Discipline and disorder in English prisons : aspects of policy and resistance 1840-1920

This thesis is an historical examination of English prisons from 1840 to 1920 which approaches the complexity of this institution from the perspective of the disturbances which occurred within it. The primary aim is not to analyse the form and extent of prison disturbances during this period, although this will be considered, but rather to concentrate upon the origins, causes and effects of these disturbances. English prison disturbances are examined on several inter-linking levels with regard to the structure, policy and relationships within the prison and the ways in which these interacted and produced disorder. Analysis of the separate categories of prisoners with regard to gender, age, physical or mental disability will be limited as this thesis is concerned with the prisoner largely in terms of position and status. The reason for examining the prison from the perspective of its internal disturbances is that they often revealed a great deal about the policies, problems and coercive nature of the institution. Indeed it has been asserted that power "unexercised is seldom as visible as power which is challenged."! Prison discipline was such an important environmental determinant that much of this thesis also entails consideration of its functions and influence. It is clear that the problem of maintaining discipline and order on a daily basis in prison was never far removed from the problem of disorder.'The majority of offences were minor infringements of the prison rules and regulations but these were often committed in large numbers. In the second half of the nineteenth century the number of prison offences committed annually in each of the large public works prisons in England often amounted to over two thousand. For example, between the years 1865 and 1875 the annual total of prison offences committed in Portland Convict Prison fell below two thousand in only one year and was over four thousand in four years. The daily average number of convicts in Portland Prison during this period remained fairly stable and was usually between 1550 and 1575. The task of detecting, processing and adjudicating on these offences was a major administrative undertaking. The large number of minor offences that were punished in English prisons during this period must also be understood in the context of a large degree of discretion which operated within the prison system. For instance, individual prisons varied with regard to the effectiveness of the supervision and the priority placed upon punishment in the operation of discipline by the prison administrators. These were important factors in determining the detection, punishment and recording of prison offences.This thesis considers, therefore, the broad range of prison disturbances because of the significance that could be attached to even the smallest actions and the problems these posed for prison management. One important factor to note, however, is that in many cases the most detailed, extensive and valuable evidence available concerns the larger-scale, combined disturbances which more directly and seriously threatened the discipline and order of the prisons. These were also the forms of prison disturbance which were the most vigorously put down. Where the evidence has been particularly useful in examining the origins and causes of prison disorder the large disturbances have been concentrated upon. Hence chapter three examines the causes and consequences of a major riot in Chatham Convict Prisons in 1861 in which over 800 convicts became involved.The fundamental themes of this thesis constitute an analysis of the facets of the prison which caused disorder not only during the historical point at which they are examined here but into the late twentieth century. The extreme monotony of prison regimes, legitimacy problems and the unpredictability of inmate subcultures are all elements which still affect the stability of English prisons. A tendency of prison authorities to rely on deterrence in the face of internal problems or public criticism and an in built structural resistance to change in an institution that often composes the last resort in dealing with social problems also remains. The activities of political interest groups which break the law have been among the most contentious of the social problems which have been reflected in the prison

The sad demise of z.D.H.38 Ernest Collins: suicide, informers and the debate on the abolition of flogging

In 1934, a convict was found hanged in his cell. His final words reveal the fearful state of his mind on learning his appeal against a sentence of flogging had been rejected. Historical records about his prison life offer insights into suicide and prison informers, subjects which have received little attention from historians. His activities as an informer increased the weight of imprisonment for him in the period prior to his death. He is a statistic in the Prison Commissioners’ annual report, but his death became a crucial component of rejuvenated campaigns for an enquiry into the use of corporal punishment.</p

Could Distributed Ledger Shares Lead to an Increase in Stockholder-Approved Mergers and Subsequently an Increase in Exercise of Appraisal Rights?

Blockchain, the distributed ledger technology underlying cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, is poised to revolutionize industries and processes across disciplines. In particular, government agencies and companies are looking for ways to leverage blockchain’s efficiencies to facilitate safe record-keeping. Municipalities are employing blockchain-issued deeds to accurately record property ownership. Progressive legal professionals are employing blockchainissued “smart-contracts” to more accurately record contract terms. Intellectual property attorneys and related government agencies are researching blockchain-issued copyrights and patents. This Note examines how utilizing blockchain technology in securities trading to maintain accurate stockholder ledgers will allow for current market forces to be reflected in stockholder voting. Further, this Note seeks to address how blockchain-issued shares of stock could affect stockholder approved mergers and the exercise of appraisal rights. This Note posits that accurate stockholder ledgers will lead to an increase in stockholder approved mergers, but will not have an effect on the exercise of appraisal rights

Show me the prison! the development of prison tourism in the UK

This paper presents an analysis of the historical development and interpretation of prison tourism in the UK Britain and the influence of this on current representations of prison museums via prison museum websites. While there has been significant examination of various prison museums overseas there has been comparatively little published on these institutions in the UK Britain. In response to contending pressures, prison museums have endeavoured to present a balanced and objective depiction of past prison systems whilst their promotional websites, which serve to draw in customers, frequently rely on ‘popular’ depictions. These representations raise important questions as prisons cannot be seen as neutral or apolitical, neither those in the early 21st century nor those of the past. Despite these pressures, prison museums have great potential to increase public understanding of the prison; this paper promotes a more ethical, multi-perspective and politically diverse interpretation within prison museums.</jats:p

Exploring a problem-based learning approach in pharmaceutics.

