The assignment addresses the question of how imprisonment became the most prevalent punishment for actions deemed criminal by the Criminal Code during the 19th century, particularly in the latter half. To comprehend the topic, the first section of the assignment examines the treatment of convicts prior to the 18th century, before moving onto the 19th century. A discussion of key changes in the criminal code during the 19th century follows, along with an analysis of how these changes contributed to the increasing importance of deprivation of liberty. The changes that occurred between 1803 and 1852 are given special attention. After reviewing the legislation, the assignment covers a particular method of punishment that can be regarded as a precursor to the eventual establishment of prisons: forced workshops. The most prominent workshop was located in Ljubljana, and the assignment provides a brief description of its operation and effectiveness, along with its legal basis. Beggars and alcoholics, who were persecuted by the monarchy, were treated differently under the criminal code, and it is important to describe how they were legally punished. Newspaper coverage of changes in laws and the gradual adoption of imprisonment sheds light on how the general public perceived these changes and punishments, and whether they were deemed desirable. Finally, the assignment concludes with a statistical analysis of prisons in Carniola and the number of convicts in Ljubljana throughout the second half of the 19th century.
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