ABSTRACT This article examines how Liverpool Borough Prison, opened in 1855 as one of the largest local prisons in England to adopt the separate system, categorized and dealt with mental distress and disorder amongst its prison population in the late nineteenth century. High prison committal rates in Liverpool, alongside high levels of recidivism, especially among female prisoners, led to severe overcrowding and encouraged a harsh disciplinary regime. Exacerbated by the poor physical and mental condition of the prisoners, this produced a challenging environment for maintaining the separate system of confinement and prisoners’ mental well-being. While official figures for the rates of mental disorder in local prisons are not readily available, Liverpool Prison’s diverse and under-exploited archives and official reports indicate that insanity caused prison officials and visiting justices great concern, and many prisoners were declared unfit for the rigours of prison discipline. Our article explores the implications of the ever more punitive, deterrent and physically taxing penal policy implemented in the late nineteenth century on the minds of prisoners. Despite the heavy toll on prisoners’ mental well-being, such cases were often retained by prison medical officers reluctant to acknowledge the failure of the prison to deter, reform and redeem.

中文翻译：

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“不适合改革或惩罚”：十九世纪后期利物浦自治市监狱的精神障碍和纪律

摘要 本文考察了利物浦自治市监狱（1855 年作为英格兰最大的地方监狱之一在 1855 年开放，采用单独的系统）如何分类和处理 19 世纪后期监狱人口中的精神困扰和精神障碍。利物浦的高入狱率以及高再犯率，尤其是女性囚犯，导致严重的人满为患，并鼓励严厉的纪律制度。由于囚犯身体和精神状况不佳，这为维持单独的监禁系统和囚犯的心理健康创造了一个具有挑战性的环境。虽然当地监狱中精神障碍发生率的官方数据并不容易获得，利物浦监狱多样化且未充分利用的档案和官方报告表明，精神错乱引起了监狱官员和来访的法官的极大关注，许多囚犯被宣布不适合严格的监狱纪律。我们的文章探讨了 19 世纪后期实施的更具惩罚性、威慑力和体力负担的刑罚政策对囚犯心智的影响。尽管对囚犯的心理健康造成了沉重的损失，但监狱医务人员经常保留此类案件，不愿承认监狱未能阻止、改造和救赎。19 世纪后期在囚犯心中实施的具有威慑力和体力负担的刑罚政策。尽管对囚犯的心理健康造成了沉重的损失，但监狱医务人员经常保留此类案件，不愿承认监狱未能阻止、改造和救赎。19 世纪后期在囚犯心中实施的具有威慑力和体力负担的刑罚政策。尽管对囚犯的心理健康造成了沉重的损失，但监狱医务人员经常保留此类案件，不愿承认监狱未能阻止、改造和救赎。