203. Prisoners for debt and persons committed for contempt of court or for any civil contempt shall be permitted to wear their own clothes, and to keep with them such articles of clothing and bedding as they may require, provided the same are not considered by the Superintendent to be unsuitable; and the hair of such prisoner shall not be cut closer than may be necessary for the purpose of health and cleanliness.
204. The beds of such prisoners shall be made, and the rooms and yards in their occupation shall be swept and cleaned by them every morning. The furniture and utensils appropriated to their use shall be kept clean and neatly arranged by them.
205. Such prisoners may be permitted to work and follow their respective trades and professions, provided their employment does not interfere with the regulations of the prison, and they will be permitted to have the whole of their earnings, after deducting the cost of any implements which may be supplied to them, and the cost of their maintenance if they are maintained at the expense of the prison.
206. No such prisoner shall be compelled to attend any religious service other than his own; but, subject to these provisions, he shall attend divine service on Sundays, and on week-days when such service is performed, unless prevented by sickness or excused by the Superintendent for any other reason.
207. The place in which such prisoners receive visits shall not be the same as that in which criminal prisoners receive visits, if any other suitable place can be conveniently provided.
208. Such prisoners shall be permitted to exercise during such periods of the day as the circumstances of the prison will allow, and during the same periods they shall be permitted, if they prefer it, to associate together in an orderly manner.
209. Such prisoners shall be permitted to receive one visit, and also to write and receive one letter in each week, subject to Rule 241; but they may communicate with and receive visits from their friends and legal advisers, at any reasonable hour of the day, for the purpose of arranging the payment of their debts.
210. Such prisoners shall also be subject to all general rules, except so far as the same are inconsistent with the special rules relating to prisoners for debt.
211. Such prisoners shall be allowed to smoke under such regulations as may be laid down by the Superintendent.
GENERAL RULES.
ADMISSION AND DISCHARGE.
212. No prisoner shall be admitted to the prison unless accompanied by a warrant or order for his detention.
213. All prisoners shall be searched, registered, and medically examined on admission.
214. Every prisoner shall take a bath and be clipped on reception, unless it shall be otherwise directed, in any particular case, by the Superintendent or Surgeon.
215. If any prisoner is found to have cutaneous disease, or to be infected with vermin, means shall be taken effectually to eradicate or destroy the same.
216. Every prisoner shall be weighed on reception, and subsequently at such periods as the Superintendent and the Surgeon may direct. The hair of European prisoners shall be kept at such moderate length as health or cleanliness may require.
217. Every prisoner may, if required for purposes of justice, be photographed on reception and subsequently.
218. Every prisoner shall wash his face and hands daily, and shall take a bath once a week.
219. Such of the clothing, linen, and bedding belonging to prisoners as may be retained in the prison shall, if necessary, be washed, cleaned, or disinfected, as soon as possible after they are received.
220. As soon as possible after prisoners are admitted, the abstract of the rules relating to the conduct and treatment of prisoners shall be read over to them; and such abstract shall be read and explained weekly to the whole of the prisoners.
221. Every prisoner shall have a number assigned to him, which shall be prefixed to his name in every register; such number shall appear on the breast of his coat, on his cap or hat.
222. Prisoners whose discharge falls on a Sunday shall be discharged on the Saturday preceding.
223. Fetters or handcuffs may be used by order of the Superintendent in cases where he may deem such use necessary to prevent escape or when there is good reason to apprehend danger of outbreak or assault, and in such cases only.
CLOTHING AND BEDDING.
229. The whole of the Chinese prisoners' clothing and the under-clothing of the European prisoners shall be changed weekly.
230. Every prisoner shall sleep in a cell by himself, if the accommodation of the prison will permit it, or, under special circumstances, in a ward with not fewer than two other prisoners.
231. The clothing of prisoners sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 2 years and upwards may be given to their friends, with the exception of one suit, which will be sold or otherwise disposed of by the Superintendent, in order to recoup the Government for the expense of providing a suitable suit of clothes for the prisoner on his discharge.
232. Such additional clothing and bedding as may be deemed requisite shall be issued during severe weather or in special cases as the Surgeon may deem requisite.
FOOD.
233. Each prisoner shall be supplied with a sufficient quantity of wholesome food, according to the scales of diet which shall be approved. (For diet scales see appendix.)
234. The best possible arrangement shall be made as to the food of Indian prisoners, so that they may not be forced to choose between loss of food and loss of caste.
CLEANLINESS.
224. The weekly clipping of the hair of Chinese prisoners shall be done according to such regulations as shall be established by the Superintendent from time to time.
225. The queues of Chinese prisoners sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for 2 years and upwards may be cut off, and their hair kept cut close until within six months of release; the queues may also be cut off (a) to prisoners of very filthy habits; (b) to prisoners previously sentenced to imprisonment for a period of three months and upwards; and (c) to all prisoners with sentences of six months and under but over 14 days.
235. Penal diet will be supplied on every Saturday and Sunday to male prisoners with sentences of more than six months during the first three months of imprisonment and Reduced Penal diet will be supplied on every Saturday and Sunday to female prisoners and boys under 16 years of age.
236. No prisoner when on penal diet shall be put to hard labour.
237. Punishment diet shall be supplied to prisoners reported for breaches of the prison regulations (at the discretion of the Superintendent), but no prisoner shall be kept on punishment diet for more than 3 days at a time.
238. A prisoner who has any complaint to make regarding the diet furnished to him, or who wishes his diet to be weighed to ascertain whether he is supplied with the authorised quantity, shall make his complaint immediately his diet is handed to him, and it shall be examined or weighed in his presence and in that of the officer deputed for that purpose; but frequent and groundless complaints will be treated as breaches of prison discipline and punished accordingly.
CLASSIFICATION.
239. Prisoners shall be classified for location, and the classes shall be kept separate from each other so far as the accommodation of the prison will permit, as follows:
(1) Males,
Hard labour prisoners: First conviction.
Ditto. With two or more convictions.
Prisoners sentenced to imprisonment in default of payment of fine.
Prisoners unable to find security for their good behaviour.
Prisoners confined as suspicious or dangerous characters.
Debtors and first class misdemeanants.
On remand and waiting trial: First conviction.
On remand and waiting trial: With two or more convictions.
Prisoners sentenced to short terms of imprisonment, not exceeding fourteen days: First conviction.
Prisoners sentenced to short terms of imprisonment, not exceeding fourteen days: With two or more convictions.
Boys under sixteen years of age: First conviction.
Boys under sixteen years of age: With two or more convictions.
(2) Females,
Hard labour prisoners: First conviction.
Ditto. With two or more convictions.
Prisoners sentenced to imprisonment in default of payment of fine.
Prisoners unable to find security for their good behaviour.
Prisoners confined as suspicious or dangerous characters.
Debtors and first class misdemeanants.
On remand and waiting trial: First conviction.
On remand and waiting trial: With two or more convictions.
Prisoners sentenced to short terms of imprisonment, not exceeding fourteen days: First conviction.