2006-12-09 22:42:43 · 7 answers · asked by michael e 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
The real reason is that in the Victorian era prisoners had to perform repetitive tasks daily just to earn food. One of the devices they used for this was a box that contained gravel and it had a handle on it to pick the gravel up and put it down again. The prisoner would just spend his time turning the handle. This accomplished nothing (except increasing a counter) it was just used to keep the prisoner busy. The machine had an adjustment mechanism - a screw - that the warden could tighten to increase the load. From this adjustment mechanism the nickname 'screw' is derived. Take care now!
2006-12-10 05:56:03 · answer #1 · answered by A True Gentleman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they keep the pressure on the prisoners, like a piece of wood in a vice. The prisoners are the wood and the prison officers clamp around them, turning the screw tighter if they misbehave
2006-12-09 22:51:59 · answer #2 · answered by sonospartacus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they can really make things unbearable for the prisoners, if they get out of line.
2006-12-09 23:50:17 · answer #3 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are called screws because thats the twisting motion they make when they lock you in your cell
2006-12-09 23:57:09 · answer #4 · answered by demoman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably from the torture practice of years ago,thumbscrews.
2006-12-09 22:46:04 · answer #5 · answered by festeringhump 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
they are either tightly wound or loose?
2006-12-09 23:10:53 · answer #6 · answered by first one to agree gets 10 point 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dunno but how can women get pregnant whilst locked up?
2006-12-09 22:45:09 · answer #7 · answered by what? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