" " "
About the Project
Galleries of Justice
Reform School
Victorian Prison
Good Citizens
Net Safety
Net Rules! Quiz
Teachers

 

VICTORIAN COURT & PRISON

Why did children turn to crime?


Look carefully at these pages from the Prison Admissions Register for Isabella Petry and John Parker

The information recorded there gives us some very useful clues. But some questions remain unanswered:

Isabella Petry was 14 when she stole some sheets. She had been born in Scotland and worked as a servant. She had scars on both her arms.

Key questions for you to think about (or, if you are in a group, discuss):

  • Why had she stolen the sheets?
  • Why steal something so basic?
  • What do you think had happened to her to leave the girl scarred on both arms?
  • Why had she left Scotland?

John Parker was 15 when he stole some cotton waste. He had been born in Nottingham and worked as a porter. He had a scar on his left wrist and another under the left side of his chin.

  • Key questions for you to think about (or, if you are in a group, discuss):
  • Why had he stolen cotton waste?
  • What had happened to John to leave him scarred on his left wrist and under his chin?
Both these children had turned to crime.
  • Why had they risked being punished so harshly for so little gain?
  • What had driven them to take such desperate steps?

Children from Bosworth School answer the questions

 
" " Produced by Kids on the Net in association with the Galleries of Justice,
Nottingham, UK