Prisoners of the Sun: The British Empire and Imprisonment in Malta in the Early Nineteenth Century

• NCJ Number: 224343
• Journal: British Journal of Criminology Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 502-521
• Author(s): Sandra Scicluna; Paul Knepper
• Date Published: July 2008
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Drawing on archival materials in London and Malta, this paper examines the establishment of the prison at Corradino in Malta, from initial plans in the 1830 through its inaugural year in 1850.

Abstract

The British Empire promoted Anglo-America prison design throughout the world. Examining the emergence of the Corradino prison in Malta sheds light on the ways in which prison-building overlapped with empire-building. In building prisons to imperial standards, the empire on which “the sun never sets” intended colonized populations to understand that they were subjects of a sovereign, not citizens of a republic. The Corradino prison, built on the Pentonville (London) plan, reflected colonial ambitions. The British Empire was a royal empire, and prison architecture affirmed Queen Victoria’s rule over the Maltese. The Maltese selected to staff the prison were all required to declare an oath of allegiance to her. In order to achieve their objectives in the Mediterranean related to economic and military concerns, British authorities agreed to respect the rights and privileges of the Catholic Church in Malta. In its architecture and religious routine, the Corradino prison incorporated Catholic rituals. In amalgamating Catholicism into prison discipline, colonial officials reinforced the impact of ecclesiastical authority based in Rome fitting into the overall political authority based in London. The new labor regime was put into effect, not because prison science necessarily fit the Maltese context, but because those responsible were motivated to follow colonial prison policy. Labor was part of prison discipline in Malta because it was a part of prison discipline at Pentonville. In Malta, colonial officials had a supply of workers disciplined for industry; the problem was to find an industry capable of generating revenue to defray the expense of keeping the Royal Navy in the Valletta’s Grand Harbour. 84 references