PUB.
RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
4111C.O.885
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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as a school room, the females being under instruction before evening service, the males after the service.
The behaviour of the male conviets, as falling under my observation, has been orderly; and I am glad to be able to report that their demeanour in chapel, with few exceptions, is satisfactory. I do not here allude to that orderly deportment which the discipline of the prison exacts, but to an anxious attention which I am pleased frequently to obserye depicted in their countenances-it is possible that they may be simply moved for the moment, but even this is something gained-it proves that they are capable of being worked on, that though fallen, they are not irretrievably so; of course there are some, as it is to be expected, whose moral susceptibilities seen almost extinct, who are incorrigible, and remain proof against any appeals that can be made to them. On these, even the punishments inflicted for breaches of prison discipline have no effect, and it has occurred to me, that it would perhaps be attended with a good result if the punishment inflicted by a Visiting Justice, for a breach of prison discipline were carried out independently of the sentence which the prisoner was undergoing for his primary offence that is to say, if a prisoner were sentenced by a Visiting Justice to 14 days' solitary confinement, those 14 days should not count as part of his original sentence in this way a man by misconduct in prison would be lengthening his imprison- ment; and it seems reasonable that this should be so, inasmuch as by good behaviour he may shorten his imprisonment by getting a ticket-of-leave. I am convinced that by such a system as this, an improvement in the behaviour during imprisonment of some of our worst convicts would be compassed. Of the 72 men in this prison, during the past year, 20 of them so misconducted themselves as to necessitate their being placed before a Visiting Justice of these 20, 4 may be considered incorrigibles, one being tried by a Visiting Justice seven times, two, six times each, and one, five times. The general conduct of the males in school has been satisfactory to both the schoolmaster and myself, there has been, I am happy to say, only one case of misconduct occurring in chapel, and one in school, reported on for the whole past year.
Of the 25 males released from the Glendairy during the last year, 13 could read on their admission, and made fair progress during their imprisonment of the 12 who where ignorant on their admissiou, 7 were able to read on their release, the remaining 5 made but little progress.
The
I am sorry not to be able to report favourably of the behaviour of the females, either in chapel, or in school. It is only by being continually admonished that the majority are got to preserve that outward decorum which is necessary when engaged in God's service, and there is often such a display of listlessness as to evidence too plainly how little the service is appreciated. In school their conduct is the same-so lazy are they, and so indifferent to getting instruction, that very often they pretend not to be able to read, in order that they may not be drafted into the reading-class, where they would sometimes be made to commit to memory a collect or a few verses of the Bible, marked difference between the males and females in their behaviour during the chapel and school services may be traced to this: the males are in separate confinement, and they appreciate the boon of meeting together in one company and joining in one service -it is a break, so to speak, in the daily routine- it gives them pleasure, and so they are led on to join heartily in the occupation of the hour. With the females the ease is up 12 or different, they are not in separate confinement, but generally are locked 14 together, and the result is, that far from the meeting together for school or chapel being a boon to them, they are then under a restraint to which they were not subject before, consequently they shirk it whenever they can, and when in attendance they do not fail to display the indifference with which they regard it. While at this point I cannot help noting it as my impression, that imprisonment at Glendairy has no terrors "Hard labour" for women at present for the class of women generally committed to it.
