Finding details of criminal records?

[Wovan]

I found a criminal record for an ancestor on Ancestry from the 1920's.  Though not taken seriously by the authorities, only a short prison sentence, the nature of the crime sent a shudder through me.  I don't know exactly what he did or who the victim was.

There are no details on Ancestry exactly what he did and who to.

A younger family member says a more recent common ancestor had a prison sentence, probably around 1960, but older family members won't talk about it.

Yes I need to know what he did, it could affect me deeply.  All these family secrets that die with the older generation who knew, that just get brushed under the carpet, aren't hidden from our unconscious, especially if it was a rape, which historically attracted paltry sentences even if it was even prosecuted.

Is there any way of finding out the details of crimes like assault and rape from the 1920's or even the 1960's? 

[Kiltpin]

especially if it was a rape, which historically attracted paltry sentences even if it was even prosecuted.

Not in this country they didn't. I can remember when the minimum tariff for rape was 14 years and that was a reduction from 14 years with hard labour. 

Regards 

Chas

[cath151]

Hi,
The offence and case may have been sadly reported in the newspapers, there are several reports in the 1920 s.
British Newspaper Archives or FindMyPast
Cathy

[Wovan]

Thanks.  I did have a look at the British Newspaper Archives.  Maybe I wasn't using their search properly, but couldn't find anything, even about the case from the 1920's that Ancestry has.

Maybe newspapers in those days didn't publish things that weren't nice.

[Annie65115]

If you post the person’s name and location, I’m sure someone here will be happy to look as well.

[Ashtone]

Maybe newspapers in those days didn't publish things that weren't nice.

Bear in mind that linguistic codes and euphemisms were invoked by newspapers to maintain a respectable decorum. When such crimes and court cases were reported in newspapers, terms usually used were "attack(ed)", "assault(ed)" and "indecency". Also, there were certain related crimes not reported in English newspapers until the 1980s.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

They definitely did publish, and often reported names of victims (even the very young ones), judging by what I've come across when searching 19th and early 20th century welsh newspapers. There are other more colourful terms used  such as "feloniously ravished"

[cath151]

Yes there seemed to be many results for the 1920 s when I tried, I can understand ,Wovan, you might not want to name publicly, if you make one more post you could private message myself, or other posters, with a name and we could search for you. It s a very sensitive situation but sometimes it does feel we want to know what happened in the past , be it good. sad or bad.

Cathy

[Wovan]

I may private message.  I don't want to name names on the open internet, as even the case from the 1920's, where Ancestry has a page describing his crime as "indecent assault", he was the father of people who are living.  Even some of his grandchildren may not want these things dug up.

I might feel the same in their position.  But I have gathered from what several people have said that it is a can of worms.  I don't remember either of the men, I would have met them as a baby.  I do want to know, without upsetting anyone who through no fault of their own was related.