| 1777 |
John Howard published his controversial report on the
state of Prisons in England and Wales |
| 1787 |
Transportation to Australia commenced |
| 1788 |
Philanthropic Society established |
| 1820 |
Select Committee Report leading to Gaol Act 1823 |
| 1823 |
GAOL ACT; initiated by Sir Robert Peel, Home Secretary, sought to improve
standards and uniformity in the operation of local prisons |
| 1835 |
THE PRISONS ACT; appointment of 5 Inspectors of Prisons |
| 1835 |
Mary Carpenter (1807-1877) founded Working & Visiting Society |
| 1844 |
An Act to authorise the appointment of Surveyor General of Prisons and
introduce controls for building new Prisons |
| 1846 |
Mary Carpenter opened a Ragged-School in Bristol |
| 1847 |
JUVENILE OFFENDERS ACT; children under 14 to be tried summarily by 2
Magistrates |
| 1850 |
Age for children to be summarily tried raised to 16 |
| 1851 |
Mary Carpenter published "Reformatory schools for the Children of
the perishing and dangerous classes and for Juvenile offenders" |
| 1852 |
Mary Carpenter established a Reformatory school for Boys in Bristol |
| 1854 |
Mary Carpenter established a Reformatory school for Girls in
Bristol |
| 1868 |
PRISONS ACT; moved executions from Public places into Prisons |
| 1876 |
EDUCATION ACT; introduced Industrial Day schools and Truant schools |
| 1877 |
Powers, Responsibilities and Cost transferred to Home Secretary from
Local Justices. Administration delegated to The Prison Commission consisting
of five members. |
| 1895 |
The Gladstone Report; many recommendations made and incorporated by
Prisons Act 1898 |
| 1898 |
PRISONS ACT; radical changes in nature of prison labour. crank and tread
wheel demolished. |
| 1902 |
Reform School commenced in Borstal, Kent |
| 1907 |
Probation introduced |
| 1905 |
Children's Charter created Juvenile Court's |
| 1905 |
First Children's Court commenced in Birmingham |
| 1932 |
Reformatory Schools replaced by Approved Schools |
| 1965 |
Corporal Punishment Abolished, except in cases of Treason and Violent
Piracy. |
Prisons Timeline