A reluctant response to vagrancy : the evolution of Poor Law casual relief in England and Wales, 1834-1919
From 1837 the Poor Law Commission sanctioned temporary relief, at workhouses, for poor wayfarers, heralding a departure from historic attempts to control the wandering poor with criminal vagrancy legislation. A modern, detailed account is lacking, and the thesis addresses gaps in the historiography, such as the significant underestimation of women using the system, the influence of penal separation upon casual relief, and the changing attributes of recipient The origins of casual relief are traced to local initiatives, c.1800-1830, adopted, subsequently, in the reformed Poor Law system. The assumption, by administrators, that the justice system would retain the mandate for the suppression of vagrancy, was never eradicated, partly because criminal legislation remained in force, alongside casual relief. The deterrent principle of the New Poor Law was applied in casual wards, characterized by an absence of rehabilitative elements. The reluctance of Poor Law officials to engage fully with vagrant relief was reflected in repeated attempts to transfer responsibility to the police. Contemporary views are examined to ascertain whether Poor Law vagrancy policy was based upon rational assessment, or was the product
O'Leary, Brian Michael
New Poor Law ; casual relief ; vagrancy
A reluctant response to vagrancy : the evolution of Poor Law casual relief in England and Wales, 1834-1919. From 1837 the Poor Law Commission sanctioned temporary relief, at workhouses, for poor wayfarers, heralding a departure from historic attempts to control the wandering poor with criminal vagrancy legislation. A modern, detailed account is lacking, and the thesis addresses gaps in the historiography, such as the significant underestimation of women using the system, the influence of penal separation upon casual relief, and the changing attributes of recipient The origins of casual relief are traced to local initiatives, c.1800-1830, adopted, subsequently, in the reformed Poor Law system. The assumption, by administrators, that the justice system would retain the mandate for the suppression of vagrancy, was never eradicated, partly because criminal legislation remained in force, alongside casual relief. The deterrent principle of the New Poor Law was applied in casual wards, characterized by an absence of rehabilitative elements. The reluctance of Poor Law officials to engage fully with vagrant relief was reflected in repeated attempts to transfer responsibility to the police. Contemporary views are examined to ascertain whether Poor Law vagrancy policy was based upon rational assessment, or was the product
reluctant response evolution poor_law casual relief england_wales poor law commission sanction temporary relief workhouse poor herald departure historic attempt control poor criminal legislation modern detailed_account lacking address_gap historiography significant woman use system influence penal separation upon casual relief change attribute recipient origin casual relief trace local initiative adopt subsequently reform poor_law system assumption administrator justice system would retain mandate suppression never partly criminal legislation remain force alongside casual relief principle new poor_law apply casual ward characterize absence element reluctance poor_law official engage fully relief reflect repeat attempt transfer responsibility police contemporary view examine ascertain_whether poor_law policy base_upon rational assessment product