The Giant Timeline of Crime and Punishment from 1800 to 1965!
Task:
 Examine the information below and categorise them into developments to do with
A) Crime and B) Prevention C) Punishment
 Then create a giant timeline of these events by cutting them and placing them in
order.
1777 John Howard writes a book called
‘The States of Prisons in England and
Wales’ where he says prisons are in need
of reform.
In 1808 a law is passed which
bans the death penalty from
being used for pickpocketing
In 1823 the Gaol Act is passed which says
that prisons should be healthy and that
men and women should be kept
separate.
In 1829 Sir Robert Peel sets up the
Metropolitan Police Force
From the 1930’s the 999 system was
introduced.
From 1901 the discovery of
blood groups and fingerprinting
helped to identify criminals more
easily
In 1872 the use of Stocks as a
punishment is stopped.
By 1840 only 5 crimes are
punishable by public hanging
In the 1850’s the ‘Separate System’ was
introduced in which criminals were kept
in solitary confinement as a punishment.
In 1963 the age of criminal
responsibility was raised to 10..
1837 Queen Victoria becomes
Queen
In 1842 the famous Pentonville Prison
opens which trials the new forms of
punishment.
In 1857 the government stops using
hulks-old sailing ships- as prisons
In 1833 the first prison
inspectors were appointed by
the government
In 1870 Police Helmets are
introduced for the first time.
From 1950 onwards there was a
steady increase in the amount of
crime committed. The increase in
crime is often attributed to the
fact that far more methods of
recording crime are available in
C20. Changes in society have
also affected the type of crime
committed: computer crime/ car
crime/ terrorism.
1933 the age of criminal
responsibility was raised to 8
Up to 1940 the recorded crime
rate in Britain fell
1948 detention centres were set
up to give a ‘short sharp shock’
sentences to juveniles
In 1853 Brixton Prison opens
soley for women.
From the 1960’s the use of the
motor car to conduct high speed
changes helped police.
In 1835 Police forces are allowed
to set up their own forces in
towns
In 1856 the government passed
a law saying every town must
have a police force.
By 1868 Transportation ends as a
punishment for men.
The introduction of a probation service
(1907) helped to reduce prison population
Since 1945 the work of the
police has become specialised
into groups such as the antifraud squad.
In 1800 75% of all crimes are
‘petty theft’
In 1832 The Reform Ac give Middle Class
men the right to vote
1900 Borstals for juvenile
offenders as an alternative to
prison
In 1818 the Treadmill is introduced as a
way of getting prisoners to grind wheat or
corn as useful work in prison.
In 1865 Male Prisoners to spend
at least 3 months of their
sentences on a treadmill or a
crank.
In 1820 a law is passed banning the
flogging of women in prison
From 1947 onwards the prison
population rose due to increase
in sentence length, numbers in
prison awaiting trial and numbers
of prisoners getting put away for
different crimes. Reform then
took a back seat as money was
short. Conditions in prisons got
worse. The government had to
build more prisons
In 1878 all prisons were then
controlled by the Government
In 1864 the Penal Servitude Act brings in
tougher sentences and punishment in
prison due to increasing crime rate.
In 1820 the last prisoner sentenced to
execution by beheading is killed.
In 1867 prisoners on trial for felony can
call a witness for the first time.
In 1871 the Prevention of crime act
introduced compulsory photography for
all offenders
In the 1850’s the ‘Silent System’ is
introduced where prisoners can mix but
only in absolute silence.
1898 – A prisoner on trial for felony is
allowed to give sworn evidence for the
first time.
In 1798 The Thames River Police
are set up
In 1838 Parkhurst Prison is
opened which is for young
offenders to be kept separate
from hardened criminals.
In 1815 Elizabeth Fry begins
working on prison reform for
women
In 1868 the last public execution
of hanging takes place.
In 1853 Reformatory Schools are
set up for children to stop them
committing a crime and give
them skills.
Capital punishment was
abolished in 1965
From 1922-47 Alexander
Patterson played a key part in
bringing reforms to prisons. He
argued that prisons were a
punishment in themselves and
prisoners should not be punished
inside them. Instead prisons
were seen as a place to educate
the criminal so that he would
leave with skills with which to
enter society. Emphasis was put
on reform not punishment.
In 1852 Transportation is ended
as a punishment for female
prisoners
In 1914 anyone needing more
time to pay fines was given it
rather than being sent to prison.
In 1787 the first Transportation
fleet to Australia takes place.
By 1900 only two crimes –
murder and treason – can now
be punished by hanging.
In 1842 the first plain clothed
detectives are set up at Scotland
Yard
By 1815 Gaolers are paid by the
govt and no longer have to rely
on what they get from prisoners.
In 1819 in Manchester soldiers
kill protestors.
IN 1811 a group of protestors
called the Luddites try to destroy
new machinery which is
threatening their jobs.
By 1877 all prisons become HMS
– controlled by govt.
By 1869 you could no longer be sent to
prison for not paying your debts.
By 1824 the Justice of the Peace are
made responsible for managing County
Gaols.
In 1831 the House of Lords blocks a bill
which would have given the vote to many
more men leading to riots across the
country.
In 1834 a group of famr labourers
called the Tolpuddle Martyrs are
transported to Australia for life
because of protesting against low
wages.
1847 Young people under 16
were to be tried in a special
court.
In 1836 prisoners on trial for
felony are allowed a defence
lawyer for first time.
By 1837 the Pillory is no longer
used as a punishment.
In 1869 the Habitual Criminals
Act set up the ticket of leave
which meant once prisoners had
left they has to prove they had
got a job.
In 1830-31 Farmworkers put out
of work by new machines protest
by wrecking them and burning
haystacks.
1855 the trial and execution of
Ruth Ellis – the last woman to be
hanged in Britain
1953 – the execution of Derek
Bentley for murder of a
policeman although he did not
commit the crime but he was
with a person who did and was
under 18.