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By: Alena, Chris, and Emily

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People were bothered about law and order in Victorian Britain. The Victorian era was not free from crimes. The people believed that only punishment can serve as a solution to the problem of increasing the crime rate.

The number of convicted criminals increased so sharply that they decided that prisons were the best form of punishment. Between 1842 and 1857, 90 prisons were built. Charles Dickens discusses the life in these prisons in his works like Great expectations. In Victorian England, Debt was no less than a crime.

Who went to a debtor's prison?

The debtors were sent to jail until they were able to pay off their debts. These were called debtors prisons, a peculiar form of punishment. Indefinite incarceration was the mode of punishment. Sometimes, the convicts stayed with their families in the prison. Family members were free to come and go according to their wish. Therefore, even children were born and raised there.

Debtor's prison living conditions

The prisons were full of rats, lice and fleas. The prisoners were denied basic necessities of life such as food, water and clothing. It is said that these places were dirty and filthy that around 25% of the inmates died due to these horrible living conditions.

The debtors were imprisoned and tortured at the pleasure of the creditors. When other countries of Europe had legislation limiting the debt imprisonment term to 1 year, England did not have such a law. When in 1842, the fleet prison was closed; it was found that debtors were there for more than 30 years.

It was the Bankruptcy act of 1869 which abolished debtors prisons.

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Victorian Era England Debt Prisons History & Living Conditions

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People were bothered about law and order in Victorian Britain. The Victorian era was not free from crimes. The people believed that only punishment can serve as a solution to the problem of increasing the crime rate. The number of convicted criminals increased so sharply that they decided that prisons were the best form of punishment.

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Built to teach offenders their lessons, so people made prisons a horrible environment to live in

There was a debtors prison, where you would go to if you were in debt and you were considered a criminal.

If you were a debtor you could work for money and earn your way out of prison or have someone pay for you to get out.

There also regular prison for normal criminals

There were separate prisons for debtors and other criminals

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A Victorian prison - The National Archives

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Victorians were worried about the rising crime rate: offences went up from about 5,000 per year in 1800 to about 20,000 per year in 1840.

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-90% of serious offenders were sent to prison as there punishment
- The separate system was where prisoners were sent in isolation and they were not allowed to talk to one another
- This separate system was made because it was a time for them to reflect on there crime
- The prison scentences included hard labor and work
-After the 1865 Prison System, the sentences were made even tougher because they replaced the stuff they had in before
Ex) the hard plank beds replaced the hammocks they had before

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Damp

Unhealthy

Insanitary

Over-crowded

People where kept together no matter their state of health (even mentally)

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Debtors - Victorian Crime and Punishment from E2BN

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Until 1970 it was technically possible to be imprisoned for being in debt and unable to pay. During the 18th and early 19th centuries more than half of all prisoners were debtors. In some places, e.g. the Fleet in London, there were separate prisons for debtors, but in most local prisons the debtors were simply kept apart from other prisoners in their own wings.

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What was life like in prison for young Victorian offenders? | History - Victorian Villains