Transportation

Transportation was an alternative punishment to hanging. Convicted criminals were transported to the colonies to serve their prison sentences. It had the advantages of removing the criminal from society and being quite cheap - the state only had to pay the cost of the journey.

During the 18th century, the government started to send prisoners to penal colonies in America, usually for seven years or sometimes for life. This stopped when the American War of Independence broke out in 1775.

In 1787, transportation started to the first penal colonies in Australia. Over the years, about 160,000 people were sent there: men, women and children, sometimes as young as nine years old.

Further pages Background and Reasons The 18th century was a time of exploration and trade. There was also a huge increase in crime. Transportation was seen as an answer to the problem of overcrowded, filthy gaols and also to shortages of workers in the new colonies. Sentencing to Departure - Prison Hulks & Convict Gaols The sentence of transportation was usually carried out in three parts. Prisoners started their sentence in the local gaol, followed by a period in a convict gaol or on the prison hulks before finally being transported. At Sea - the Voyage and Conditions on Board In the early days of transportation, conditions on board ship were terrible and many died on the journey, which took between four and six months. Towards the mid 19th century, things had improved and examination of the transportation records indicates that the number who perished on the voyage was low. Convict Life In Australia After the convicts had been formally handed over into the charge of the governor, the prisoners were often segregated, with the most hardened criminals being sent to special prisons or areas. The rest acted as servants to the settlers or carried out hard labour in gangs. On Completion of Sentence Convicts who worked hard were sometimes able to save money and set themselves up as settlers and a few retuned home to Britain.

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