Public Record Office Victoria  
Home Contact Us Site Map
 
Series VPRS 11773
Female Prisoner Cards
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series Circa 1948 - 1985
  Series in Custody Circa 1948 - 1985
  Contents Circa 1942 - 1986
Public Access: Closed
Location: North Melbourne
Format of Records: Physical
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1948 - 1960 Penal and Gaols Branch, Chief Secretary's Department VA 1464
1960 - 1971 Social Welfare Branch, Chief Secretary's Department VA 2784
1971 - 1979 Social Welfare Department VA 946
1979 - 1983 Department of Community Welfare Services VA 613
1983 - 1985 Office of Corrections VA 1063
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1992 - 2003 Department of Justice VA 3085
2003 - cont Corrections Victoria VA 4819
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    Researchers should consult the consignment details to locate the name of the prisoner (the names are listed alphabetically).

  • Function / Content
    The cards were created to provide a sentencing history and a physical description record of a prisoner.

    Typically each card would contain a photograph of the prisoner, a record of the prisoner's remand, trial, any prior convictions and any appeals. It would also denote any changes in the prisoner's classification (eg. transfer to another prison). If the prisoner was a migrant the card usually gives the date and name of the ship that the prisoner arrived in Victoria.

    Not all the cards are numbered, some of the prisoners may have only stayed overnight or be serving very short sentences or been held in remand pending trial.

  • Recordkeeping System
    Originally this series appears to have been controlled by several different numbering systems including the Prisoner Record Number used to control prisoner records prior to 1956 and the annual single number system used to control prisoner records from 1956 until 1985. Some cards have been amended to also include the Corrections Record Number (CRN), which began with the advent of computerisation in 1985. A possible explanation for this is that the cards annotated with the CRN were cards pertaining to prisoners still in the prison system when computerisation commenced.

    When this series was processed for transfer to secondary storage in 1996 the cards were arranged alphabetically by prisoner surname to aid in retrieval. No index to female prisoners has been located as at September 1998.

    Previous and Subsequent Series

    Prior to 1948 the primary record was the Central Register of Prisoners (for females, VPRS 516). These registers included much of the same information as this series.

    The card system ceased in 1985 with the advent of computerisation. The Female Prisoner Classification Files (VPRS 11927) contain more detailed information concerning the prisoner's history during their time of incarceration.

    The summary information that this series contains is now found on the computer database system Prisoner Information Management System (PIMS), the outputs of which are still to be appraised by Record Services staff as at September 1998. It should be noted that the CRN is also generated by PIMS.
More research resourcesMore research resources
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
Controlled SeriesControlled Series
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
Previous SeriesPrevious Series
Display entries per page
Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
- 1948 Central Register of Female Prisoners [Use microform copy: VPRS 516/P1] VPRS 516
Subsequent SeriesSubsequent Series
Display entries per page
Transfer Date Series Title Series Number
List/s of records in this seriesList/s of records in this series
Display entries per page
Consignment Number Contents Date Range Public Access No. of Units
P0001 Circa 1942 - 1986 Closed 44
Indexes and RegistersIndexes and Registers
Display entries per page
Date Range Series Title Series Number
More research resourcesMore research resources

More Help
Help On This Page

A series is a group of records which are recorded or maintained by the same agency (or agencies)

Series information helps you to understand the context of records - why, when and by whom they were created.

To locate records use the "Accessing the records" tab.

More about series details pages

   
© Copyright 2005   Government of Victoria   Disclaimer    Accessibility   Privacy   Contact Us