Prison reform

Jails contained debtors. The jailer made his money by charging the inmates for food and drink and women. The conditions were terrible and you had to pay your way out. You even had to pay for a doctor!

There are two main prison reformers. The most notable reformer was John Howard who  visited several hundred prisons across England and Europe. He started when he was high sheriff of Bedfordshire. He was appalled to discover prisoners who had been acquitted but were still confined because they couldn't pay the jailer's fees. He…