What role did Australia play in the British criminal justice system during Charles Dickens' lifetime?

Question

I need to know Australia's influence on the Criminal Justice System from 1812-1870. I know that Australia's population was greatly influenced by British immigrants, and I know that Dickens' family had some financial problems, as John Dickens was arrested for debt during Charles' childhood. I need a good answer by 25 August please.

Answer 1

Austailia is an example of greatness like the USA.

Answer 2

Australia's role on the British criminal justice system was mainly to alleviate the overcrowding in English prisons due to the enactment of some rather harsh, all encompassing, laws.

The first fleet of convict ships arrived at Botany Bay (Sydney) on 20 January 1788. The last convicts to be transported to Australia arrived in 1868 in Western Australia. Much of this happened during Charles Dickens's lifetime, however it had nothing directly to do with his father's imprisonment.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries about 60, 000 convicts were sent to the British colonies in North America (the US and Australia have a lot in common). When the American Revolutionary War brought an end to this the British Government was forced to look elsewhere. Australia was where the British established a penal colony (or colonies) to alleviate pressure on their own prisons.

See the source below for a history:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convictism_...

As I understand the history of Dickens's childhood had nothing to do with Australia. John Dickens went to  debtors' prison (in England) and so did the rest of the Dickens family (which was common - except for Charles). Charles was working at a warehouse near the present Charring Cross railway station which was near the debtor's prison. The money Charles earned (six shillings a week) pasting labels on jars of shoe polish paid for his way at the house of Elizabeth Roylance (a family friend). John Dickens latter got out of prison and paid his debts.

See the source below for these details.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dic...

These two sources listed above should get you started on your research. Hope this helps and good luck on your assignment.

Answer 3

It was a penal colony.  (ie - Britain shipped off all their criminals to live in exile there)

Answer 4

Australia was used a penal colony.

British and Irish people could be sent there for a variety of crimes, even as small as stealing a loaf of bread.The sentence was either life or a definite number of years but either way it was almost impossible to return