BRITAIN'S PRISON SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 12

BRITAIN'S PRISON SYSTEM.

INCREASE IN DEBTORS.

EDUCATIONAL TREATMENT. [from our own correspondent.] LONDON, Nov. 2. Prison statistics of England and "Wales sot out in the annual report of the Prison \ Commissioners reflect some of the social ] effects of tho industrial dopression. A striking feature in 1921-22 was the j further large increase in tho number of j persons imprisoned for debt, chiefly on j account of non-payment of wife mainten- j ance and income tax. Debtors of all j classes numbered 9267, compared with | 5204 in 1920-21, and 2819 in 1919-20. Trie j increase is attributed to unemployment, i and appears to be spread generally over the country. Most governors comment upon it, and attribute the committals, generally I speaking, to the men's inability to pay j up arrears because they were out of work. Young prisoners, aged 16 to 21, con- | victed, fell from 4211 mnl a and 743 f#- I males in 1920-21 to 3524 males and 629 females in the year under review. The last figure is the lowest recorded. While they regard the decrease as satisfactory, the commissioners do not think it desirable that persons of this age should be received into prisons for adults at all. However careful the arrangements, it is impossible to prevent nil contact, and if persons under 21 continue to be sentenced to imprisonment, separate establishments for them are one of the first things that should be provided as soon as the money can be found. Much has been done in recent years to improve prison life, and tho commissioners again testify to the beneficent results achieved by the efforts of voluntary workers. Periodical lectures are. now a regular feature of the prison system. The lectures cover a wide range, all subjects being admitted which are educational in the broadest sense, that is to say, such as to stimulate healthy interests and enlarge the mental outlook. A prison audience is fippreciative, while the effect on the prisonors' minds is good. Evening debates have been continued as successfully as before at a mrmber of prisons, the subjects being selected by the men themselves with the approval of the authorities. The Interest taken in these debates shows no sign of flagging, and similar ones are gradually being begun at other prisons. T>T?T,' I DTT7Vrrk IT/"««*» T TT7HT,