CO885(2-3) — Page 571

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Inclosure 2 in No. 4.

Sir,

Inspector of Prisons' Office, February 7, 1873. IN reply to your letter dated 6th instant, I have the honour to state that your letter of 1st May, 1872, did not require from me any special report on the Gaols and Prisons' Blue Book Returns, but only "any observations thereon that you may be

able to make.”

I beg to say that the queries are so exhaustive, and the answers so full, that I really have no remarks to make on the Returns. I inclose the Returns.

I have, &c.

The IIon. E. G. Rushworth, Colonial Secretary.

(Signed)

H. B. SHAW, Inspector of Prisons.

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Q. 7.-If so, during what periods of imprisonment, in respect of what classes of prisoners, and during how many hours is such penal labour enforced? In stating hours of treadwheel labour, give first the total time on and off at the wheel, &c.; secondly, the length of spells and intervals of rest.-A. After surgeon's inspection all prisoners guilty of breach of prison discipline can be worked on the treadwheel as the superin- tendent shall direct. All re-convicted prisoners on entering the prison are worked on the wheel the first and last two weeks of their imprisonment. The daily number of hours during which treadmill labour is enforced are as follows: From 1st October to 31st March, 10 hours 15 minutes; from 1st April to 30th September, 11 hours 15 minutes. Total number of hours on the mill during the first-mentioned period: on 6 hours 40 minutes, off 3 hours 35 minutes; latter period: on 7 hours 15 minutes, off 4 hours, with spells of 20 minutes length, and 10 minutes intervals of rest. Shot-drill during the whole of the working hours, two gangs of 20 men each every alternate hour. Time table annexed.

Inclosure 3 in No. 4.

Gaols and Prisoners, 1872.

STATISTICAL RETURN for the Prisons of Jamaica, for 1871-72.

Number Committed for Debt,

Want of Bail, and

Punishment.

Number of those Committed

who have been previously Con-

Number of Persons Committed to Penal Imprisonment," including "Penal Servitude," (if that term is used in the

Colony to describe any Punishment).

Name and Nature of the

Prisons, whether **Common Gaol,” "Penitentiary," &c.

General Penitentiarico

Total Number of Persons Committed

from Oct. 1, 1871, to Sept. 30, 1972,

For Debt.

for want

for safe Custody till Trini, or f

Security.

want of

Penal Imprisonment. Por purpose of

Once.

390

victed.

Twice.

Thrice or more.

For Five Years or

For more than Three |

more, but less than For One Year or

For Three Months

Months, and leza

than One Year.

Five Years,

or less.

The Daily Average Number in

Prison.

Hospital, during the Year 1871-72. The Number of Admissions to

The Daily Average on the Sick List.

The Number of Deaths during 1871-72

390

37

·

15

+1

43

*akoto

147 39

141 450

138

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* By "Penal Imprisonment" is meant imprisonment inflicted as a substantive punishment in pursuance of a sentence of a Court of Justice, as distinguished from imprisonment for safe custody, &c.

Questions and Answers.

Q. 1.-If the prison is on the separate system is the separation complete? And if not, what is the separation enforced by day and night respectively. The accommo- dation of the prison does not permit of the separate system being carried out in its fullest integrity. Separation is, however, to a considerable extent enforced at night- the greater portion of the prisoners sleeping in separate cells. Prisoners on their first conviction are kept apart during working and meal hours from the re-convicted.

Q. 2. If not on the separate system, what provision is there for the supervision of the prisoners while in association ?d. They are under the constant supervision of the officers of the prison during working and meal hours.

Q. 3. How many cells are there; and how many associated wards?—A. 303 separate cells, 15 associated wards, 8 punishment or dark cells for refractory půsoners.

Q. 4.-Taking the average* number of prisoners in gaol, how many cubic feet of space are there for each prisoner during the hours of sleep. In the separate cell each prisoner has 330 feet (cubic) of space. In the associated wards, each prisoner has 388 cubic feet of space.

Q. 5. How are the prisoners classified?—A Chiefly in accordance with their sentences, and the nature of their offences,-care being taken, as far as circumstances permit, to keep the hardened offender apart from the young beginner in evil courses.

Q. 6. Is penal labour-that is labour by treadmill, crank, or shot-drill-in force ? --A. Treadmill labour and shot-drill are in force. No crank labour.

*See note at foot of previous Table.

GENERAL PENITENTIARY.

TIME TABLE for Shot-Drill, for 1872.

Prisoners to work at Shot-Drill daily, în equal relays.

From 7 to 8 A.M., other work. From 8 to 9 A.M., other work. From 9 to 10-30 A.M., breakfast, ke.

1st Gang-From 6 to 7 A.M., drill. 2ud Gang. From 7 to 8 A.M., drill.

1st Gang. From 8 to 9 A.M., drill.

2nd Gang --From 10:30 to 11:30 A.M., drill. From 11:30 AM., to 12-30 г.m., other work.

1st Gang. From 11:30 A.M. to 12 30 P.M., drill. From 12:30 to 1-30 P.M., other work. 2nd Gang. From 12:30 to 1:30 P., drill. From 1:30 to 2:30 г.M., other work.

1st Gang. From 1:30 to 2:30 г.M., drill. From 2-30 to 3:30 P.M., other work.

2nd Gang.-2:30 to 3:30 F.M., drill.

From 3:30 to 4-80 г.., other work.

1st Gang-From 3:30 to 4 30 P.M., drill.

2nd Gang.-From 4.30 to 5 P.M., drill.

From 4.30 to 5 r.., other work.

Q. 8. What kind of labour other than penal labour is in use ?-A. Prisoners within the prison are employed as carpenters, coopers, blacksmiths, masons, stone. cutters, tailors and shoemakers.

A printing press is in operation, also worked by

prisoners.

Q. 9.-If the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the gnol state-

1. On what kind of work they are so employed ?-In quarrying stone for lime burning, ballasting, &c., and working boats for conveying same. They are also employed

at the palisades, cleaning government land and planting cocoanuts.

2. How are they supervised ?-By officers of the prison, armed.

3. How many escapes of prisoners while being employed beyond the gaol have taken place during each of the last three years ?-1869-70, 5; 1870-71, 3; 1871–2, 3. 4. How the profits of their labour are accounted for ?-Lodged in Island Treasury

to the credit of the Prison Department.

Q. 10.-What is the total annual cost of the prison ?—A. 10,641). 4s. 6d.

Q. 11.-What is the annual amount of the prisoners' earnings?—A. 7,7091. 14s. 2d. Q. 12.-What are the number of hours allotted for sleep? And if sleep is in association are the dormitories lighted; and how often are they patrolled during the night? A. Eleven hours on an average during the year. The dormitories are not lighted; but are patrolled by the night watch hourly.

Q. 13. What were the number and nature of the punishments inflicted for offences committed in prison ?—A. 293 males and 16 females have been punished by confine- ment in dark cells, on bread and water for breaches of prison discipline, and corporal punishment has been inflicted on four prisoners, by order of the official visitors, sanctioned by the Governor.

Q. 14. Is there a Chaplain ?-A. There was a Chaplain during the year 1871-2, but the office was abolished on 30th September, 1872.

Q. 15.-Are religious services regularly performed ?—A. Prayers and portions of Scripture are read every morning in the Chapel, and a full Church Service on Sunday, with Sermon.

Q. 16.-Are Roman Catholic Priests and Dissenting Ministers allowed free access to prisoners of their own persuasion ? and are they apprized when prisoners of their respective persuasions enter the prison ?-d. Yes; and services are allowed to be held by them in the Prison Chapel.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference-

C.O.885

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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