The Power of the Prisoner. Agency and Emotions in Nineteenth-Century Dutch Prisons

In the international research on the history of prisons, the powerlessness of prisoners is often assumed. This project will question this assumption by considering how prisoners reacted on and influenced major changes in Dutch criminal law and prison system. This research concentrates on patterns, networks, emotional expressions and interactions of prisoners with the people around them. By examining the impact prisoners had on other people, for example their visitors, the prison board and staff, this research concentrates on the following question: How and to what extent did prisoners influence the Dutch prison system?