Explain one way in which the treatment of young criminals in the years c1700–c1900 was different from the treatment of young criminals in the years c1900–present. - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 3 - 2023 - Paper 1

One significant way in which the treatment of young criminals differed between these two periods is the shift from punishment to rehabilitation.

In the years c1700–c1900, young criminals were often treated harshly, with punitive measures including corporal punishment, imprisonment, and hard labor. For example, children as young as seven could be hanged for theft, demonstrating a zero-tolerance attitude towards juvenile crime.

However, from c1900 to the present, there has been a marked shift towards rehabilitation. The establishment of juvenile courts focused on reform rather than punishment, recognizing that young offenders were often influenced by difficult social circumstances. Programs aimed at rehabilitating young people, such as counseling and community service, came to the forefront, emphasizing the potential for change and the importance of addressing underlying issues that contribute to criminal behavior.