Explanation
Workhouses were facilities, particularly in 18th and 19th century Britain, designed to house and employ the poor, unemployed, or those convicted of minor crimes. Conditions were deliberately harsh to deter dependency on public assistance. Workhouses enforced strict labor discipline and served as instruments of social control, reflecting broader economic interests in managing surplus labor and disciplining the working class.
Theoretical Reference
Rusche and Kirchheimer’s Punishment and Social Structure