimes.
>JPs met four times a year to discuss serious crimes in Quarter Sessions.
>County Assizes - royal judges met twice a year to discuss the most serious crimes.
>Made punishments easier to give out.
70
15-1700 - Habeas Corpus
>Change.
>Passed in 1679 and prevented authorities from locking a person up indefinitely without charging them with a crime.
>Helped those accused escape sentence and carry on living.
>Good is accused was innocent.
71
Punishment
>How the law is enforced.
| >Penalties imposed on people who break the law.
72
Different experiences of law 1500-1700
>Varied due to social class.
>Commoner hung, drawn and quartered for treason but nobles were beheaded.
>Benefit of the clergy.
>Men and women treateed differently.
73
2 Key aims of punishment
>Retribution - punish - corporal punishment - inflict pain.
| >Deterrence - prevent.
74
Punishment aim 1500-1700
>Punishment depended on removing them form society (execution), fining them, hurting and humiliating them (stocks and pillories.)
75
Bloody Code
>Name given to the English legal system from the late 17th century to early 19th century.
>Most crimes punished by death.
76
Punishment 1500-1700
```
>Carting
>Pillories
>Transportation
>Whipping
>Fines
>Prisons
>Early prisons
>Houses of Correction
>Ducking stools.
```
77
15-1700 - Carting
>Shame criminal
| >Used for vagrancy, adultery and running a brothel.
78
15-1700 - Pillory
>Shame and humiliate criminal
| >For swearing, cheating at cards.
79
15-1700 - Transportation
>Used from 1660s.
>Transported to American colonies.
>Used for murderers who escaped the death penalty.
>Seen as soft option to the death penalty.
>Experienced close to slavery conditions.
>Either 7 or 14 years sentence of manual labour.
>50-80,000 people were transported.
>Favoured by the authorities as they had no prison system then.
>It was an effective deterrent and established Northern American colonies.
80
15-1700 - Whipping
>Corporal punishment.
>Pain and humiliation.
>On market day.
>Used for vagrants, drunkenness and theft of low-valued goods.
81
Punishment 1500-1700 - Bloody Code
>1688, a change in the law meant the number of crimes carrying the death penalty increased.
>1688: 50 crimes with death penalty.
>1765: 160 crimes with death penalty.
>1815: 225 crimes with death penalty.
>Idea that most crimes were punishable by death.
82
Bloody Code introduced because...
>There were concerns over rising crimes this wasn't helped by pamphlets that often gave horrific details about the crime.
>People were on the move so ideas and news spread quickly. This was due to better roads and cheaper horses.
>Death penalty was the only tried and tested method of punishment so it was more popular.
>Landowners were the lawmakers so it was in their own self-interest - it tended to protect their wealth, status and property.
83
How did society change in Industrial England 1700-1900?
```
>Population rise.
>Voting rights.
>Education.
>Harvests.
>Wealth and taxes.
>Work.
>Acceptance of government.
>New ideas of human nature.
```
84
Changing society 17-1900 - Population rise
>1750: 9.1 million.
>1900: 41.5 million.
>Population was mainly concentrated in towns.
85
Changing society 17-1900 - Harvests
>Food could be imported quicker and cheaper from other countries.
>By 19th century there was less chance of a bad harvest, which would have caused high food rices and starvation.
86
Changing society 17-1900 - Education
>1700s - only few kids attended school and there were low literacy rates.
>1850: 70% of the population could read and write.
>1880: law that made it necessary for children to go to school until 13.
>By 1900, 90% of the population could read and write.
87
Changing society 17-1900 - Voting rights
>1750s - 1 in 8 men could vote.
>1885 - every man could vote.
>Living conditions improved as the government wanted to gain votes.
88
Changing society 17-1900 - Wealth and Taxes
>Britain was wealthier due to 2 years of trade and industrial growth.
>Higher taxes in the 19th century to improve people's lives.
89
Changing society 17-1900 - Work
>Most found employment in factories and workshops.
>Less farmers.
>More work in towns and cities.
90
Changing society 17-1900 - Acceptance of Government
>There was growing acceptance of government involvement.
>Before people resisted interference.
