Officers Staff and prisoners of Fremantle Prison

1 officers

1.1 pensioner guards
1.2 convict-era warders
1.3 colonial prison warders
1.4 20th century officers

officers
pensioner guards

on convict ships, convicts guarded pensioner guards, soldiers awarded pensions service in areas such china, crimea, , afghanistan. remained in military, many opted stay in colony settlers, having brought wives , children them. pensioner guards expected deal incidents of unrest @ prison.

convict-era warders

the prison s officers known warders until 20th century. first warders @ fremantle prison, in 1850s , 1860s, mixture of experienced men, had guarded british prisons, , colonial men. there varying levels of literacy , numeracy – no minimum standard required. warders lived in specially built terrace houses, within walking distance of prison lives regimented prisoners. had arrive on schedule, assemble superintendent, keep records of convicts behaviour , work, discipline prisoners, , face danger when prisoners refused obey instructions. not paid well, , faced fines or dismissal drinking alcohol, sleeping on job, or other breaches of regulations.

colonial prison warders

in 1890s warders still have little more freedom prisoners in charge , due stringent living , working conditions, including ten- twelve-hour working days. warder s role became defined in 1902, having been unwritten, , poorly known due high turnover rate in in charge of prisoners. warders guarded against escapes, enforced discipline, oversaw prisoner work, , instructed inmates in trades. warders supposed moral role models prisoners, while maintaining formal, distant, relationship.

20th century officers

the nature of 20th century prison officers did not change much, job entailing boredom-inducing daily routine focused on security. significant difference prison officers achieved representation through western australian prison officers union. strength of union based on ability cripple prison system through strike action, first taken in 1975. union agenda went beyond improvements pay , conditions, achieved, , pushed objectives , policies contradicted official policy.