CO885-(2-3) — Page 588

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference-

C.O.885

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Chaguanos Depðt-

Dysentery

Congestion of spine

Bronchitis

Irois Depôt-

Debility

38

:::

6. Number of prisoners on Office journal on 31st December, 1872

:::

Total

17

N.R.-Prisoners from out-stations, when very ill or labouring under obstinate diseases, are, as a rule, sent up to Royal Gaol Infirmary for treatment.

314

Committed during the year 1878, debtors and those committed direct to Irois

Depot included

2,649

Total

2,963

7. Transferred to out-stations

429

2,278

62 618

N.B. Of there 85 were indentured immigrants.

8. Number of prisoners duly examined by the Medical Officer on their committal N.B.-Number of these so ill as to be kept in hospital on their committal

Number of the above actually labouring under disease

Under the head of "Malingerers," there is much, unfortunately, to notice there are, and it is probable, there always will be a certain number of prisoners of evil and cowardly dispositions, who endeavour to throw their burdens on their neighbour, whoever he may be. The infirmary, of course, offers the readiest mode of shirking labour, and gives a good chance of getting diets different from the ordinary gaol rations: many of these criminals evince the most obstinate and persevering attempts at imposition, and it positively surprises me to witness what they will go through to gain their ends. Sometimes by being overdone, these unhappy courses tend inevitably to bring on real disease, to prevent which, and at the same time to check malingering, is the daily, most anxious, and ardous task, which devolves upon and is sure to await the Medical Officer.

THOS. MURRAY, M.D.,

Medical Superintendent.

February 16, 1874.

(Signed)

Gaols and Prisoners.

STATISTICAL Return for the Prisons of Trinidad for 1873.

Number of those Committed

who have

been previously Convicted.

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

Prisona.

(Whether "Common Gaol," "Penitentiary, &c.) Mers Lock-ups" not

to be inserted.

Men

Women. Juveniles

Number Committed

Want of Bail, and

for Debt,

Punishment.

Total Number of Persons Committed

in 1873.

For Debt.

For safe Custody till

Trial, or for want of

For purposes of

Penal Imprison

Security.

ment.⚫

Onco.

Twice.

For Five Years or

„2§| 3 | Thrice or more.

more

| For One Year or

-23 more, but less than

[

Five Yorts.

than Three

than One Year._____

For three Months

or less.

The Daily Average Number in Prisen.

The Number of Admissions to Hospital during the Year 1873.

The Daily Average on the Sick Liat.

The Number of Deaths during 1873,

2662,238,590 | 489|570

14

62

1741,990

2,649

143

356

450

2,323 275

128 245 1,948 1,410 420 493 14

61

158 1,724

331 330

16

17

:

243

148 56 71

8 229

120

2

51

47! 32 13 &

#

37+

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

† Juveniles, 51 for the whole year.

39

Questions and Answers.

And

Q. 1.-If the prison is on the separate system, is the separation complete? if not, what is the separation enforced by day and night respectively ?-A. There are 82 separate cells at the Royal Gaol, and 26 separate cells at the Convict Depôt, Chaguanas. Separation is enforced at night as far as the number of cells permits. Additional separate cells are being provided at all the prisons, with the view to separate all convicted male prisoners at night. The prisoners are employed in gangs by day.

Q. 2.-If not on the separate system, what provision is there for the supervision of the prisoners while in association ?-d. At all stations, prisoners are under the charge of a turnkey by day, at the Royal Gaol and Chaguanas, officers are on duty at night who inspect those in association, at short and uncertain intervals. At Carrera's Island, they are liable to inspection from the turnkey's quarters.

Q. 3. How many cells are there; and how many associated wards ?d. At the Royal Gaol, there are 82 separate cells, 4 punishment cells, 39 cells for more than one prisoner, exclusive of male and female debtor's quarters. At Chaguanas Convict Depôt, there are 26 separate cells, 2 associated wards. At Carrera's Island, there are

2 associated wards.

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 2-4. About 783.

Q. 5.-low are the prisoners classified-4. 1st class, debtors; 2nd class, prisoners waiting trial; 3rd class, prisoners for non-payment of fines; 4th class, military prisoners; 5th class, prisoners sentenced to hard labour for less than two years; 6th class, prisoners sentenced to hard labour for two years and more; 7th class, prisoners under sixteen years of age.

Q. 6. Is penal labour--that is, labour by treadmill, crank, or shot-drill-in force? -4. No. (Shot-drill and the treadwheel will be shortly introduced, 18th March, 1874.)

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 ?-See answer to No. 6.

Q. 8.-What kind of labour, other than penal labour, is in use -A. At the Royal Gaol quarrying stone, breaking stone, breaking stones for roads, keeping the grounds of Government institutions clean, working at various trades within the gaol walls. Female prisoners are employed in washing, sewing, and a few breaking stones. Chaguanas: hauling timber and carrying railway sleepers, cutting traces through the forest, making tramroad. At Carrera's Island: quarrying stone.

At

Q. 9.-1 the prisoners are employed beyond the walls of the gaol state.-A. Yes,

nearly all.

1. On what kind of work they are so employed ?--See answer to question No. 8. 2. How are they supervised Prisoners of labour are divided into gangs, and are under the supervision of turnkeys in the proportion of one turnkey to about twelve prisoners.

3. How many escapes of prisoners, while being employed beyond the gaol, have taken place during each of the last three years 7—1871, 17—15 captured; 1872, 21— 16 captured; 1873, 17-11 captured.

4. How the profits of their labour are accounted for ?-Moneys received by the Superintendent of Prisons, are paid by him into the Treasury monthly. The annual Report shows the value of the prisoners' labour, which is employed almost entirely for public departments.

Q. 10. What was the total annual cost of the prison during the year 1873 P- 4. Expenditure including salaries, 7,0331. 3s.

Q. 11-What was the annual amount of the prisoners' earnings during 1873?—

A. 3.9127. 13s. 9d.

Q. 12. What are the number of the hours allotted for sleep? And, if sleep is in association, are the dormitories lighted? and how often are they patrolled during the night. Eleven hours are allotted for sleep. The small dormitories at the Royal Gaol are not lighted, but the passages are lighted, and the prison frequently patrolled by turnkeys on night duty. The associated rooms at the Convict Depots are lighted, and at Chaguanas are frequently inspected by a night watchman.

Q. 13.--What were the number and nature of the punishments inflicted for offences committed by prisoners undergoing imprisonment ?—4. Solitary confinement, 145; to wear light leg irons, 10; whippings, 16.

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