>Now people beginning to accept it.
91
Changing society 17-1900 - new ideas of human nature
```
>Improving living conditions and better education equals better behaviour.
>1800s Charles Darwin led some to believe the criminal class was less evolved.
```
92
Highwaymen Definition
>A person who robs travellers on the open roads on horse back.
93
17-1900 Highwaymen
>Greatly feared by ordinary travellers and they were a major disruption to trade for the authorities.
>Ruthless, mainly around London and on routes to the capital.
>Claude du Vall, on roads of England, stole £400 from a noble after dancing with his wife, caught and executed 21st January 1670.
94
Highwaymen growth 17-1900
>Horse were cheaper to buy.
>No police force and constables didn't track criminals across the country.
>It was easy to hide and sell stolen loot in taverns.
>Handguns were easier to obtain.
>More people were travelling in coaches alone.
>Many areas had rough roads so coaches had to slow down.
>Unemployed soldiers.
95
Highwaymen decline 17-1900
>Banking systems became more sophisticated so less people carried around large amounts of money.
>Road surfaces were improved and coaches were less frequent.
>Open land around London built on as the population increased.
>Mountain patrols were set up and high rewards encouraged informers to report.
>JPs stopped licensing taverns.
>Changes in transport, money and policing lead to its' decline in the 19th Century.
96
Smuggling Definition
>Bringing goods into a country illegally.
97
Smuggling 17-1900
>Massive problem in coastal areas in the 1700s.
>Social crime.
>Brought in tea, cloth and spirits without paying import tax on them.
>Import taxes were a large source of income for the government then.
>Taken seriously and carried the death penalty under the Bloody Code.
>Government response:
-1748, Duke of Richmond was asked to smash smuggling gangs.
-35 smugglers hanged.
-Didn't solve problem as still 20,000 active ones.
>Low-paid workers saw smuggling as a quick and easy way to earn money.
>Ordinary people resented the expensive duties the government imposed.
>Few custom officers and a great deal of unguarded coastline.
98
Poaching 17-1900
>Seen as a social crime, poaching laws were very unpopular.
>Government response to poaching protected interests of the rich.
>Black markets: poaching gangs supplied them. High profits. As the population increased diets became more sophisticated and demand grew.
>The 1723 Poaching Act: capital crime to hunt deer, hare, rabbits. Anyone found armed or disguised in a poaching area could be executed.
>Most poachers were poor folks so they did it out of need not greed.
>Juries were made up of farmers and tradesmen so they could be lenient.
>Only the sons of heirs or landowners with over £100 worth of land could hunt.
>Gamekeepers were armed.
>There was a growth of poaching gangs as demand for meat in the cities rose.
>Social crime: money, poor needed food, trade.
99
Crimes that could challenge the authorities
>Revolution in France in 1789 provoked more uprisings in 1830s France.
>Poor living and working conditions.
>No police force so army used for disturbances.
>Government use new laws to deal with protesters.
>In 1817, Habeas Corpus was suspended.
100
Early Unions
>One early union that worried the authorities was the GNCTU.
| >It aimed to bring workers together to fight for better conditions.
101
Tolpuddle Martyrs
>In 1833, the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers was set up after labourers in Tolpuddle asked to increase their wage but it was refused.
>Loveless and five others sentenced to transportation as government changes laws for its' own purpose.
>Led to widespread outcry. The men regarded martyrs for union rights and there were campaigns organised against their unfair treatment. In March 1836, the government granted all the men pardon after 250,000 attended a petition against their sentence.
>The government used harsh treatment and laws to control threats to their authority. In later years, conditions reformed so protests were reduced.
102
Factors that influenced government attitude to Tolpuds
>Media
>Wealth and Poverty
>Government
103
Policing 1700-1829
```
>Due to population growth, policing had to change.
>Bow street horse patrol
>Watchmen
>Yeomanry
>Parish constables
>Bow street runners.
>Theiftakers.
```
104
Policing 1700-1829 - Bow Street Horse Patrol
>Operated out of Bow Street Courts and they patrolled London streets.
>However there were only a small number and they were only in London.
