THE MOVEMENT FOR PRISON REFORM IS EXAMINED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, BECAUSE THE STATE OF THE PRISONS WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES. THIS EXAMINATION MAKES IT CLEAR THAT COUNTY GOVERNMENT WAS NEVER INTIMIDATED BY THE SPECTRE OF GROWING CENTRALIZATION, SINCE THE SAME LANDED GENTRY WHO DOMINATED THE LEGISLATURE ALSO DOMINATED THE COUNTY MAGISTRACY. IT WAS LONDON AND OTHER URBAN CENTERS THAT VIGOROUSLY RESISTED PARLIAMENTARY INTERFERENCE IN THEIR AFFAIRS, BECAUSE THE URBAN LEADERS WANTED INDEPENDENCE FROM THE GENTRY-DOMINATED LEGISLATURE. THE SERIES OF ACTS CULMINATING IN THE IMPORTANT LEGISLATION OF 1835 IS THEREFORE VIEWED FROM A CITY VERSUS COUNTRY CONTEXT. OTHER FACTORS CITED AS INFLUENCING PRISON REFORM DURING THE LATE 18TH AND EARLY 19TH CENTURIES WERE INTELLECTUAL AND RELIGIOUS CURRENTS WHICH INFLUENCED THE POPULACE TO TAKE A MORE RATIONAL AND HUMANITARIAN VIEW OF CRIME AND PUNISHMENT. URBANIZATION AND A GROWING CRIME PROBLEM ALSO MADE PRISON REFORM A PRESSING ISSUE; HOWEVER, ALL OF THESE FACTORS ARE SEEN TO OPERATE WITHIN THE DYNAMIC OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE REALITIES AND THE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN CITY AND COUNTRY. QUARTER SESSIONS PAPERS WERE USED TO EXAMINE THE WORKINGS OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, AND HOME OFFICE PAPERS WERE A CRUCIAL SOURCE FOR THE OPERATIONS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. IN ADDITION, PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS REVEALED MUCH ABOUT PRISON CONDITIONS AND THE ATTITUDES OF THE LEGISLATURE. THE PERSONAL PAPERS OF SIGNIFICANT REFORMERS WERE ALSO VALUABLE SOURCES FOR THEIR MOTIVATIONS AND ACTIVITIES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)