What was convict transportation?

Convict transportation was a practice primarily used by Britain from the late 17th to the mid-19th centuries, where convicted criminals were sent to colonies, especially in Australia, as a form of punishment and to alleviate overcrowding in British prisons. This system aimed to provide a workforce for developing colonies and deter crime through the threat of deportation. Convicts often faced harsh conditions during their journey and while serving their sentences, but many eventually contributed to the growth and establishment of new communities. The practice ended as transportation was deemed inhumane and as attitudes towards punishment evolved.