CO885-(2-3) — Page 570

Sir,

2

Inclosure in No. 1.

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.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

LTC.O.885

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

(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. (Signed)

KIMBERLEY.

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.

Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 4.

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. P. GRANT.

Bermuda Mount, Gordon Town, February 17, 1873.

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.

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.

• No. 1.

CiPage 571

Sir,

4

Inclosure 2 in No. 4.

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.

5

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 32 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.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference-

C.O.885

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY, WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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 Penitentiaries

victed.

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. For purpose of

Once.

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 lea

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

390

37

·

15

+1

43

*akoto

147 39

141 450

138

24

* 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 338 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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