After finding himself briefly incarcerated by a French privateer, he observed firsthand the horrible conditions for which prisoners were held in captivity. Once he was Sheriff, he was able to evaluate the pitfalls of the system and wrote, “The State of the Prisons in England and Wales” which shed light on the situation. He managed to push legislation and in 1779, Parliament enacted the Penitentiary Act which provided for secure and sanitary structures, inspections and abolishment of the fee system. Howard would coin the phrase Penitentiary as inmates were required to reflect on their sins (penance) instead of brutal punishment.