105
Policing 1700-1829 - Watchmen
>Set up under Charles II.
>They kept an eye on London property.
>They were old, sometimes drunk and poorly paid.
>Set up ad organised by parish constables.
106
Policing 1700-1829 - Yeomanry
>Part-time soldiers.
>They were used to put down protests.
>Only used on certain occasions.
107
Policing 1700-1829- Parish Constables
>They dealt with minor disorders and beggars.
>They could arrest petty criminals.
>Voluntary.
108
Policing 1700-1829 - Bow Street Runners
>Founded in 1749 by Henry Fielding and his brother John Fielding.
>Operated out of Bow Street Courts.
>They tracked down criminals and stolen property.
>There were only small numbers and they were only in London.
109
Policing 1700-1829 - Theiftakers
>Collected rewards for finding and prosecuting criminals.
| >Most famous = Jonathon Wild.
110
Fielding Brothers
>Henry Fielding set up Bow Street Runners,which consisted of 54 men.
>John Fielding set up Bow Street Horse Patrol but only until 1805 when it ended and replaced with new team of 54 men.
>They set up the Hue and Cry Newspaper, which gave criminals details.
>Paid workforce.
>First organised method.
111
Why was the met introduced in 1829?
>Problems caused by industrial revolution.
>Problems with the old system.
>Individuals.
>Changing Attitudes.
112
Why was the met introduced in 1829? - problems caused by industrial revolution
>Population growth.
>Increased crime at the start of the 19th century.
>The size and number of cities had grown quickly at the end of the 18th century.
113
Why was the met introduced in 1829? - Problems with the old system
>Watchmen and constables were unpaid and varied in quality.
| >There were only 450 constables and 4000 night watchmen to cover London.
114
Why was the met introduced in 1829? - Individuals
>In 1828, Robert Peel set up his own committee to look into law and order.
115
Why was the met introduced in 1829? - Changing attitudes
>Government wanted to be more hands on and due to riots and political unrest, they set up an inquiry between 1812 and 1822 to look at public concerns on law and order.
>People feared a police force would stop people protesting and limit free speech. People were suspicious of government interference and wanted to sort out own arrangements.
116
Abolishment of the Bloody Code
>The Bloody Code was abolished in the 1820s by Sir Robert Peel. This was because:
-Newspapers publicised executions so crowds increased this meant criminals could get away with more.
-Ideas were changing and people believed punishment should fit crime and that it was better to reform.
-Government feared that large crowds could easily angry and riot.
-Punishment was too harsh so juries were unwilling to find people guilty if the punishment didn't fit the crime.
-In the early 1700s, only 40% of people whom received the death penalty were actually hanged.
>1789 - last woman was burnt for murdering her husband.
>1808 - law pressed abolishing the death penalty for pickpocketing.
>1820 - last beheading.
>1841 - only murder and treason were capital crimes.
>1868 - last public hanging took place.
>Some against the abolishment as the believed in deterrence not reformation.
117
Transportation definition
>Deporting of convicted criminals.
118
Transportation 17-1900
>Law makers thought it would be a success as it was less harsh than hanging so juries will convict it but harsh enough to deter and reduce crime in Britain. They would also reform through hardwork and it would claim new land of Australia for Britain.
>Prisoners gathered for cramped voyage but by the 1830s only 1% died during the 4 month voyage.
>Convicts were assigned to a master, who fed, clothed, housed them and chose their work. If they had good conduct they would receive a 'ticket of leave'. It was a good opportunity so they behaved.
>Prisoners who committed more crime were sent to harsher and more distant settlements.
>Those who failed to complete their sentence were sentenced to death.
>Reached its' height in 1820s and 1830s.
>Peak year was 1833 when 36 ships and 6779 prisoners were sent to Australia.
119
For Transportation
>Australia became established part of the British Empire.
| >Juries more likely to convict transportation.
120
Against Transportation
>Crime rates hadn't lowered but increased since.
>Costly. By 1830s it cost half a million pounds a year.
>Australian wages were higher than in Britain.
121
The End of Transportation
>It began to decline in the 1840s as prisons were being used instead.
>In 1857 transportation ended.
