Did Victorian Prisons Actually Try To Reform Prisoners? | Secrets From The Clink | Timeline

The second of a two-part programme in which celebrities embark on an emotional journey to discover how their ancestors coped with serving time in Victorian prisons. Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman is shocked to learn his great-great-grandfather was assaulted by his own son, who was convicted and subjected to hard labour building docks and quarrying for stone.

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[LuzMaria]

One thing I love about British history is the record keeping. Everything is pretty much written down to the exact second it happened. That’s marvelous.

[haggis]

The USA 🇺🇸 has tens of thousands of people in prison for debt in 2021... it's not called "debtors prison" but it is, in effect, the same idea.
Another wonderful idea that the US prison system has is private "for profit" prisons. More tens of thousands of American people are effectively slaves that work for private enterprise and receive almost nothing for their labours - the money for that labour goes to the prison.
We don't need to look 150 years into our past to see horrific injustice... just look to the USA 🇺🇸.

[lisasutherland-fraser]

Loved this part 2! So impressed by Mary Reibey who I have to gain complete ignorance of such an amazing Australian woman on our $20 note!! Really love connecting people with these people who spent time in prison. Want more!!!

[realityquotient]

Nobody conspired against 'poor old Henry' when he tried to kill his entire family.

I think the core problem of habitual offenders is a three-part one. Firstly there's the issue of far too many things being criminalized, secondly is the issue of people who choose to prey on their fellows, and thirdly is the problem of rehabilitation (if that's even possible for some).

[MissMarinaCapri]

Send all the non violent prisoners to college or a trade school. Pay tuition and dorm, food, etc. way cheaper than actual prisons. Then you get a productive member of society for your investment. If they refuse to go and learn, toss them in a cell and leave them there until they’re ready to start learning again.

[bobbysalkeld]

The debtor's prisons are outrageous.

[anshdangi]

The survivors should be honoured more than Victorian Era... Miserable conditions where one would loose appetite to live, still many of them managed to get out of it and few of them like Mary achieved many things even with the punishment of transportation... I feel that Victorian Era was crucial in form of documents, architecture, industries but still cruel for prisoners and people where colonial system existed.

[celticman]

Here in the States, the modern day equivalency of debtors prison is the delinquent child support consequence. If a father is hauled up before aJudge in a "Family Court" established exclusively for the purpose of calculating and enforcing financial support of a child, no matter what he future misfortunes may be he can find himself quickly in arrears and the first punitive step is for the suspension of his Driver's license. Making his prospects of gainful employment even more difficult. Jail time shortly follows, and any income tax refunds are seized by the Court as are any unrelated legal windfalls published in the legal journals or class action lawsuit proceeds.
The thinking behind closed doors is that the father's family will somehow pool their resources and pay the debt, however, that cheery outcome isn't always possible, and the father is utterly destroyed. Along with an arrest and Jail record for future disadvantage.

[AdCurves]

Glad you feel sorry for Henry - so what are you doing for the homeless, the ones society forgets?

[bluetopguitar]

I sometimes wonder if any prison has really been about rehabilitation. It seems like a great way for politicians to make political points. I understand that some people can't be saved but many can.

[hint]

I don't know if they reformed, but they sure made people not want to come back

[Green_Roc]

People who dont follow social norms are often rejected so strongly, I'm not surprised the body breaks down and dies from poor treatment (my body is weak from decades of ignoring my pains, to obey orders, as my obedience helped me avoid punishments). I'm glad I dont live in the past times, but presently, most of society seems to be against me (I'm autistic). The oppression of odd people still exists in places where diversity of humanity is frowned upon. This show has helped me better understand the motivations behind some oppressive mannerisms that seek to destroy my life. How humbling to know, my life could be worse. How dare I not follow societal norms? Comes naturally to me. I'm not trying to be bad, I'm trying to avoid pain, and I continue on my journey to figure out how to live the best life I can, without becoming passive. I need my autonomy in my life, or I have no life. Persevere.

[LuchadorMasque]

No prisons reform their prisoners. That's not their purpose. Never has been and never will be.

Edit: there may be 1 or 2 Scandinavian exceptions to this, credit where it's due.

[rascallyrabbit]

Stonehenge.. if the Druids came back, they would only wonder why we didn't fix it up

[savantianprince]

Ban prisons and use death penalties for violent offender's

[tiffsaver]

21st century prisons don't try to reform prisoners. Do you think that 19th century prisons did??

[shellc]

What does Len think quarry workers had to put up with ?

[albertspencer]

Jails and prisons, It's a money machine.
Best not to be the one wasting 🕐 and life there.
Enough said.

[cassieoz]

Ex-cons still get no or minimal after care in most places

[NothingToNoOneInParticular]

This system needs bringing back for bankers, bureaucrat's and politician's! I find it funny it takes a hundred years for some of these people to figure out "Life is so unfair." They are still kicking down the average Joe. ALways remember YOU are the carbon they want to neutralize! DAVOS decrees you WILL eat bugs, live in a tiny house, own nothing and be happy. Just like the happy serf of yesteryear.