Figure 1.--This is 11 year old Ellen Woodman. She received a 7 days sentence for stealing iron. The mug shot comes from Oxford Gaol about 1872. It later became HMP Oxford.

Law becomes an aspect of civilizatio. We see legal systems emerging in Sumeriam erliest civilzation. The fiest known formulation of law is Haurabi's code (1750 BC). The Old Testament mandates many legal precepts, many of the legal ideas prevsalent in Msopotamia, basically a reintertion of Hamurabi's code. Butwee note the firsdt sduggesdtion of juvenilke law [Deteonomy, Verse 18] The issue is nmot addressed in the New Testament. Perhaps Rome's greatest comtribution to Western Civilization is yhe vast body of law which is he foundation for Western law. As best we can determind in the ancient wotld there was no povision for age or ny kind of juvenile justice system. Under Roman law, children were the prtopery of he father who had the right to deal very hsrshly with his childrem. We suspct this was common thoughout the ancient world. With the cecline of civilization after the fall of Rome, here was a correspmding decline in law even for adults. As far ass we know Sharia (Islauc) lw does not take age into asccount. We have found no history of juvenile justice during the medieval era, either within Europe or byond Erope. The first attempt at juvenile justice we have found come from Colonial America (17th century). But basicll, chThe Maschusetts Bay colony passed the stuborn Child Act (1646). [Sutton] This my have reflected approches in Englnd becaise other colonies passed similar laws: Connecticut (1650), Rhode Island in (1688), and New Hampshire in (1679). These laes were based on Deuteronomy, but disregarded the Talmudic Commentary abrogating capital unishment. We do not see substntial chanbge primarily because for the most part children ewere seen as small-0sized adults. We finlly seem some discussion of the idea that childhood was a distincg devlopmntal stage. Only in the 19th century does juvedile justice become a matter of some comcern nd we begin to see acual chnge (mid-19th century). This included child labot laws along with chanhes om the lergal sytm. Rformotories were founded for children rather hn hiusing children in adult jails. Most of the information we have found begins with the 19th centurtry. There are some fairly detiled counts of nationl juvenile justice systems. .

Ameican Ststem

British System

Britisdh children were still commonly dubjected to the same stiff oenalies that adults recveived for eveb minor crimes (18th century). The sentences commonmly included deportation and occassionaly even hanging. The frst attemos to address with the isue of children involved with criminal or other anti-social behvior are noted in the 18th century. The Marine Society was founded "for the purpose of clothing landsmen and boy for the use of the king's ships, and as an expedient to provide poor boys who migh become a nuisnce." The Society seized upon the idea of using old Royl Nvy hulks as training ships. Another society was founded concerned wih this issue -- the Philanthropicv Society (1788). They were created "for th protection of poor children, and the offspring of convicted fellons; and for the reformation of those who thenmselves been neen engaged in criminal prctices." The Society opened the St. George's Fieklds n Southwark. They cared for bith boy and girl 'reforms'. The children were put to work making clothes, shoes, and ropoe. Part of the program was to provide religious instruction. British courts in the early-19th century weere still handing out stiff sentences ti children. A boy of only 9 years of age was senteced toi death for stealing paint valued at 2 opennies. He was senteced to death, although not executed (1833). Two teengers boyd 5 years old swere ordered transported for stealing boots. Not only was there serious discussions of these issues, but authors like Charles Dickens reached a popular audiences that would never dream of reacging a dry government report. The Government selected the Parkhurst Prison to set up an experimental facility calle aefiormaoy for youthful offebnders who tidau would be called delinqunts (1837). The program included outdoo job trining, school lessons, and religious instruction. There was some dicussion that private or charitable might have greater sucess. Lord Houghton envisoin a bill to create a national systen of reformatiries (1846). While thbill did not pass. It helped ignite public dbte. The Philanthropic Society led the a popular movembt to create such a system. Society leaders visitey an agricultural imtituon fo young offenders. based in wht they saw, the Society setup a compaable faciloty at Red Hill in Surry. https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/victorian-child-criminals-mugshots/ > By the late =19th century, sentences were still severe based on modern standards, but below what adults might receive. Records exist on ctul cases which began to include photograohic mug shots. Most were delinquent boys, but girls were also inolved. The photographs wereataken in the 1870s and originate from Oxford Gaol, a prison that later became HMP Oxford. During this time, children were often imprisoned for minor offenses and no distinction was made despite their ages. The crimes committedf by these child and teenage offenders were usually theft, commonly stealing trivial items of negligible value. Eveb so they faced faced harsh punishments. Not as severe as in the erly-19th cenbtury , but certainly by modern standards. Some exmples fron Oxford provide the geeral trend in yhe 1879s. Jim Westbury, age, was given six months of hard labor and five years at a reformatory school for stealing corn and hay. Alice Dawson, age 13, was sentenced to seven days of hard labor for stealing an umbrella. John and Thomas Williams, aged 13 and 14 were arrested for house looting and sentenced 6 months incacration. Amy Foy age 16 was sentenced to 21 days of labor for stealing a bodice.

Created: 2:03 AM 7/6/2022
Last updated: 2:03 AM 7/6/2022