During the 19th century, the ways criminals were identified began to shift. Big names such as Edwin Chadwick began to link criminal offenders with those individuals that were within the lower classes of British society. This ideology that the lower class individuals were linked to crimes spread and the term "criminal classes" and "dangerous classes" evolved to describe people in the lower classes that were thought to be criminals or dangerous based on class ranking and how society perceived them. Many people wrote about and alienated this class as if, "members belonged to some distinctive, exotic tribe of Africa or the Americas".  This is demonstrated within Bleak House when we see George become accused of the murder of Mr. Tulkinghorn based off the black mail and debt that took place between George and Mr. Tulkinghorn.

Emsley, Professor Clive. “History - British History in Depth: Crime and the Victorians.” BBC, BBC, 17 Feb. 2011, www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/crime_01.shtml.