prison admissions register

[grahamwilk]

Hi, on a prison admissions register, along with the prisoners person details ( height,age,hair colour etc) it says education r.w.m. What does stand for?

Thanks Graham.

[olliecat]

it says education r.w.m. What does stand for?

This relates to how well a prisoner can read or write. Some abbreviations I've come across in different registers are ...

R = can read
W = can write
R+W = can read and write
B = both reads and writes
N = neither reads nor writes

Also

Imp = reads and writes imperfectly
Well = reads and writes well
Sup = superior education

Not sure what the 'm' is in r.w.m. as I haven't come across an 'm' so far. I expect someone who knows will come along soon.

[haggerston39]

hi Graham

can you tell me where I can access the register you mention.
I know of a relative with many convictions but only from court records.. ie. oldbaileyonline etc.

many thanks
mac

[Kerrywood]

r.w.m.

Can read and write moderately (well).

[kathy cox]

hi graham -

m is for mathematics - or arithmetic in olden times!!lol

called the ' three 'r's -

obviously spelt wrong but it is for reading writing and arithmetic

hope its of help!!

[Kerrywood]

on a prison admissions register, along with the prisoners person details ( height,age,hair colour etc) it says education r.w.m. What does stand for?

Can read and write moderately (well).

m is for mathematics - or arithmetic in olden times!!lol
called the ' three 'r's - obviously spelt wrong but it is for reading writing and arithmetic

An interesting idea, which I've not come across before in prison registers.

The description 'read and write moderately' is certainly found. Examples can be seen online among the transcriptions in the Bedford Gaol prisoners' database.

A classic textbook on the subject -- David Hawkings' Criminal Ancestors -- makes frequent reference to the phrase 'read and write moderately' in the context of prisoners' records.

So I had assumed, perhaps wrongly, that r.w.m. was simply an abbreviated form of that standard description.

Were prisoners tested for their mathematical ability on admission, and the results recorded in this way? That seems surprising.

[Geoffers]

A classic textbook on the subject -- David Hawkings' Criminal Ancestors -- makes frequent reference to the phrase 'read and write moderately' in the context of prisoners' records.

So I had assumed, perhaps wrongly, that r.w.m. was simply an abbreviated form of that standard description.

I am under the same impression as Kerrywood

[gasser]

For what it's worth, I agree with Kerrywood on this topic.