NCJ Number
49306
Date Published
1977
Length
404 pages
Annotation
A HISTORICAL STUDY OF PRISON ADMINISTRATION IN IRELAND IN THE LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES EXAMINES THE INCARCERATION AND TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS.
Abstract
IRELAND'S PRISON ADMINISTRATION AND LEGISLATION IS EXAMINED IN CORRELATION TO DEVELOPMENTS STEMMING FROM THE POLITICAL EVENTS OF THE PERIOD. THE PRISONS ARE DESCRIBED BEFORE THE CENTRALIZATION OF 1877-1878, WHICH OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF PRESSURE BY PRISON AUTHORITIES, THE PUBLIC, AND OTHER AGENCIES THAT WERE DEMANDING REFORM. THE GENERAL PRISON BOARD (G.P.B.) WAS ESTABLISHED AT THIS TIME AS A CENTRAL RULING ORGAN. SINCE SOME POLITICAL PRISONERS HAD BEEN INCARCERATED PRIOR TO THE ARRESTS IN 1848 OF NATIONALIST MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, PRIESTS, LAND REFORMERS, AND OTHER PROTESTORS, PRECEDENTS WERE SET FOR TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS. MILITANT NATIONALISTS WHO ESCAPED ARREST IN 1848 REORGANIZED AS THE FENIANS; AND IN THE 1860'S, A MASS ARREST OF MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP FORCED THE ADMINISTRATION TO ALTER THE POLICY ON POLITICAL PRISONERS, SINCE IRISH LAW REQUIRED UNIFORM TREATMENT OF ALL INMATES. THE G.P.B. WAS SUBJECTED TO SEVERE CRITICISM DURING A LATER PERIOD WHEN IMPRISONMENT OF POLITICAL LEADERS IN KILMAINHAM DELAYED OR DESTROYED THE ADMINISTRATION'S LONG-TERM PLANS FOR PRISON REFORM. IN 1886, SECRETARY OF STATE ARTHUR BALFOUR'S ATTEMPTS TO IMPROVE SANITARY CONDITIONS AND TREATMENT OF PRISONERS IN INSTITUTIONS WERE INTERRUPTED BY THE NECESSITY OF DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT OPPONENTS WHO RALLIED FOR THE 'PLAN,' A MEASURE WHICH CALLED FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING BY WORKERS ON ESTATES. FINALLY, NEW DIRECTIONS WERE TAKEN BY THE G.P.B. IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY TOWARD MODERN REFORMATIVE DISCIPLINE. THIS TOOK PLACE IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF QUIET POLITICAL EVENTS IN WHICH THE SUFFRAGETTES, ORANGEMEN, DYNAMITERS, AND A FEW OTHER DIVERSE GROUPS MADE UP THE BULK OF POLITICAL PRISONERS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DAG)