>It ended largely due to pressure from settlers. The government needed to keep them happy to control the empire.
122
Prisons up to 1800
>Minor part of punishment.
>Only used for those awaiting trial or debtors.
>In 1777, only 4000 people were in jail and 60% of them were awaiting trial or debtors.
>Houses of Correction dealt with vagabonds and prostitutes.
123
The Old Prison System
>Prisoners were mixed together, e.g. women, children with serious offenders.
>'Schools for crime'.
>Prison warder were unpaid and charges prisoners fees so the poor suffered.
>Had to pay to see a doctor and prisons were damp and unhealthy so 'Gaol Fever' killed many inmates.
>Poor relied on local charity.
>They were very cramped in Newgate Prison 275 of the poorest inmates were in a space meant for just 150.
124
18-1900 Prisons
>Imprisonment was a normal method of punishment.
>Mid 19th Century it replaced punishment for serious crimes.
>They became more important as the idea of reform became more popular.
>An increase in prisoners meant the government took over the prison system.
>In 1870 inspectors checked prisons.
125
Prison Hulks
>They were a short term solution in 1770s when transportation stopped.
>They were usually old and rotten former warships.
>Bad conditions.
>The death rate from disease was dreadfully high.
>Prisoners were kept in irons most of the time.
126
Prison Timeline
>1810: rich were better off, poor suffered most, prison wardens charged prisoners. Prisons were a school for crime as they were mixed. Prison hulks.
>1830: Peel introduced the Gaols Act in 1823. Prisons were healthier with fresh water and adequate drainage, prisoners were separated into different groups, gaolers were aid and prisons checked. But with no prison inspectors it was often ignored. Prison hulks still used.
>1850: in the 1840s reformation became a key idea so prisoners were taught useful skills to get work when they leave. They had their own cell and religious instruction. Separate Act - solitary confinement - prisoners breaking down and becoming insane.
>1870: 1865 Act appointed a new Director of Prisons. Attitudes turned back to deter. Work was hard boring and useless. Silent System.
>1875: Home Office became in control of prisons and it's still the same today.
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Why did the government begin to reform prisoners?
>As crime was increasing and public attitudes began to change.
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Gaols Act 1823
>Set up by Sir Robert Peel.
>Prisons were healthy with a fresh water supply and adequate drainage.
>Prisoners were separated.
>Female warder.
>Prisoners should attend chapel.
>It was magistrates duty to visit prisons.
>Prison warders were paid.
>Prisoners had proper food but no pets.
>These changes were made to reform prisoners.
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Pentonville Prison
>Built in 1842.
>Dealt with increased number of criminals who were no longer transported or executed.
>It was meant to deter and reform but reformation was its' key aim.
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Why was the Silent System introduced?
>Public feared not enough was being done to deter offenders and the media spread this view.
>There was a growing belief that there was a criminal type that was less evolved.
>The criminal type couldn't be reformed only deterred.
>Government responded by introducing tougher regimes and the silent system was at the centre of it.
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Silent System
>Prisoners silent at all times otherwise they were whipped and put on a diet of bread and water.
>Hard wooden bunks replaced hammocks these were deliberately uncomfortable.
>Food was 'hard fare' it was adequate but monotonous same menu every day.
>Prisoners did 'hard labour' for several hours a day this was pointless work.
>From 1830s especially around 1865 Prison Act.
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Separate System
>Prisoners spent time alone in cells.
>Contact with other prisoners was made as difficult as possible.
>This was so they kept away from each others 'wicked' influence.
>Prisoners could reflect on their crimes.
>Backed by religious instruction.
>Ensures others couldn't negatively influence each other.
>Costly (each cell).
>Solitary confinement led to breakdowns, suicide and madness.
>1830s, 40s.`
>1902 ended.
>1922 solitary confinement ended.
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The reformers
>Elizabeth Fry
>John Howard
>Robert Peoel
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Elizabeth Fry
>1780-1845
>Came from a well-off Quaker family of bankers.
>She visited the women's section of Newgate Prison in December 1813 and was horrified.
>She highlighted poor living conditions and the exploitation of females by male wardens.
>She set up a school for children and taught them 'useful' work.
