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C.O.885

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RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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here seems to be very little time devoted to school work. The boys are taken out in gangs to work for 6 hours every day on some neighbouring estate, a feature in the system carried out at this establishment which I think open to grave objection. It reduces the time which may be more profitably spent in the instruction of the boys to a minimum; it causes their prison life to approach too nearly to what their ordinary way of living is, both in the matter of occupation, and contact with others, and it deprives their punishment to a very great degree of its deterrent influence. Again, I am of opinion, that the short periods for which the juveniles are imprisoned must prevent the present establishment ever becoming anything of a Reformatory, Under a system most favoutable to reformation, I submit that it would take a period certainly not less than 12 months to render success at all likely. What benefit then can be expected from imprisonments varying in the majority of cases from 14 to 30 days. Indeed I believe it probable that the system of committing for short periods, far from exercising a reforming influence, has the opposite effect, and that a boy may leave prison more steeped in vice than when he entered it. It is hardly to be realised, how thorough an education in crime may be carried on in a prison where there is no separate system in existence. And further these short imprisonments render the instruction imparted totally ineffectual—a boy sent to prison for a month, may during that time be taught to repeat the Lord's Prayer, as a parrot, but I consider this as an exercise in the way of reformation very questionable, and even supposing that he has begun 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 prescut there are rather inducements than otherwise to enter our establishment 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 adminstered, with short separate confinement. On a first conviction I would advise a flogging and immediate release. On a second two floggings with seven or more days separate confinement between them. On & third conviction, three floggings with the necessary number of days separate contine- ment between each; this punishment to be followed by removal to a reformatory, for a period of not less than four years. The establishment in which delinquents 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, cutting off the hair, nor short allowance of food, but above all things there should be no communication whatever 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 good one, since by its means we may have ultimately to pay less in the punishment of crime; and I have no doubt that a reformatory, where the inmates are kept for a lengthened period, might be so 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 connive at their entering on a course of crime in order to get them sent to the reformatory, but I think the circumstances under which they would be admited would not 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. 240 were commit- ted for the first time, 35 for the second time, 11 for the third time, 5 for the fourth time, 4 for the fifth time, 5 for the sixth time, 4 :or the seventh, and 1 for the eighth time.

Barbados, February 24, 1873.

J. LAWRENCE GREAVES,

Chaplain to Prisons.

(Signed)

Remarks on Juvenile Reformatory B."

I am of opinion that the short period for which the juveniles at "B" are imprisoned will prevent the present establishment ever becoming anything of a reformatory.

Under a system most favourable to reformation, it would take a period certainly not

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less than twelve months to render success at all likely; what then can be expected of imprisonments varying in the majority of cases from fourteen to thirty days?

It is possible too that the system of committing for a short period, far from exercising a reforming influence, may have an opposite effect. A boy may leave the prison more steeped in vige than when he entered it; for it is hardly, I think, to be realized how thorough an education in crime may be carried on in a prison where there is nothing like a separate system in existence, and when release is looked forward to in a short time. Again, these short committals render the instruction imparted totally inefficient. A boy during a month's imprisonment, may be got to repeat the Lord's Prayer like a parrot; but I consider this as an exercise in the way of reformation very questionable. And even supposing a prisoner has begun to be a little seriously impressed, all this is quite done away with by his too soon 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. As offenders for the first or second

time we should endeavour to deter them by punishment; and I am convinced from my experience of them, that no punishment would be so effectual as a couple of sound floggings judiciously administered, with an intermediate short separate confinement. On a first conviction I would advise a flogging and release. On a second conviction, 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 cach: this punishment to be followed by removal to a reformatory for a term of not less than four years.

The establishment in which juveniles were detained during the period of their separate confinement, should be styled a “House of Correction" (not a prison); in it there should be no peculiar dress, on cutting off the hair, a sufficient supply of food; but the separate confinement should be as complete as possible; just as much daily exercise allowed as requisite for health, and no communication whatever with fellow delinquents.

The establishment of a reformatory for the reception of such juveniles as have proved too hardened to be deterred by punishment, may occasion an outlay in the first instance, but I believe it would be a wise one, as on account of it we may ultimately have to pay less in the punishment of crime. Such a reformatory, where the inmates were detained for a lengthened period, could, I have no doubt, he worked successfully, and perhaps be made, after a time, almost self-supporting. Again, I do not think that the circum- stances under which the inmates were admitted, would be such as to tempt parents to connive at their children entering on a course of crime for the purpose of benefiting by the training of the institution.

It is not enough for us to punish adult criminals, and use our efforts for their refor- mation; we should busy ourselves too on a more important, a much easier, a far more agreeable work, and that is to check the growth of a population of juvenile offenders who will not only keep up the supply of adult criminals, but also increase that class. If we neglect the duty of looking after our rising generation in the respect under consideration, we will, without doubt, in time to come, reap the fruits of our delinquency in a mass of poverty, destitution, and crime.

J. LAWRENCE GREAVES,

Chaplain to Prisons.

(No. 33. Barbados.)

Sir,

(Signed)

No. 12.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Rawson, C.B.

Downing Street, July 26, 1873. I HAVE received with satisfaction your despatch No. 47 of the 3rd of June,* reporting that a joint Committee of the Council and Assembly has been formed to consider the state of the Town Hall Prison.

2. The Reports by the Provost-Marshal and Chaplain, inclosed in your despatch, appear to be very carefully drawn up, and deserves the serious consideration of the Legislature.

3. I have to call your attention to the statement in page 5 of the Provost-Marshal's Report, that the partial suspension during the past two years of the regulations for the performance of shot drill

caused by the demand for labour outside the walls of the prison, in the shape of work at the dredge and at Government House, to the

No. 11.

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