AIM OF PRISON SYSTEM.

Evening Post, Issue 2, 2 July 1932, Page 10

AIM OF PRISON SYSTEM.

Sir H. Samuel said- that tho best thing that had happened to our prisons was that half of them had been closed since the war. Their duty was to improve those that; remained.: "The recent incidents at Dartmoor have brought our prison administration very much into tho public eye," he" said. "Two criticisms have been made. Some say our system is so hard and repressive that inevitably prisoners will be,driven to revolt. Others.say discipline is so weak and that the prisoners are so pampered that it is to be expected they will get out of control. I do not believe that either statement is valid. - If anything is , markedly wrong wo should have heard of it from the Prison.'Commissioners, the Visiting Justices, or the many voluntary visitors who render a great and philanthropic service by visiting tho prisons and:taking an individual interest in-the1 prisoners." The'modern system, aimed at minimising repressiveness "arid building up character. If that wero carried too far, prison, might be regarded as a pleasant resort. The reformatory purposes had to be fulfilled. In various ways humanising influences were at work. Society to the prisoner raised its hand not merely to strike; but also to help. They were still anxious to diminish Dartmoor to an establishment of small proportions^ It was costly to maintain, and the place was uncongenial to the staff and their families. An effort was being made to create special establishments for ithe more hopeful class of prisoners at Wakefield and. Chelmsford; There was a new system at Wakefield of payment by results, but it was hard to find any form of work of the ordinary industrial type, produce of which could be consumed in the establishments. There was a strong objection to prisonmade articles being "sold in the market in competition with normal labour. (Hear, heai).