>She encouraged Quakers to visit and offer their assistance and prayer groups.
>She had a big influence on the 1823 Gaols Act.
>Ensured women's prisons should be separate from mens with female wardens.
>In the 1840s she was criticised for being too lenient.
>In the 20th Century her ideas of reform came important again.
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John Howard
>1726-1790.
>In 1773 he was appointed sheriff of Bedfordshire and had a duty to inspect prisons. He was shocked and began touring the country.
>He wrote a report in 1777.
>The report highlighted the old prison system's problems.
>Attacked the fees prisoners had to pay.
>He wanted healthier accommodation, separation of prisoners, decent diet and better guards.
>He alerted Britain and its' lawmakers.
>Real reform happened after his death - lenient in his lifetime.
>After his death his aims were accounted for.
>His name lives on in The Howard League for Penal Reform, an organisation that still campaigns for better treatment of prisoners today.
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Robert Peel
>Home Secretary.
>Influenced by J.H and E.F.
>In a well-placed position to put their ideas into practice.
>He wanted to reform prisoners.
>He wanted healthier prisons, paid wardens, necessary inspection and separation.
>He passed a new set of laws known as the Gaols Act 1823., which focused on reforming prisoners and providing better conditions.
>Home Secretary in 1822.
>PM 1834-35, 1841-46.
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A new police force
>From 1826, economic downturn led to a rise in crime and riots and the army had to be called in.
>Peel thought it would be better to have a more centralised system of policing with the same quality across London.
>First Metropolitan Police officers were appointed in September 1829.
>Duties: prevent crime and disorder, carry out daily patrols.
>Character: law-abiding, no criminal record, willing to use force.
>Requirements: 5'7'' tall, fit and in good health.
>Peel created a hierarchy and pay structure.
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Criticism of the Met
>People thought police would decrease individual liberty.
>People had fears of oppression.
>The Met faced hostile attitudes from the public and press - cartoons.
>Early on, 2800 recruits signed up and only 600 were retained for a year or more.
>There were worries of a French-style police force.
>Concern over increased taxes for the new service.
>Peel reduced opposition e.g. offer impartial service to law, physical force only to the extent necessary.
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Twentieth Century - New Crimes
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>Hate crimes
>Homophobic crime
>Race crime
>Abortion
>Domestic Violence
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Twentieth Century - New Crimes - Hate Crimes
>A crime motivated by prejudice against a victim.
| >Criminal Justice Act 2005 meant courts could issue more severe sentences.
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Twentieth Century - New Crimes - Homophobic crimes
>Prejudice against gay people.
>Until 1967, homosexuality was illegal in the UK.
>The Sexual Offences Act 1967 decriminalised homosexuality for men over 21.
>2005 Act treated more seriously.
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Twentieth Century - New Crimes - Race Crime
>1950s people form the Commonwealth came to Britain, new laws were needed for fair treatment.
>1968 Race Relations Act meant it was illegal to refuse someone a job, housing or public service because of their race.
>2006 law made spreading racial or religious hatred a crime.
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Twentieth Century - New Crimes - Abortion
>Changes in society also mean some crimes no longer exist.
>After protests in the 1960s change took place regarding abortion.
>The 1967 Abortion Act legalised abortion in certain cases.
>In 1968 it was made so the legal limit for abortion was 28 weeks.
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Twentieth Century - New Crimes - Domestic Violence
>Attitudes changes as women gained equal rights.
>In 1967 the Domestic Violence Act gave victims the right to ask for an injunction against a violent partner.
>1991 rape within marriage was no longer acceptable.
>In 2014 controlling and coercive behaviour became a crime.
>Despite these laws, 2 women in England or Wales are killed a week by their current or former partner.
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Police Timeline
>1829: Met Police Act - first police force in London.
>1835: Municipial Corporations Act - councils had power to set up their own police force.
>1837: 93 out of 171 districts had a police force.
>1839: Rural Constabulary Act - 54 counties were allowed to organise a paid police force.
>1842: 16 officers were employed in the detective branch in Scotland Yard.
>1856: Police Act - all areas had to have one, centrally controlled, government inspected and they only received funding if it was efficient.
