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How did Alexander Maconochie’s mark system work on Norfolk Island?

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Developed around 1840 at the Norfolk Island penal colony, Alexander Maconochie’s mark system fundamentally shifted the focus of penology from fixed sentences to a model centered on training and performance.12

Under this system, prisoners were not held for a predetermined duration. Instead, they were required to earn a specific number of credits, or "marks," proportional to the severity of their offenses. These credits were accumulated through:12

Good conduct12
Hard work12
Study12

Conversely, marks could be withheld or subtracted as a penalty for indolence or misbehaviour. Once a prisoner accumulated the required total, they became eligible for release.12

By prioritizing individual reform over static punishment, the mark system presaged modern penal practices, including indeterminate sentences, individualized treatment, and parole. It represented a significant departure from the "let the punishment fit the crime" philosophy, emphasizing instead that an offender's progress and behavior should dictate their path to freedom.12