REFORMATORY PRISONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 91, 10 January 1908, Page 9

REFORMATORY PRISONS.

HABITUAL criminals act, .| THE REGULATIONS. \ , I DAILY LIFE OF THE INMATES. ' ' » "'Tho Habitual 1 Criminals', and Offenders'' . Act,j 1906, .is so often boforo; tho public as { a; measure likely" to prove an .effective're- 1 j .straint oil crime, that the regulations gov-: s erning the reformatory prisons to be estab- '• dished. for'the treatment; of habitual crimi-'. ; nals (which appear in this week's Gazette) arc worthy, of note. , They "are as follow:— | ; 1. Tho'Ordinary , prison regulations and gen- i cfal orders will apply, as . far as practicable, lp the management,; control, and discipline 1 of the establishment generally, the term ."Manager" being substituted' for . that of "Gaoler" in every caso. , Consultative Committee. ; ; 2. :Thord'Shall bb ; a .Consultative Commit, tee for each Reformatory. Prison, consisting • of tho' Stipendiary Magistrate , residing in the district- in- which, the .Reformatory Prison is situated: (who shall 'visit tho institution pncc( at'least, ifi evory month)', tho Visiting justices, and tho Manager. ; The. Committee will be -required: to consider carefully the chsc of ...eaclr. prisoner,, to deal with any specific matter referred to it,' and to; advise > the Minister thereon. The. Stipendiary Mag- ' istratd ;shall preside at each meeting of the Committee, and shall arrango for holding ■ regular quarterly meetings and such extra meetings as may. bo found neccssary. . Two mombers' shall form a 'quorum, and minutes shall be kept of tho, proceedings of eaoh meeting. ■ . :3. At the regular meetings punishments which have taken place since tho' last meeting shall be reported, together with particulars of marks and''moncy awarded to each prisoner, result of appeals outstanding, ref quests in request book, „ and other necessary : 'details of trcatfnont. . 4.. . Every prisoner shall bp brought - singly before the Committee at their regular, meetings to insuro that no case is overlooked.;, .'; Stipendiary Magistrate and Visiting justices S. The Stipendiary Magistrate andy Visiting Justices, shall havo the same power to hear ,and determine complaints as in tho case of i ordinary • prisoners ■; under ..tile 'Prisons Act, > and. may .similarly direct punishment or ■' otherwise' deal .'.with, offenders; but ' in cases ' of deprivation of marks the valuo of marks Tilled, shall''riot. exceed' ten 'shillings. -_ ,• i ' '6. At' ovory. visit the. Stipendiary Magistrato and Visiting Justices, ,in company with' ! tho. Manager,'shall consult with tho various. ' . officers concerned respecting the' industry, ; conduct j and progress of "each prisoner; they l shall carefully investigate any complaints I made to them, and, when necessary,'furnish ■ a report tojthe'.Minister or Inspector.. ;

Gaol Surgeon. 7; The Gaol Surgeon .will, forward quarterly reports sto tho Inspector respecting tho con-' dition of . health,'' otcV, •of bach prisoner, and givo special attention to. those on the lower dietary scales. v "-.. : - Treatment of Habitual Criminals. , . , ; 8. Every : prisoner will have a .separate cbllj' ia which ho ««'ill sleep, have his nieals; and jltcep such, of his 1 belongings as may •be sanctioned by, tho. Manager. '.Indulgences will : bo granted on ; account of good conduct ■ and industry/ and such indulgences . will include; postagestamps, tea; "colfeoj cocoa, tobacco, cheese, lisln fruit, newspapers, pipes, butter, jam, ■milk, extra lighting, extra- issuo of books, and any other such ■ privileges as the Man-' agor may'sanction. i 10. No prisoner shall take indulgences or extra , articles- of food outside', his- cell, or shaw'theni*.with .others, without boing> liable ■to punishment,' including forfeiture of marks and.'privileges. ; ,■'•