>Introduced deterrence through detection.
>1869: National Crime Records set up. Different police forced could quickly and effectively share information about crimes and suspects,
>1878: CID set up. Employed 200 detectives and another 600 in 1883. They used new methods of detection and in 1902 they secured their first conviction of a burglar by using his fingerprint.
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Police Force successes
>Crime fell steadily between 1850 -1900.
>Their presence on streets prevented a lot of crime.
>1856 it became compulsory for every district to have a police force.
>Over time they became respected and accepted and better at catching criminals.
>In 1842 a detective department was set up in London and in 1878 it became known as CID.
>1901 fingerprint bureau set up in Scotland Yard.
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Police Force Failures
>Drunkenness was a problem early on.
>Constables weren't paid very much which led to a high staff turnover.
>Uniformed policemen were less effective at catching criminals.
>In the beginning more time was spent clearing drunks and vagrants off the street not solving crime.
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Setting up the police force
>Sir Robert Peel was responsible for the Met Police Act of 1829, which replaced the system of parish constables with a paid police force.
>The new police force had 3,200 men and their uniform looked civilian no military.
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Fraud
Impersonating other people or businesses to make money illegally.
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Terrorism
Use of violence, fear and intimidation to publicise a political cause.
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Extortion
Making someone pay money using threats/blackmail
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Cybercrime
Any crime that is carried out using the internet and other digital technologies.
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Attitudes to social crimes
>Smuggling
>Copyright theft
>Drug-taking
>Driving Offences.
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New Opportunities for Old Crimes
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>Terrorism
>Cybercrime
>Extortion
>Fraud
>Copyright
>People smuggling.
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Changes to Police Force after 1900
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>Numbers and organisation
>Training and recruitment
>Transport
>Equipment
>Crime Detection Tools
>Record Keeping
>Main Duties
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Timeline of the death penalty
>1700s - use of death penalty declining
>1820s-30s: Bloody Code abolished. Only murder and treason punishable by death.
>1868 - public hanging was ended.
>1908 - people under 16 no longer hanged.
>1933 - people under 18 no longer hanged.
>1957 - government abolished hanging for all murder except of a police officer.
>1964- Last executions.
>1965 - capital punishment for murder cases suspended for 5 years.
>1969 - abolition of capital punishment for murder.
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Conscientious Objector
>A person who claims the right to refuse to participate in military service.
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Changes to police force after 1900 - Numbers and organisation
>1900: around 200 local police forces, little co-operation between forces, 42,000 officers.
>Today: (March 2015) 126, 818 officers, over 43 local forces. Women since 1920. 2007 Neighbourhood Watch becomes national. Emphasis on catching young offenders early.
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Changes to police force after 1900 - Training and Recruitment
>1900: military drill was only training, all police officers were males. Low quality and poorly paid.
>Today: 1947 onwards recruits have 14 weeks of basic training, Police Training College. Specialists continue training.
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Changes to police force after 1900 - Transport
>1900: officers walked up to 20 miles a day.
>Today: since 1930s cars and motorbikes used and by 1970s these replaced the beat. Helicopters used to track suspects and support officers. To improve community relations they have reintroduced foot and bike patrols.
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Changes to police force after 1900 - Equipment
>1900: whistle to call for help, wooden truncheon, pistols locked up at police station.
>Today: two-way radios into police ears (1930s), 1930s '999' set up. Pepper spray/ CS gas to control violent suspects, tasers. Firearms when High level of threat.
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Changes to police force after 1900 - Crime Detection Tools
>1900: eyes and ears of officer, witness statements.
>Today: CCTV, Automatic Number Plate Recognition, 1988: DNA, Since 1901 fingerprints and chemical analysis of blood samples.
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Changes to police force after 1900 - Record Keeping
>1900: local record keeping poor, no national record of crimes.
>Today: since 1974, Police National Computer collects lots of databases and access 24/7.
>Missing person details, motor vehicles, fingerprints.
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Changes to police force after 1900 - Main Duties
>1900: dealing with crimes, especially petty theft. Dealing with drunkenness.
