To What Extent Was the Creation of Pentonville a Turning Point in Approaches to Criminals Between 1830 and 1965?

To what extent was the creation of Pentonville a turning point in approaches to criminals between 1830 and 1965?

Crime and punishment in Britain has changed dramatically over the centuries. There is debate amongst historians to what were the most important turning points in the treatment of criminals in Britain. I have chosen three turning points along side the creation of Pentonville to investigate. These points include the abolition of the Bloody Code in the 1830’s, the introduction and abolition of transportation to Australia and finally the abolition of capital punishment in 1965. I shall be analysing all of these events and judging which is the most crucial.

Transportation was the extradition of British criminals to the colonies of America and then Australia after the American War of Independence. Transportation was introduced in the 1780’s to provide a less severe alternative to hanging but also as a punishment still harsh enough to terrify and deter. Transportation was intended to be a replacement for the Bloody Code and to provide settlers for the new colony of Australia. In addition, transportation unintentionally introduced the idea of a probation system in the early 1810’s. While in Australia, criminals would receive a ticket of leave for good behaviour; this formed the basis of the modern probation service but was not introduced in Britain until 1907. Transportation forced criminals into duties, under wealthy land owners, which would build Australia as a firm British colony. Some prisoners were treated very well by their masters while others weren’t. Initially the conditions on the hulks which transported the criminals were abysmal as the shippers were paid for how many criminals they held so would only set sail when the ship was full. This meant that many died of disease on the journey. However this system was changed so the shippers were paid for how many criminals arrived in Australia meaning conditions improved vastly. Nevertheless transportation was abolished in 1868 due to the increasing expense and a sudden Gold Rush in the 1850’s in Australia which led to opportunistic migration into the colony . The subsequent abolition of transportation meant criminals would have to be punished in Britain which led to the expansion of prisons like Pentonville yet some criminals were housed on prison hulks on the coast due to a massive overstretching of the prison service, with conditions reverting back to dire once again. Prison ships were also reintroduced in the 1980’s as a solution to overcrowded prisons marking a return to poorer prison conditions.

Transportation is a key turning point due to its introduction as an alternate punishment to hanging after the abolition of the Bloody Code. Furthermore the abolition of transportation meant that prisons would have to be expanded to hold criminals that otherwise would have been sent