| Abstract: | The thesis focuses on convict labour. The first part presents the historical development of convict labour through antiquity, the Middle Ages, the modern age and the modern era. The second part describes the organisation of convict labour in selected European countries (Slovenia, Great Britain, France and Germany) in the present day. The historical overview shows that convict labour is present in practically all parts of the world and throughout human history. In antiquity, forced labour was one of the main punishments. Convicts worked in mines, quarries, ironworks or in public works mostly building infrastructure. The historical overview reveals that convict labour has been present across nearly all regions of the world and throughout human history. In antiquity, forced labour was one of the main forms of punishment, with convicts working in mines, quarries, ironworks, or on public infrastructure projects. During the early Middle Ages, convict labour was uncommon, but it re-emerged in the later Middle Ages with the rise of towns and cities, where convicts in gaols could earn preferential treatment or financial compensation through work. By the end of the Middle Ages, the use of convicts for galley labour increased. In the modern era, galley labour was supplemented by labour in colonies, often involving public works and prison labour. Before the emergence of the modern prison system in the late 18th century, convicts worked in penal labour institutions considered precursors to contemporary prisons. Later, the Auburn system was introduced, where convicts worked in groups within workshops. With the advent of industrialization, prison industries expanded. In the present day, convict labour remains a vital component of penal systems. In Great Britain and Germany, labour is mandatory for convicts, whereas in Slovenia and France, it is voluntary. Despite these differences, all four countries share a common objective: to use convict labour as a means of fostering work habits and professional skills to aid reintegration after release. |
|---|
