Prisons in the Modern Period

What were prisons like in the 20th century?

The 20th century saw significant changes to the way prisons operated and the inmates' living conditions. In the first half of the century there was support for the rehabilitation of offenders, as well as greater concern for the welfare of more vulnerable groups such as young people.

What happened to prisons in the 20th century?

Prior to 1947 there were 6 main changes to prisons:

• ❖ In 1896, Broadmoor Hospital was opened to house mentally ill prisoners.
• ❖ In 1902, hard labour on the crank and treadwheel was abandoned.
• ❖ In 1907, probation was introduced. The person on probation had to report once a week to police and meet regularly with a probation officer. As long as they did not reoffend there would be no further punishment.
• ❖ In 1922, solitary confinement was ended. Prisoners were allowed to talk with each other and were permitted more visitors. The standard uniform, which featured broad arrows, was replaced by ordinary clothes.
• ❖ From 1922 onwards, diet, heating and conditions in cells improved gradually. Teachers were employed in prisons to give inmates a better chance of finding work after release.
• ❖ In 1933, the first open prison was introduced at New Hall, Wakefield.

What were open prisons in the modern period?

There are 4 main features of open prisons:

• ❖ The rules at open prisons were more relaxed than those in traditional prisons of the time.
• ❖ Prisoners with minor records, those nearing the end of their sentence or those deemed not to be a threat were allowed to leave the prison to work for the day.
• ❖ This was to prepare them for ordinary life back in the community.
• ❖ The use of open prisons was expanded and continues today.

Why did prisons change before 1947 in the modern period?

There were 5 main factors resulting in changes to the prison system prior to 1947:

• ❖ Crime and fear of crime reduced, so there was less pressure on prisons to be seen to be harsh.
• ❖ Between 1910 and the 1930s, the prison population halved because more people were put on probation. From 1914, people were given more time to pay fines.
• ❖ The belief that people inherited their criminal tendencies declined. Instead, many thought poverty or a criminal environment caused people to commit crimes. This raised hopes that better treatment and education in prison might reform inmates.
• ❖ There was a growing belief that the certainty of arrest rather than prison was the real deterrent.
• ❖ Prison commissioner Alexander Paterson was influential in pushing for and overseeing many changes to the prison system. He argued that probation and rehabilitation were essential.

What happened to the prison population in the 20th century?

The prison population began to rise steeply after the 1940s. This trend has continued to the present day, with the number of of prisoners doubling to almost 90,000 between 1993 and 2015.

What caused the prison population to rise in the 20th century?

The rise in the prison population is due to several reasons.

• ❖ Fear of crime increased after the mid-20th century and politicians reacted to public concerns that they were 'soft' on crime:
• ❖ The average length of sentences has increased. Prisoners are locked away for longer as governments seek to be 'tough on crime'.
• ❖ There is an increased chance of a prison sentence for certain crimes, particularly sexual, violent or drug-related offences.
• ❖ The number of people on remand (in prison as they await trial) has increased.

What problems do prisons have today?

More recently, the prison system has had to deal with 5 key problems:

• ❖ Prison overcrowding peaked in the 1980s. Prisons have remained overcrowded since 1994.
• ❖ Reduced budget cuts and difficulties in recruiting have led to fewer staff looking after more prisoners.
• ❖ There have been ongoing problems with deaths in custody, which reached a record number in 2014.
• ❖ In recent years there has been a decline in purposeful activity such as work or education for prisoners. In 2014, Ofsted judged over half of prisons as inadequate or requiring improvement for learning and skills.
• ❖ The current cost of keeping someone in prison for a year is estimated at £40,000, and reoffending rates are high. Therefore, questions continue to be asked about the use of prisons as a punishment in modern society.

How did the government respond to the rise of the prison population in the 20th century?

In response to the growth in the prison population, coupled with underfunding, the government in the 1980s decided to build more prisons that were privately run. It also agreed on alternative punishments.

Why were the alternatives to prisons brought in the 20th century?

There were 3 main reasons why alternatives to prison were brought in:

• ❖ The pressures on the prison system.
• ❖ Changing attitudes in society that meant more people believed prisoners should have a chance to change rather than simply be punished.
• ❖ Modern courts often use alternative punishments that focus on reform and rehabilitation.

What were the alternatives to prison in the 20th century?

There are 7 main alternatives to prison:

• ❖ Parole was introduced in 1967, allowing prisoners early release from prison if they behave well.
• ❖ Suspended sentences were also introduced in 1967. If offenders do not reoffend within a specified period of time, their sentence is waived.
• ❖ In 1972, community service orders were introduced. Criminals are required to do a number of hours work to benefit the community, such as clearing a rundown area or cleaning graffiti from buildings.
• ❖ In the 1990s electronic tagging experiments were introduced. These are a form of probation. Offenders wear an electronic tag which lets police observers know where they are at any time.
• ❖ In 1998, the anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) was introduced. This is a court order that places restrictions on what a person can do, for example where they are allowed to go or who they can talk to. They are usually issued to people who repeatedly behave in an anti-social way.
• ❖ Drug and alcohol treatment programmes offer support and treatment to people who got involved in crime because of their addictions.
• ❖ Restorative justice allows the criminal to meet their victim to talk about what they have done and understand the impact it has had on others. In some cases, the meeting will be with a relative of the victim.