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Prayer, as a parrot, but I consider this as an exercise in the way of reformation very questionable, and supposing that he has began to be a little seriously impressed, all this is quite done away with, by the too speedy return to his usual way of life. On the whole, I consider that our juvenile offenders demand a different system of treatment from that which is now being carried out, in which there is apparently nothing to deter or to reform. At present there are rather inducements than otherwise to enter our establishment at B, since the juveniles are in every respect more comfortable than they can be at home, and at the same time allowed free intercourse with their fellow delinquents-thus leaving the place with renewed vigour, and a greater insight into crime from the evil communications of their more corrupt companions. My experience convinces me that the following course would be far more likely to produce good results. I believe that there could be no punishment to boys so deterrent as flogging judiciously administered, with short separate confinement. On a first conviction I would advise a flogging and release. On a second two floggings with seven or more days separate confinement between them. On a third conviction three floggings with the necessary number of days separate confinement between each, this punishment to be followed by removal to a reformatory, for term of not less than four years. The establishment in which they should be detained during the period of separate confinement should be regarded more as a "House of Correction," than a prison, there should be neither peculiar dress, nor cutting off the hair, nor short allowance of food, but above all things, there should be no communication allowed with each other, and only just so much daily exercise as would be requisite for health. To establish a reformatory for the reception of those juveniles who proved too hardened to be deterred by punishment, must occasion an outlay at first, but I believe it would be a wise one, since we may have ultimately to pay less in the punishment of crime; and I have no doubt that a reformatory, where the inmates were kept for a lengthened period, might be worked as to be self-supporting or nearly so. Objections might be urged to this system, on the plea that parents, to obtain a good training for their children, may commive at their entering on a course of crime in order to get them sent to the reformatory, but I think, the circumstances under which this would be admitted, would offer much inducement to the children themselves. It is not enough for us to punish adult criminals, and use our best efforts for their reformation, we should endeavour to check the growth of a population of juvenile offenders, who, be it remembered, will not only keep up the supply of adult criminals, but also increase that class. Of 305 boys committed during the past year, 15 could read on their admission,
Conclusion.
In conclusion, I must call attention to the very interesting Report of the Chaplain of the prisons; his experience is valuable as more or less he daily visits all the prisons in the island, consequently has more opportunities than others of judging of their defects and requirements. I am glad to find that his conclusions thoroughly bear me out in opinion, that unless the separate system is carried out, our prisons can never be considered a terror to evil doers. The grand object of all prison discipline is the uniting of reformation with punishment, at the same time that the deterring feature of a sentence should predominate. there can be no doubt that the problem is at best a difficult one, as the clements of discipline and instruction, encouragement and repression, require very nice adjustment. The measures adopted for its solution in the prisons of England, as shown by various annual reports, have been steadily worked out and improved upon to the present time; we should be encouraged to do likewise by the immediate erection of proper prisons, and it must be obvious, that with due attention, the same degree of success would follow our exertions here.
FREDK. WATTS, Inspector of Prisons.
(No. 61. Barbados.) Sir,
(Signed)
No. 16.
The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Rawson, C.B.
Downing Street, November 14, 1873.
•
I HAVE received your despatch No. 84 of the 25th September, providing statistical returns of gaols and prisons in Barbodos for 1872.
In Mr. Watts' report, inclosed in these returns, I observe that he quotes, as con- firming his own experience, a report of the Chaplain of Southwark Prison for 1872, in which the efficacy of shot drill is disputed in the case of separately confined prisoners, and when long continued in the case of others also.
• No. 15.
79
I observe, with satisfaction, that Mr. Watts' attention is turned to accruing English experience in prison discipline, as well as to past experience, although his observations have led him to a conclusion in some measure at variance with those adopted by Her Majesty's Government.
Shot drill has, however, always been regarded as inferior in efficacy to the tread- wheel or crank, and rather as a makeshift when those instruments were not to be had.
I have to request you to consider whether one of the other two approved methods of penal labour could not be substituted for shot drill, in the cases mentioned by Mr. Watts. There are one or two minor points of detail in the returns on which I desire to
comment:-
Glendiary, No. 18.-Tickets of leave should not be confined to prisoners on first con- viction. They are equally applicable to all cases.
Town Hall, No. 4.-It is needless to classify felons and misdemeanants apart, those terms not in fact necessarily implying any greater and less degree of turpitude in the offences of the persons convicted.
Juvenile Prison, No. 10.—I desire to be furnished with a report on the cause of the large number of escapes from this prison.
I have, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLEY
No. 17.
Barbodos, December 27, 1873.
Governor Rawson, C.B., to the Earl of Kimberley.—(Received January 15, 1874.) (No. 128. Barbados.) My Lord,
IN my despatches Nos. 47 and 85 of the 3rd June and 25th September last, I reported that a Joint Committee of the Council and Assembly had been appointed to consider the question of prison accommodation in the island, with reference especially to the objectionable arrangements in the Town Hall Prison and the Female Prison at district "A."
2. I have now the satisfaction of forwarding, for your Lordship's information, copies, in duplicate, of the report of the committee, which contains proposals that will remedy these inconveniences, and a copy of an address from the House of Assembly requesting that I should have estimates prepared for the cost of effecting the suggested improve- ments. As both Houses were represented in the committee, I trust that, as soon as these can be got ready, the Legislature will make carly provision for the execution of the work.
I have, &c.
(Signed) RAWSON W. RAWSON.
Inclosure 1 in No. 17.
Report.
THE Joint Committee of the Council and Assembly appointed to consider and report on his Excellency's message respecting the fitness of the Town Hall as a place of con- finement for prisoners, and to inquire generally into the state of prison accommodation throughout the island, and to report what steps should be taken to amend the existing evil, now report:—
They have had before them the report of the Provost Marshal on the prisons of the island, dated 14th April, 1873, which has been laid before the Council and Assembly, with a message from the Governor, and also a despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, written in acknowledgment of the receipt of the Provost Marshal's report, in which despatch Lord Kimberley expresses his satisfaction that a Joint Committee of the Council and Assembly had been appointed to consider the state of the Town Hall Prison.
The committee recommend that measures should be taken with as little delay as possible for relieving the crowded condition of the Town Hall Prison, the evils resulting from which have been forcibly pointed out by Captain Hyde in his report; for although the excessive want of space for the number of prisoners confined 'there has had no prac- tically injurious effect on their health, leaving it to be inferred that the prison is not
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