The Press. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1908. PRISON REFORM.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13131, 2 June 1908, Page 6

The Press. TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 1908. PRISON REFORM.

It is interesting to speculate what would be the state of things in' British prisons to-day if officialdom had been left entirely to its own devices, and reformers outsido had not pushed it slowly from one reform to another. Yet another development due to outside pressure is reported in a recent cable message. Mr Herbert Gladstouo has not been a great success as Home Secretary, bub he will havo at least one important achievement to his

credit if ho pushes through tho Bill now before the House of Commons to establish permanently the Borstal treatment of prisoners. The Borstal system has been tried and proved to bo most efficacious. It has as its basis the recognition of a prisoner as a being capable of reform, tb be dealt with sympathetically and intelligently, and not a creature to be confined for a certain period and kept at monotonous and unskilled work. Under this system the youthful prisoner, on arrival at the goal, has explained to him its operation, aud the benefits he may gain by good conduct. He begins in tho ordinary grade, tho badge of which is a brown dress. Should his conduct be adjudged satisfactory ho is promoted to the special- grade and a blue dress; if ho is not promoted ho is sent down to the punishment grado. marked by a , drab dress, and loses certain! privileges. ._His, daily chapel,.

physical drill, work,_ intervals for instruction, reading, or knitting, and in the case of the special grade, an hour's recreation in tho reading-room under supervision ot the chaplain. He. is taught such trades as carpentering, blacksmithing and cooking, and often ho masters more than one trade. Tlie Borstal Association reports of lads treated in this way at Dartmoor that the change in their appearance was remarkable. "The physi- " cal drill had set them up. The " Livorpoc-1 'comer-boy' had lost his "slouch; the Lincolnshire farm-hand " marched to his work like a soldier.''

It is added that reports for niisooiiduct diminished and that they were only of the kind that occur in big public schools —fighting, laughing and talking in school, iiisu-bordinato replies to the trade instructor. Reports for idleness were unknown, and' oi tho graver forms of moral vice there was -not a single indication. The insubordination was principally duo to excess <if energy, for whenever they were put to outdoor Labour to work off tho superfluous steam all such misconduct ceased. The average number under punishment does not exceed two per cent. The Borstal Association, the private body which has proved the value of this re-

form in the treatment of prisoners, visits lads in prisons, arranges for employ mont for thorn on release, securelodgings for them, and keeps an eye on them until they aro well on the rood to success. It would be interesting to know whether the Government proposes to take over this important part of the Association's work. It is obvious that the Association cannot supervise properly the careers of all who leave gaol, and no doubt, in time, if it is not in the Bill, somo system will bo devised by which the State will release a prisoner on conditional license, tho prisoner to have liberty so long as ho works honestly. Our own Department of Justice might well look into this " system of hard work, strict discipline, tempered by contrivances of " reward, en.couragement, and hope," with a view to its adoption in the Dominion. We aro ahead of the Old Country in the matter of indeterminate sentences, but wo are behind her in prison reform.