1. Capital Punishment: The death penalty was widely used for various serious offenses, including murder, treason, and certain violent crimes. Methods of execution included hanging, firing squad, and, in some cases, electrocution.
2. Long Prison Sentences: Imprisonment was a common form of punishment for a range of crimes. Sentences could be extremely long, with some individuals sentenced to several years or even life in prison.
3. Hard Labor: Many prisons enforced hard labor as part of the punishment. Prisoners might be assigned to work in factories, mines, farms, or on infrastructure projects.
4. Solitary Confinement: Solitary confinement was often used as a form of punishment or segregation. Prisoners could be kept isolated for extended periods, which could have significant psychological effects.
5. Corporal Punishment: Corporal punishment, such as whipping, flogging, or caning, was used in many countries as a form of punishment for minor offenses or as a disciplinary measure within prisons.
6. Transportation: In some cases, individuals convicted of certain crimes might be transported to distant colonies or settlements as a form of punishment.
7. Banishment: Banishment or exile was sometimes used as a punishment, requiring convicted individuals to leave their home country or region and not return.
8. Fines and Restitution: In certain cases, offenders might be required to pay fines or make restitution to the victim as part of their punishment.
It's important to note that penal systems and sentencing practices varied across countries and regions during the late 1800s, and some countries were beginning to move toward more progressive and humane approaches to criminal justice. However, the overall emphasis on severe punishments and harsh prison conditions remained prevalent in many societies at that time.