How successful were John Howard’s prison reforms?
Date
Event
Why is this important?
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William the Conqueror invaded
England and defeated the Saxons at
the Battle of Hastings.
The Normans showed their power by
building stone castles. Enemies and
criminals could be locked-up in filthy
conditions in the castle dungeons.
1166
Henry II began to build prisons
Henry II built Newgate prison in
London.
The conditions were basic. Prisoners
slept on bare earth and received
bread and water every other day.
The prison warders charged for
everything including food, blankets
and fuel for warmth.
1400s
Houses of Correction are built in
response to the growing problems of
vagrancy (homeless and
unemployed people begging for
alms)
The Houses of Correction were used
to deal with people accused of
begging.
These people were known as
vagabonds.
They had to work in return for food.
1774
1774 Gaol Act
John Howard helped to change the
law to improve prison conditions.
Warders were paid by the
government; prisoners were given
better medical treatment and were
visited by clergymen. The new rules
were not always obeyed.
1777
John Howard investigated prison
conditions and wrote a report called
The State of Prisons in England and
Wales.
John Howard found that prison
conditions were filthy and most
people were in prison because they
owed money.
1790
John Howard died in the Ukraine.
His work influenced Elizabeth Fry.
1815
Gaolers were paid out of taxes.
Prisoners were no longer charged
fees.
1817
Elizabeth Fry formed the Association
for the Improvement of Female
Prisoners in Newgate. She organised
societies to improve prison
conditions.
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1821
A prisoner called James Hillier wrote
to the House of Commons to ask for
help. He described the appalling
conditions inside Ilchester gaol.
1835
The first prison inspectors were
appointed.
Rules for prisoners to obey
Female warders
Clothing and furniture
Schools & religious education
The 1774 Gaol Act had limited
impact due to the lack of prison
inspectors before 1835.
Date
Event
Why is this important?
1835
General rules for prisons introduced
The Government was gradually
taking responsibility for prison
conditions.
1838
Parkhurst Prison was opened
The first prison opened for the
young.
1842
Pentonville prison was built. It was
intended to be a model prison for
others to copy, keeping prisoners in
almost permanent isolation.
The experiment of rehabilitating
criminals through solitary
confinement was unsuccessful due
to the high suicide rate.
1857
The Government ended the use of
hulks as prisons in Britain.
1864
The Penal Servitude Act made
prison conditions much more severe
as a reaction against violent crimes
like the Garrotting Crisis of the early
1860s (strangling victims to rob
them more easily). Stricter prison
conditions were introduced for the
next 30 years.
An MP was garrotted outside the
House of Commons and the crime
was blamed on former prison
inmates. Harsh punishments were
introduced in prisons, including hard
labour; minimum 5 year sentences
for a second offence; whipping;
electric shocks and bread and water
diets.
1866
The Howard League for Penal
(prison) Reform was established to
help prisoners.
The league continues to help to
rehabilitate prisoners, especially
children and young people.
It was named after John Howard.
1870
The Education Act
This Act made education compulsory
for the first time (children under 10).
1899
The first Borstal opened in Kent.
Reformatory schools for young
criminals.