The Gaol Act (4 Geo 4 c 64), sometimes called the Gaol Act 1823, the Gaols Act 1823, the Gaols, etc. (England) Act 1823, the Prison Act 1823, or the Prisons Act 1823, was an Act of the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace of Westminster, London. It alone possesses legislative suprema ...

to reform prisons.

Overview

The idea of prison reform was promoted in the early 19th century by

Elizabeth Fry Elizabeth Fry (née Gurney; 21 May 1780 – 12 October 1845), sometimes referred to as Betsy Fry, was an English prison reformer, social reformer, philanthropist and Quaker. Fry was a major driving force behind new legislation to improve the tr ...

and her brother

Joseph John Gurney Joseph John Gurney (2 August 1788 – 4 January 1847) was a banker in Norwich, England and a member of the Gurney family of that city. He became an evangelical minister of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), whose views and actions led, ...

. In particular, Fry was appalled at the conditions in the women's section of

Newgate Prison Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey Street just inside the City of London, England, originally at the site of Newgate, a gate in the Roman London Wall. Built in the 12th century and demolished in 1904, t ...

. This Act was introduced and supported by Home Secretary

Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was a British Conservative statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835 and 1841–1846) simultaneously serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer ...

. It introduced regular visits to prisoners by chaplains; provided for the payment of gaolers, who had previously been paid out of fees that the prisoners themselves were required to pay; stated that female and male prisoners should be kept separated as well as requiring the installation of female wardens to guard female prisoners; and prohibited the use of irons and manacles. It also lifted the death penalty from 130 crimes. The Act was largely ineffective, because there were no inspectors to make sure that it was being followed. The

Prisons Act 1835 A prison, also known as a jail, gaol (dated, standard English, Australian, and historically in Canada), penitentiary (American English and Canadian English), detention center (or detention centre outside the US), correction center, correcti ...

offered a remedy by providing for the appointment of five paid prison inspectors. This helped to stop the exploitation of prisoners.

Notes and references

*John Raithby. The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Printed by George Eyre and Andrew Strahan. London. 1824. Volume 9. Page
249
to 272. 1823 in law United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1823 Penal system in England 1823 in England {{UK-statute-stub

Overview

See also

Notes and references