2
Inclosure in No. 1.
Sir,
Inspector of Prisons' Office, December 2, 1871. IN reply to your letter dated 30th ultimo, directing me to report on the prospect of being able to establish an improved system of prison discipline, including separa- tion and penal labour in the other prisons of the island, as well as the General Penitentiary, I have the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that there is every prospect of a more penal discipline being carried into effect in the district prisons, as shot-drill is being introduced into them. For the last two months it has been in force in the St. Catherine's District Prison, and can be brought into use in the other prisons as soon as the officers of the prisons have learned the drill,
As regards the separation of prisoners, I cannot see any prospect of that being done, as not one of the district prisons are in their architectural arrangements adapted for it, neither could they be made so without incurring such an expense that it would be cheaper to erect new prisons.
The Hon. W. S. G. Young,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. B. SHAW.
(No. 492.) Sir,
3
No. 3.
The Earl of Kimberley to Lieutenant-Governor Rushworth, C.M.G.
Downing Street, December 2, 1872. IN my despatch No. 314 of the 6th of March I suggested to Sir John Grant the appointment of a Commission to investigate the present condition and discipline of the Jamaica gaols.
I have not received any answer to that despatch, and I do not observe in the local newspapers any notices of the proceedings of a Prison Commission. I should therefore be glad to be informed whether such a Commission has been constituted, and what progress it has made in its labours.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
KIMBERLEY.
No. 4.
(No. 314.) Sir,
No. 2.
The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir J. P. Grant, K.C.B.
Downing Street, March 6, 1872. I HAVE received your despatch No. 3 of the 3rd of January,* reporting progress made in the improvement of prison discipline in Jamaica.
I am glad to observe that arrangements have been made for the general introduction of penal labour, and I anticipate from its introduction satisfactory results. But the prison system of Jamaica is still defective, inasmuch as the separate system has not yet been invariably and uniformly applied. As you have been made aware by previous communications from the Secretary of State, the separate system has been long acknowledged in this country to be the only basis of a sound prison discipline; and the experience of the Colonies proves conclusively that the association of prisoners belonging to semi-civilized races is at least equally fruitful in the evils which were shown to be inseparable from it in this country. On this matter I refer you to the third paragraph of my circular despatch of the 15th of April last. I am not aware that the records of this Department contain specific instances of depravity growing out of the association of prisoners in the Janiaica prisons; but unless the contrary should be shown, it must be presumed that the conditions being the same, what has been brought to light in other Colonies will, by inquiry, be ascertained to exist in the prisons of Jamaica; and I would suggest for your consideration the propriety of appointing a Commission of public officers to investigate the internal condition of the Jamaica prisons, with special reference to the question whether the associated system engenders depravity and tends to the permanent degradation of youthful or casual offenders.
The Commissioners should be directed, before commencing their labours, to make themselves acquainted with the Correspondence which has been presented to Parliament respecting Colonial Prisons since 1865, as specified in my circular despatch of the 15th of April last. I inclose three copies of it for their use. There are some specific points to which inquiry might be directed-whether the wards are lighted, whether they are constantly patrolled by night, and whether the warders are respectable and trustworthy men.
Mr. Llewelyn served for 18 months or 2 years in the West Indian Department of this Office at a time when a great deal of prison work was passing through it. I believe he knew a good deal about it, and as he is a very intelligent gentleman, I should imagine that as secretary or otherwise he would be able to set the Commissioners on the right track, and prevent the Commission proving abortive, as similar Commissions have done, for want of special knowledge amongst their members.
I have, &c.
Governor Sir J. P. Grant, K.C.B., to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received March 31.)
(No. 44.) My Lord,
King's House, March 11, 1873. WITH reference to your Lordship's circular despatch of the 30th of January, 1872, I have the honour to transmit copies of two Returns relating to "Gaols and Prisons" and "Criminal Statistics" respectively, together with a letter from the Inspector of Prisons and one from the Attorney-General in reference thereto.
Inclosure 1 in No. 4.
I have, &c.
(Signed) J. P. GRANT.
Sir,
I BEG leave to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 6th February, 1873, stating that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has requested that the inclosed Return relative to crime may be accompanied by a report thereon from the chief Law Officer of the Colony, and requesting me to furnish the necessary report on the inclosed Return relative to crime for the past year.
Bermuda Mount, Gordon Town, February 17, 1873.
In answer, I beg to state that I presume that what is required from the Law Officer is a report on such points (if any) appearing in the Return as may seem to him to call for observations from him. Assuming that this is what is required, and that it is not required that I should send any formal report unless I have some matter of substance to deal with, I beg to report that the statistics contained in the inclosed Return do not suggest to me any subject coming within the scope of my duties as a Law Officer of the Crown which calls for any observations from me.
I may notice that, in the ordinary routine of business, no statistics, criminal or other, ever come before the Attorney-General. He is constantly consulted respecting purely legal questions arising in the administration of the Criminal Law in the Criminal Courts, but no returns or information in the nature of returns giving information such as is contained in the enclosed Return has ever, until now, been sent to him.
The assistants to the Attorney-General furnish reports to the Attorney-General after each Circuit, but these reports deal only with legal questions that have arisen on the Circuit, and do not furnish, except incidentally, any statistical information.
I am, &c. (Signed) E. A. C. SCHALCH.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Kingston.
(Signed)
• No. 1.
KIMBERLEY.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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