Industrial British Crime and Punishment

The loss of freedom and liberty was now seen as a punishment, and the poor conditions of prison were seen as unecessary extensions of that punishment. People wanted prisoners to becpme better people when they left prison; something unlikely to happen under the old system.

Old system - since the 18th century, most prisons were damp, dirty and overcrowded. There were no specific wings for violent criminals or less secure wings for fraudsters - everyone was together.

Jailers were not paid and made money charging inmates for their work. You would have to pay them to let you into your cell, unlock your shackles, give you food, and even let you out when your sentence was over. Prisons depended on families and charities to give them the needed money. 

The first reforms (1820s) - The home secretary, Robert Peel, passed the first set of reform acts in the 1820s…