CodstaCL asked this question on 4/23/2000:

I am doing a project for my english class. I have to do a research paper on Prisons and Penial Colonies in the 19th century (during the reign of Queen Victoria) i have search far and wide (including Encarta, various search engines, and Brittanica.com) And have found very little. Please if you know any sites or book or anything that could be of help please tell me. Thank you.

stevewalters gave this response on 4/23/2000:

Hi, I don't know whether it will be much help, but you could look at the Prison Services website, at www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk

CodstaCL asked this follow-up question on 4/24/2000:

Thanks Stevewalters. If anyone else knows anything like, acual penial colonies or prisons or even famous convicts. My uncle told me "Devil's Island"??? Thnaks again Stevewalters. I am sure it will help

stevewalters gave this response on 4/24/2000:

http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/prishist.htm

Try this, it seems to be the sort of thing that your looking for.

Devils Island, if I remember, is a misunderstood prison. It was not the hard, lethal penal colony, but rather a comfortable prison for political prisoners, and kept deliberately nice so the inmates weren't inconvenienced to much, just in case their viewpoint became the one of the government.