Criminal Prisons During Wwii

[hc4361]

What happened to the 'ordinary' prisoners and prison guards during the war? Were they excused service or called up?

Could a man avoid being called up by committing a crime and getting a prison sentence?

I have tried 'googling' but only find references to prisoners' of war.

[dotty.]

i've found quite specific accounts from the various prisons around the UK, that's the better way of searching, e.g.:
http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/sheptonm.html

[hc4361]

Thanks, dotty, but those are PoWs, not 'civvy street' prisoners.

[dotty.]

no they are not POWs they are convicted prisoners and ex- US military based in the UK in wartime subject to the laws of the UK. POWs are prisoners held by the enemy.

[dotty.]

prison warders were only given civil service status in 1939 but it was not an exempt occupation, prisons places were reserved for spies, aliens and concientious objectors who had not regsitered, some were turned into young offenders institutes as the number of adult convictions reduced. there is plenty of info online and the picture across the UK seems to follow the same pattern.

[hc4361]

What happened to the petty criminals, rapists, murderers and thieves already imprisoned at the start of the war?

[bert_h]

Some of them, quite serious criminals, must have been offered reduced or cancelled sentences if they volunteered for war work. The safecracker Johnny Ramensky was one such - Wikipedia will tell you all about him.

[hc4361]

Thanks, bert :)