The first convicts were sent over to the English colonies in North America at the start of the 17th century. However, after the American War of Independence, England no longer had control over colonies in North America and prisoners could no longer be sent there. Therefore, the alternative became Australia, which became part of the British Empire in 1770.

About 160,000 people went sent to Australia, of whom one-sixth were women. These people committed crimes mainly related to theft and were not violent criminals. Transportation was viewed as an effective deterrent and more humane than executing individuals.

Advantages of transportation:

Britain's prisons were not capable of holding large numbers of convicted criminals
Instead of spending funds on building new prisons, criminals were transported abroad
Prisoners would populate the new colony, they would work and produce goods on the land
Prisoners would strengthen British colonial power in unknown territories

Convicts were held in prison before the next ship headed out to Australia. The journey would take up to three months. During this time, convicts spent their time below deck, tied up in dirty, cramped conditions. Once they arrived in Australia, convicts were expected to work for the settlers who would provide them with basic food and housing. At the end of their seven year sentence, most convicts did not have the funds to return to Britain so they settled in Australian life.