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Prisoner Health and Well-Being in Historical Perspective, 1850-1900: Exploring Experiences of Illness and Disability in the Victorian Convict System

Turner, Jo; Johnston, Helen

Authors

Jo Turner



Abstract

Using historical and archival methodological approaches, this article provides an interdisciplinary empirical study of health experiences of prisoners in the Victorian convict prison in England and Wales. It explores the challenges of doing historical criminological work on prisoner health and disability. The article examines the health of long-term prisoners, those serving sentences of penal servitude and their interactions and treatment by the Prison Medical Officers in the system. Reflecting society outside, the prison population was drawn from populations that had experienced childhood illness, workplace accidents and war and therefore had to accommodate those suffering from both short and long-term health issues. Using historical documentation and case studies of individual prisoners, this article highlights the deep scepticism the system had for those they saw as ‘malingerers’, but also the recognition that some people could not endure the full force of the prison labour regime.

Citation

Turner, J., & Johnston, H. (online). Prisoner Health and Well-Being in Historical Perspective, 1850-1900: Exploring Experiences of Illness and Disability in the Victorian Convict System. Journal of Criminal Law, https://doi.org/10.1177/00220183241278094

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 29, 2024
Online Publication Date Oct 1, 2024
Deposit Date Sep 1, 2024
Publicly Available Date Oct 1, 2024
Print ISSN 0022-0183
Electronic ISSN 1740-5580
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/00220183241278094
Keywords Disability; Prisons; History
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4793585

Files

Accepted manuscript (483 Kb)
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Copyright Statement
Turner, J., & Johnston, H., Prisoner Health and Well-Being in Historical Perspective, 1850–1900: Exploring Experiences of Illness and Disability in the Victorian Convict System, The Journal of Criminal Law (Journal Volume Number and Issue Number) pp. xx-xx. Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/00220183241278094.




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