England's Young Criminals

This fascinating collection of vintage photographs caught my eye, first due to the haunting expressions of its subjects. And on second look, the heartbreaking poverty that likely led to the conviction of these incredibly young offenders. They are from the North Shield Police Station and Newcastle City Gaol (jail) in the north east of England, taken between 1871 and 1912, now in the Flickr collection of the Twine & Wear Museum.