simply means making, mending, washing clothes and cooking—even of this there is so little to do compared to the number employed (and these are only a small proportion of the total number of prisoners) that it falls very lightly on each, making it more an agreeable pastime than a labour--the larger proportion of prisoners has absolutely nothing to do, and they are consequently locked up in groups of a dozen or more, amus- ing themselves in the manner most delightful to the negro, viz:-sleeping and gossiping. Under these circumstances, it will be readily admitted, that a chaplain has little chance of impressing them seriously-in fact there is nothing to sober and predispose them to listen to him. There are also two other points in connection with this prison that I cannot forbear noticing. Lock Hospital women who refuse to attend that hospital are imprisoned here—this I think very unadvisable, for however much it may be desired to keep such women apart, under existing arrangements they do mix with the other
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prisoners the other point is that very young girls-from 8 to 9 years of age-are committed to this prison, where, of course, they meet with very bad companions, their elders in.crime, and no doubt in the majority of instances they leave prison worse than when they entered it. Of the 702 females committed to this prison during the past year, 178 could read, 441 were committed for the first time, 185 for the second time, 57 for the third time, 30 for the fourth time, 10 for the fifth time, 8 for the sixth time, 7 for the seventh time, 3 for the eighth time, 4 for the ninth time, 1 for the tenth time, 1 for eleventh time, 1 for the twelfth time, 0 for the thirteenth time, 2 for the fourteenth time, 1 for the fifteenth time, and 1 for the sixteenth time,
The Town Hall Gool.-In this establishment are confined persons awaiting further trial, debtors, peacebreakers, prisoners convicted by Magistrates of petty offences, and those convicted at the Assizes by the Chief Judge. There is a catechist in attendance every morning in the week to instruct the prisoners; but it is to be regretted that there is no actual school, as amongst the prisoners there are many committed with long sentences. I cannot help remarking that the unfloored shed in which the prisoners are gathered for public worship is little calculated to inspire any, much less those whom it is intended, with that religious awe, which should be felt, and that devout demeanour which such a feeling would prompt, when going into the special presence of the Almighty to sue for pardon and supplicate for peace-the temporary seats are so crowded together as to preclude all possibility of the majority kneeling, and the result is that the Apostolic injunc- tion, "let all things be done decently and in order," is anything but observed. It is impossible in the present building, so unfit is it for the purpose in almost every point of view, to teach the prisoners what even their outward demeanour should be, when met together for the public worship of their God. It then it be intended that this establish- ment should be a permament one, in the interests of the convicts, I would
that some urge, effort be made to furnish them with a more suitable chapel-the careless and indifferent way in which they are necessarily allowed to conduct themselves in the present one must act injuriously on them. Of 1,618 males committed to this prison during the past year, 600 could read. 739 were committed for first time, 382 for the second time, 243 for the third time, and 254 for four or more times.
District A. Prison. In this prison are confined all females awaiting trial, and all who may be committed for simple imprisonment, as well as all female debtors. Six female prisoners committed for hard labour are also kept here to perform the necessary work about the prison, pump water, &c. &c. I think it objectionable that this class of prisoners should be confined here at all, but if it be necessary, I consider that care should be exercised in the selection of the prisoners for this work,-certainly none should be kept here who have had a previous conviction. There is no provision here for the instruc- tion of the prisoners other than by the chaplain; but I hardly think any necessary, as the imprisonments are generally of short duration, except in the case of the six hard labour prisoners alluded to above. Of 720 females committed to this prison during the past year, 354 could read, 512 were committed for first time, 104 for the second time, 40 for the third time, and 64 for four or more times.
District C. Prison. At this prison are confined all prisoners convicted by the magistrate of the district, as well as others who may be transferred from the Town Hall Gaol to relieve the numbers there. There is no provision here for the instruction of the prisoners, except by the chaplain; this I think is greatly to be regretted, as the prisoners from the district, always remaining at this prison. never get the benefit of any regular instruction, and those transferred from the Town Hall Gaol have occasionally long terms of imprisonment. I think it would be an improvement on the present arrangement and attended with good results, if the prisoners from the district were not committed to this prison, particularly in the case of old offenders, where they are more at home, and who, when taken for work without the walls of the prison, have a greater chance of seeing their old associates. Of 145 males committed to this prison during the past year 34 could read. 97 were committed for first time, 28 for the second time, 11 for the third time, and 9 for four or more times.
District Prison D.-At this prison are confined prisoners transferred from the Town Hall Gaol. Here also is no provision made for the regular instruction of the prisoners, and I would urge that except it be absolutely necessary, it would be as well to avoid send- ing long-sentenced prisoners to either C. or D., until some provision be made for their instruction. It is impossible for me, considering the distance of these prisons from the centre of my work, to give them adequate attention. At present I am only able to pay each of them a fortnightly visit.
Juvenile Reformatory, B.-To this establishment are committed all boys under 14 years of age, and for their regular daily instruction a schoolmaster is appointed; but
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