Objective. The basis of this study was to explore the impact of the initiation of a Problem-Base Learning (PBL) approach within a second-year pharmaceutics degree on a Master of Pharmacy programme, introduced as a way of improving deep learning and to foster independent learning. Design. A semi-structured interview was used to seek feedback from the students, and feedback from staff was secured though a focus group. A thematic approach was used for the analysis, once data saturation had been reached. Exam pass-rate statistics were also analysed. Assessment. Five parent themes were identified from the student interviews: Module structure, Promoting lifelong learning, Integration and future practice, Outcomes and Student experience. The third year exam pass rate improved by 12% in the year following the introduction of PBL in second year. Conclusions. Various recommendations were proposed to further improve the module, based on the findings of this study. These include improving feedback and support through tutorials, reducing the volume of directed study, as well as highlighting the relevance of pharmaceutics to the pharmacy degree. A long-term review would be needed to assess the full implications of PBL teaching within this course

Alcohol management plans and related alcohol reforms

Abstract Indigenous Justice Clearinghouse Research Brief 16 provides an analysis of Alcohol Management Plans (AMPs); a relatively new instrument joining the extensive range of regulations relating to alcohol supply and consumption. AMPs vary in design and implementation across Australia, and include strategies designed to reduce harms resulting from alcohol misuse. The authors chart the background and development of these instruments in Australia, as well as providing a comparison to international alcohol supply and control reforms. The authors find that evaluations in the public domain are limited. These evaluations appear to indicate that where AMPs are locally driven and owned, there are stronger and more sustainable outcomes. There is a good evidence base for the individual components that make up an AMP. Success has been achieved through alcohol restrictions, and both harm and demand reduction strategies have an evidence base as targeted interventions. The authors conclude that as more AMPs are implemented across Australia, there is a greater need for further research to better understand the process of implementation and how communities can work together with governments to design, implement and evaluate AMPs

Developing social media guidelines for undergraduate pharmacy students.

Background: Literature suggests that undergraduate (UG) healthcare students should have social media (SoMe) guidelines that support their context as future professionals. Guidelines may address the blurred lines between professional and personal use of SoMe which have led to confusion over potential fitness to practise (FtP) consequences from inappropriate online behaviours. Methods: An online survey was sent to MPharm students in 22 institutions across UK and Ireland. Questions explored the definition of eprofessionalism, characteristics of appropriate/inappropriate online behaviour, consequences of inappropriate behaviours, content and delivery of SoMe guidelines. Results: A total of 341 students from all MPharm stages responded representing all areas of the UK and Ireland. Although respondents agreed with the definition of eprofessionalism, there was a perceived need for the definition to be more 'usable', with a need to update terminology. Whilst there was agreement on what behaviours were 'appropriate', there was little consensus on what the consequences of 'inappropriate' behaviours should be. Students do not readily use SoMe guidelines but suggest they should be accessible with a variety of methods used to engage students effectively. Conclusion: There remains a lack of awareness of the potential consequences for inappropriate online behaviours. Guidelines should include examples of appropriate and inappropriate behaviours with discussion of the potential FtP consequences

Social media and eprofessionalism in pharmacy students.

Background: Literature suggests inappropriate use of social media (SoMe) is evident amongst undergraduate (UG) pharmacy students with a lack of understanding of potential implications for their fitness to practise (FtP). There is a need for guidance which will be acceptable and directly applicable to UG pharmacy students. Methods: Activity-based focus groups were conducted with UG pharmacy students, informed by existing literature and a previous study by the research team. The topic guide formed the framework for thematic data analysis. Ethical approval was gained. Results: Four focus groups were conducts with 32 students across all 4 stages of the MPharm course. The majority of participants did not use SoMe guidelines despite daily SoMe use, but used personal judgement to decide on appropriate SoMe content. Some elements of existing guidance were seen as valuable but lacked balance of content/tone and examples of appropriate SoMe behaviours. There was no agreement on 'appropriate behaviours' however concerns emerged around guidance impinging personal personas and impacting perceptions of e-professionalism. Conclusion: Guidelines for UG pharmacy students should address concerns surrounding eprofessionalism and include examples of good practice. They should contain clear 'points for practice' in a simple, user-friendly format alongside a lecture or video presentation. Whilst students were aware of profession-specific guidance, student-specific guidance was viewed as beneficial to support undergraduate students, in particular with the blurred boundaries between personal-professional personas