. Employment— Earning Marks... •v-'lH'- Each prisoner''wilKibc' employed' according to )iis ability, ..and -will perform such 'labour "as the Manager may; direct daily, suited to his 1 capacity and physical condition. Tlio wo'i'k l should be of a reformative, and educational character, and, whenever practicable, and not inconsistent with disciplinary the prisoner should be employed at tho trade at which" he is most proficient, -and which will do the most to fit him-for honest self-support when at liberty. , • 12. An account will bo opened_ in each prisoner's 'name, showing tho various payments 'and deductions, and tjiisyis to be; audited on tho occasion of each visit of tho Inspector. At any time prisoners are to bo informed oil inquiry of tlio stato of their account. ' ' ' • ' . ' • (1:) Marks may bo earned as follows: — For n full day's work, with oxemplary conduct, 8 marks.. ■ For a fair'day's work, with good con-, duct, 7 marks. Aii' indifferent day's work, or bad cond'Jct, 6 marks. (2.) The value of marks will be adjusted as follows: — . . . s. d. 6 marks p'er diem ... 2 6 : 7 marks per diem ... ... 2- 9 / 8 marks per diem ... ... 3 0 13. After deducting 6 marks per diem, or 2s. (3d. for the prisoner's keep, the Gd. "or 3d. per diem will be credited to the prisoner's account, as the case may be; and prisoners who only earn six marks per diem will ■bo liable to bo punished unless_ sonio good cause can bo shown for £hcir failing to earn tho highor number of marks. 14. Seven marks per diem may bo granted for exemplary conduct on Sundays and holidays. Deduction, oj Fines. 15. Fines inflicted by • the Court, Stipendiary Magistrate, or Visiting Justices shall bo at onco deducted from the -credit balanco standing to tho prisoner's account, and will debar tho offender from pui aliasing extras till such'time as ho has again earned the] amount lost, and prisoners must have £2 standing to their credit before ; they are permitted to purchase indulgences or remit money.' Privileges. 16. Prisoners after being one month clear of report, and who aro earning, full marks, will bo allowed to write a letter and have'a visit of half an hour's duration onco overy month for tho, first jrear of • their imprisonment, and onco every fortnight in their second year, and weekly in their third year or ( after. Tho \ Manager may, if ho. sees fit,, grant a letter in lieu of a visit at any time. 17. Prisoners desirous of obtaining any educational or other book not in tlie library may apply, toHho Manager, who, if ho considers tho case doserving, will endeavour to obtain tho book applied' for. . 18. The Manager will uso his discretion as to relaxing any of tho regulations when ho sees lit to do so, reporting tho matter at tho next meeting of tho Consultative Committee, as it is not expccted that tho rigid methods usually adopted in prisons can always bo " mado applicable to a reformatory. 19. Tho following days will' bo observed as prison holidays :—Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, King's Birthday, Princo of Wales's Birthday. Petitions. 20. Prisoners may at any timo during their detention petition, oil tho prescribed form, for releaso. Tho petitions will bo referred to tho Court beforo which tho petitioner was tried, and afterwards forwarded to His Excellency tho Govornor for his decision. 21. Any prisoner will ho allowed to address tho Inspector in writing upon any subject conneoted with his caso or position, and tho Manager shall forward tho statement to tho head oflico without delay, making any comments ho may think fit.

22. Any prisoner will ho permitted, if ho so ilesire, to complain of tno treatment to which ho is subjected to tho Stipendiary Magistrate, Visiting Judges, or to tho Inspector. but any complaints must ho mado promptly, and must bo of a specific charactor.

23. The Manager when forwarding petitions for release should state if definite employment can ho found for tho prisoner, and ove'ry facility should bo given to an eligible.

prisoner to; communicate ' mlh :discharg«l ' k prisoners'- aid societies or aliy 'lilftdriid organ- j isntions or reputable to-fihd employment for him. rnsort'tifficcrs-are en- r joined ', to ; roncler all-possible-'/assistafice 'in « this respect, as unless suitable employment . is obtained for n prisoner 1 J)Vi6r to ;dis?hargo , there is littlo liojks of 'SiWo to-lead-a leforined lifo. " 11J «fi ~ r i Rations. <> v " n Tho rations aro divided IFito three Scales— ! , (1) for those'' able to do hard work; (2) ' i those .unable, and not doing,iiyork« those undergoing' punishment." ; In the first scalo males mA- class got 7oz.*6Aten ! meal?, 1 v ,2'4oz.' ; bread, :lG6z,•• potatoes l ) l% V6z. ; '>\\^Srj n 3bsi. t ' 1 . : salt-,' 208 i . ■12pz.^tneat,f-^a. i fipap," ; and loz. tobacco, presumably>per day, -and . thoSe m classes -B : and C - little .mOre.-'j.-Ifl.' tho female class . A they i rrioal, 16oz. bread, 12oz. potatoes,• , lo».i 6Ug'ar ) i ' Joz; tea, 2oz. '.vegetables: iSoz. 1 .. .meaty.;-i0?,.-. soap, and Joz; milk,' with ::slight ancreasesr,' m classes B and C. In ration soalei(Noi:f2; (for those unable to do,; orr:uat doui". m-ork.) tho allowance, partioularlyiiasfJCgarasipota--.toes and meat, .-.is scale ;3; (for/ those undergoing punishment)-:-tbe-.'bread-allowanco for males and females. is: .reduced - to 160 Z. ' ' j-..- ' iyt Routine of Duties. Tho following are tho dufcigsivjmposed is-*: 6145 a.m., rising.., bell;. ringS|txpr.is.6ner^vriso/ p . wash, ■' dress, 1 makeup cells; 1 \ •,7 :; ,.- a.iti.'.' (first-, unlock)— served ..in , cells,: and prisoners locked''up*:i 7;30 a.m. (second' unlock) — nt--sucli an hour as to enable- prisonors,-to, com-v mcnco labour at '-8 a.m. • ?.55.,a.p.VTrG^qi;a) l , parade.. 12 noon.—Dinner v..- 12,55(.,p.m,jr--.-Prisoners (unlocked) :< amL&inok-_ mg time. ' 1.20 p.m. —Marclfc to-labour. .4.30 r p.m.—Prisoners ; in., shops' j v.coaso. work - : and-exercise for half an hour.- v ~.s.p.m,—Re-r call from labour. .Pnsonerß.musteroskoiHl. searched. 5.30 p.m. (lock-up)—teas served. ! 7.30 . p.m.-. . (muster) — "offic,ers i - posted.; . 7.45 • p-mi—Silence^ .. lights out.' On Saturdays tlitte l oh " at 2 p.mi ;Vbath 'and':;cleap-up.:: at*;2.ia), t ! p.m.,' and a parade".;at 4 p;nvJ;On- Sundays;.; r divine i.and time between' 9 a.m.,and lllss;.a'mV'f';'y"f''