Let Them Dance

The 1800's saw the introduction of new systems and a tightening of the prison regime. The "Silent and Separate Systems" were used either to keep a regime of silence or to keep prisoners in solitary confinement. The idea being prisoners could not infect each other with criminal ways. These methods were soon criticised with people citing the high incidences of insanity amongst prisoners.

Improvements were made in 1815 when an Act was passed to prevent jailers from charging prisoners. The state now paid jailers, while magistrates were given the responsibility of inspecting the jails. The Gaols Act changed this in 1835 when it introduced prison inspectors to advise local authorities.

In 1850 the Convict Service was established which gave the Secretary of State the authority to appoint Directors of Convict Prisons who took over the management of the hulks, and of the prisons.

Uniformed staff carried out the bulk of the work in convict prisons. Their work involved discipline, clerical, educational and instructional duties. By 1877 all prison staff were salaried and commissioners stressed that staff would be selected on merit alone.

The Prisons Act of 1878 brought all prisons under the control of a national system run by the Prison Commission and later the Prison Department. As a result, prison commissioners were appointed to inspect all prisons and submit annual reports on the prisons to Parliament.

The Act led to the closure of the worst prisons in the country and set the tone for the future by adopting John Howard's principle of prisons being for reformation rather then punishment. It was believed that reformation and deterrence should now be the main objectives of prisons.

Two alternatives were introduced. Decarceration, which involved replacing prison sentences, with supervision in the community and Therapeutic Incarceration, which reduced the penal elements of prisons.

In 1919 prison warders were renamed prison officers. Separate confinement of prisoners was abolished in 1922 and soon over 400 voluntary teachers started work in prisons.

However, prison staff struggled to implement the therapeutic regime in prisons that were unsuitable for the task. It became clear that officer's training was not keeping pace with the growing sophistication of the Service. Improvements were made in 1935 when the first staff-training course was established at Wakefield Prison.

During the Second World War large number A of prison officers and prisoners were released to fight for their country. Staff shortages resulted in a recruitment drive, which led to a significant rise in the numbers of women prison officers.

The 1948 Criminal Justice Act recommended longer periods of imprisonment to allow time for training and rehabilitation of prisoners. As a result efforts were made to involve prison officers in the reform of prisoners.

Now, in 2007 a new turn has been taken in the reforming of those who have chosen the criminal path...... utter embarassment.

Yes, I dare say set aside the pillary, the shackles, the work gangs, the solitary confinement...... let them dance!!!