starter activity

Describe the picture or source here.

What does this recent survey in the Daily Telegraph reveal about popular attitudes towards prisons today?

What sorts of questions would historians ask before using a source like this?

Separate or Separate or silent?silent?

TBAT explain and evaluate TBAT explain and evaluate the differences between the differences between different approaches to different approaches to

prisons in C19th prisons in C19th

Learning objectives

Key words: deterrent separate v silent system rehabilitate

Your Your tasktask

Watch the clip Watch the clip from Tony from Tony Robinson’s, Robinson’s, ‘Crime & ‘Crime & Punishment’ Punishment’ on Victorian on Victorian prisons and prisons and answer the answer the questionsquestions

Your taskYour task Read Wilkes (p.79-80) and take Read Wilkes (p.79-80) and take

notes on the characteristics of these notes on the characteristics of these two types of prisons:two types of prisons: SilentSilent SeparateSeparate

Which of these systems would Which of these systems would Elizabeth Fry and the prison Elizabeth Fry and the prison reformers prefer?reformers prefer?

SilentSilent Performance of boring Performance of boring

tasktask No communication No communication

with other prisonerswith other prisoners Examples of tasks, Examples of tasks,

treadmill, picking treadmill, picking oakum, crankoakum, crank

Prisoners wearing a peaked cap to

prevent communication

SeparateSeparate Solitary confinement Solitary confinement

within prison cellwithin prison cell Prison chaplain would try Prison chaplain would try

to convince prisoner to to convince prisoner to lead a better lifelead a better life

Pentonville (opened 1842) Pentonville (opened 1842) model ‘separate system’model ‘separate system’

Suicide rates were high & Suicide rates were high & system was expensivesystem was expensive Pentonville Prison plans

Your taskYour task Study the information in Source F on Study the information in Source F on

p.81. Decide if punishments got p.81. Decide if punishments got harsher or more humane and plot harsher or more humane and plot them on a chart. Explain your them on a chart. Explain your judgements. judgements. Prisons/

punishments getting tougher

1820 1878

Your taskYour task It is 1878. Imagine you are an MP. Write It is 1878. Imagine you are an MP. Write

a speech to Parliament setting out why a speech to Parliament setting out why you think government should take you think government should take control of prisons. Include the following:control of prisons. Include the following:

Description of silent and separate systemDescription of silent and separate system References of recent reforms of prisonsReferences of recent reforms of prisons Explanation of the purpose of prisons in Explanation of the purpose of prisons in

your view & why it is important for your view & why it is important for government to take control of prisonsgovernment to take control of prisons

Extension taskExtension task Conduct your own Conduct your own

research into research into Jeremy Bentham Jeremy Bentham and his and his ‘Panopticon’ – ‘Panopticon’ – produce a factoid produce a factoid for your folder for your folder notesnotes