The Parent Resource Depot

The Victorian Publics’ Outlook on Crime and Punishment
Locking doors, cautious eyes, and dreadful hallucinations of footsteps throughout the night, fearful dreams, and murderous thoughts clung to the minds of Victorians. No mercy, sympathy, forgiveness, compassion, or charity was the instant effect towards criminals. Although the press generated much of their ideas and panic towards crime and punishment, Victorian’s still held very strong opinions. The harsh punishment following crime in the Victorian era reflects the firm, and sometimes, unforgiving beliefs of people during that time.
Throughout the Victorian era the media played a big role on the public’s thoughts on crime and punishment. People weren’t aware how rare the huge criminal cases were. “It was always the more sensational stories that make the headlines and generate public fears, even panics.” (Emsley 321) Many people encouraged severe punishment because of their narrow views of criminals being serial killers. Dr. Thomas Neil Cream, who had murdered seven women, was the ideal example. “He was the kind of criminal who, by his actions, appeared both mad and evil; the kind of criminal that the general public want criminals to be – especially once they have been caught and executed.” (Emsley 1) This fear invited unforgiving attitudes towards crime. What Victorian’s didn’t know about murders was that only one per 100,000 people was murdered in the late 1800s. The threat was extremely unlikely. “Much of the panic appears to be generated by the press, notably the influential Times, which was seeking tougher punishment for offenders.” (Emsley 2) The press practically brainwashed people into promoting harder punishments for offenders. The media was the greatest influence on people in the Victorian era. It put fear, insecurity, and unforgiving feelings in the minds of many Victorians, which helped to lead to the unreasonable punishments for small crimes.
The press furthered their hopes for tougher consequences for offenders by publishing individuals’ crimes for the public to see, as a form of humiliating punishment. The offender’s full name and offence were listed in the local paper. “The first batch of miscreants to have their crimes publicized included twenty-three such dog-owners, three residents guilty of noise pollution, and four families who had been deemed ‘bad neighbors’.” (Croll 1) The media was trying to demonstrate punishment in any way that was possible. Having a dog, creating noise pollution, or being deemed a ‘bad neighbor’ does not seem like very appropriate crimes to be punished for, but in the 1800s it was considered quite outlandish. “ ‘Publicity’ was still seen as a means of both punishment and deterring; a way to regulate behavior in the great towns and cities of the nineteenth century.” (Croll 2) This ‘publicity’ had its planned and unplanned effects on society. It was planned for discipline to make that area a better place to live, work, and be around. It was not planned to bring panic upon the citizens. “The perception of such offenders could color the way offences were reported and provoke a panic as, most notably with London’s ‘garotting panic’ of 1862.” (Emsley 1) The unintentional scare made people even more concerned about criminals being punished firmly. Victorians just wanted to know that criminals were getting the punishment they deserved.
The public promoted the laborious jobs that young offenders were enduring at the time. Victorians thought children should be treated no differently than adults, including when it came to punishment. They believed punishment was the answer for the young. “Early Victorians and intermediate predecessors were concerned about what they believed to be an increase in criminal offences among the young.” (Emsley 323) For juvenile offences, children were sent to work. “Young offenders were taken to ‘houses of refuge’. These were ‘safe places’ where offenders were kept secure and sheltered from the risks of street life.” (Townsend 17) The public approved of these asylums. They cared about the safety of children, but believed that honest, hard work would teach them to be good citizens. The interests of Victorians were firm and decided. If a child misbehaved there were even further consequences. “If anyone broke the rules, he or she would spend days in a cell with just bread and water. The inmate was forced to sit chained to a heavy iron ball and was whipped.” (Townsend 17) The public had quite a bit of commentary in what was happening in the ‘houses of refuge’. They encouraged whipping young children under eighteen for disobedience. They thought the asylums would change the present juvenile delinquents into the future’s respectful citizens. Punishment was just a revitalizing process that corrected this so though, ill behavior.
Fear can easily intoxicate the mind if you let it. People in the Victorian era absorbed all they heard, fear, violence, and horrific stories. They especially pursued anything, and everything that revolved around the press and media. They let that fear inhabit their thoughts. No mercy, sympathy, forgiveness, compassion, or charity was the main result. The harsh punishments following crime were the reflections of fear, which created the firm, and unforgiving beliefs of most Victorians.