>Today: Deal increasingly with anti-social behaviour. When someone may be at risk. Keep order at events. Crime more varied - so different specialist teams.
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Conscription
>A law that states that everyone who is asked to, and who is fit and healthy, has to fight in the armed forces.
>Introduced twice in Britain -WW1 and WW2.
>In both case, conscientious objectors had to make their objections to known authorities and were then tried by tribunals who judged whether their objections were genuine.
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Attitudes to COs
>Different punishment and treatment of COs by the authorities in the 2 world wars.
>This shows how people in authority changed their attitude.
>However, attitude of the general public was fairly similar in both instances. As people felt their families were making great sacrifices and that others should too.
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Treatment of authoritIes in WW1 - COS.
>Conscription for men: from 1916.
>A clause in law excused Cos.
>About 16,000 men refused to fight.
>Military tribunals made up of military officers and professionals decided if CO was genuine.
>Only 400 were given total exemption on grounds of conscience.
>'alternativists' were given non-combat roles.
>'absolutists' were imprisoned, given brutal treatment and hard labour. 10 died in prison, 63 died after release and 31 had breakdowns.
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WW2 Treatment by the authorites COs
>Conscription: from April 1939 for men, from December 1941 for women.
>A clause in the law excused conscientious objectors.
>Over 59,000 men and women refused to fight.
>Tribunals (minus military people) judged if CO was genuine.
>All except 12204 were given complete or partial exemption.
>Those with partial exemption were given non-combatant roles.
>A far smaller % of those not given exemption were sent to prison and those who did were not treated as harshly.
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Similar treatment by general public
>Viewed as cowards and traitors - shouted at abused.
>Some dismissed from jobs.
>Press was less harsh in WW2 and there were fewer organised campaigns against COs.
>In WW1 - The Order of the White Feather campaign encouraged women to hand out white feathers symbolising cowardice to young men not in military uniforms.
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Abolition of the death penalty
>Capital punishment was last used in 1964. It was completely abolished in 1999 because:
- ideas about punishment continued to change - reform and paying back society were now considered more important.
- controversial cases in the 1950s led people to question the use of capital punishment.
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Timothy Evans
>1950.
>Hung for murdering his wife and baby.
>Later evidence proved he didn't do it.
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Derek Bentley
>1953.
| >Hung for murdering a policeman, even though he didn't fire the gun and had serious learning difficulties.
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Ruth Ellis
>1955.
| >Hung for murdering her boyfriend after he had violently abused her for years.
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Prisons - punishment in modern britain
>Different prisons cater for different types.
>Since 1907, prisoners have been released on probation - they're watched by probation officers and put back in prison if re-offend.
>1948, hard labour and corporal punishment in prisons were abolished.
>Separate prisons have been established for young people. Borstals were set up in the early 1900s. They used work and education to try to reduce re-offending rates. Today's Young Offenders Instituations have high re-offending rates.
>Only 6% of all prisoners are women although there has been a recent rise.
>Women;s and men's prisons differ e.g. women can spend more time with their children.
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New Punishments modern
> new types of punishment have developed in the last 2 decades as non-custodial alternatives to prison.
-Community sentences.
>Antisocial Behaviour Orders
-Electronic Tagging
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Modern - rehabilitation
>Prisons in the 1800s used to punish criminals to discourage them from re-offending on release.
>Today they try to reduce re-offending rates thorugh education and giving prisoners work which teaches them new skills.
>Not always supported by general public who sometimes view them as 'holiday camp' prisons
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Neighbourhood Watch
>From 1982, NW groups have used volunteers to help prevent and detect crimes in the their neighbourhood.
>The idea was to increase vigilance and education to prevent crime, as well as reduce the fear of crime.
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The move towards prevention- modern
>Much of modern policy is about reventing crimes as wells as catching criminals.
>Police Community Support Officers were introduced in 2002 to try to prevent crime in their communities.
>The police work with schools and community groups such as Nw to educate people to help protect themselves and their property.
>The police also play a major role in the government's Prevent programmes, which aims to challenge extremism and radicalisation.
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Reasons for the separate system
>Rehabilitation
>Retribution
>Deterrence
