Portraits of prisoners
- Made:
- circa 1890 in Wormwood Scrubs (HM Prison)
- photographer:
- Unknown
A page from an album of criminal register photographs, taken by a unknown photographer at Wormwood Scrubs prison in about 1890. The criminals hold up their hands to show any identifying features, such as tattoos or missing fingers. A mirror placed on their right shoulder captures their profile.
A page from an album of criminal register photographs, taken by a unknown photographer at Wormwood Scrubs prison in about 1890.
The criminals hold up their hands to show any identifying features, such as tattoos or missing fingers. A mirror placed on their right shoulder captures their profile.
The use of photography to record known criminals - the 'mug shot'- had been in evidence as early as the 1840s. In 1871, the Prevention of Crimes Act made it a legal requirement that all persons arrested for a crime must have their photographs taken.
Details
- Category:
- Photographs
- Object Number:
- 1987-5218/4
- Materials:
- paper
- type:
- photograph
- copyright:
- National Science and Media Museum
- credit:
- The National Media Museum, Bradford
