What were the major forces that contributed to the creation of the Prisons Act of 1877?
Students are advised to read Wilson’s Pain and Retribution: A Short History of British Prisons, especially Chapter 3. This Chapter will provide the basic context that will need to be considered. However, students who want to score more highly should consult the whole book and refer to Wilson’s core arguments within their essay. Follow up on the references used by Wilson and read these to help your own understanding. How does Wilson use contemporary penal theory to support his argument? Here you might want to employ the idea that prison has a number of “competing audiences” to which it must make itself legitimate