COMFORT IN PRISON

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 184, 6 August 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

COMFORT IN PRISON

:^t a recent sitting of the Grand Cbhv; engaged^ co*sider*j the Prisons Bill in England, ...the: ; «Qh^ Secretary placed before the members; the text of the new prison^rulesj Wing the promises he has given dur-, ing the progress? of the Prisons Bill. The. rules will in the case of local prisons enable prisoners awaiting trial to have the use of books or papers. They provide for the searching of a prisoner, being conducted 'with due regard to. self-respect and in as seemly a manner as' is consistent';with' the necessity- of discovering any concealed article,' and say, 'No prisoner shall, be searched in the' presence of another prisoner.' Prisoners over sixteen years of: age and under sixty are to have a mattress to lie on after the first fourteen days of sentence-though it may be "taken away as a punishment, but even then not for more than three days consecutively.: A further rule says, 'Marks for remission of sentence, not earned by industry, in consequence of. physical or mental weakness or illness,: shall be granted in every case where it is certified by the medical officer that the illness was actual and not feigned. With regard to hard labour, it is provided that short Sentence prisoners shall be employed on labour of a hard, bodily description of a productive character, but no person shall be so employed for more than ten or less than six hours per day, exclusive of meals. There is to be. no intercourse between prisoners, except as the governor may direct, and the .privilege of talking may be given as a reward for good conduct for. limited time and under reasonable supervision. . . : • •