STAR-CLASS PRISONERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6307, 29 April 1882, Page 6 (Supplement)

STAR-CLASS PRISONERS.

The chaplain of Chatham Prison gives an interesting account of the arrival in that establishment during the past year of 349 men of the now category, to be distinguished by the title of "star-class prisoners." This is, we understand, the first attempt to carry out at Chatham the idea of separating beginners in crime from habitual offenders, the whole of this number being "first-sentence men," selected from various parts on that ground. The results of this partial improvement of the old system of mixing up criminals of all shades aye stated to be sufficient to show that " a wise and decisive step has been made in the way of prison reform." The curious fact is noted "that the " star-class " includes so unusually large a number of prisoners suffering from important physical defects as to raise considerably tho proportionate rate of sickness in the prison. The London Times remarks :-V By 'first offenders' is meant those who have never been known to have been convicted of felony, but who may nevertheless have been frequently in the vagrant ward as reputed thieves. Amongst those who appear as first offenders may also happen to bs included those, who are deeply steeped in crime, and whe may'have been confined in other prisons for misdemeanours or felonies, but being apprehended in another county 'are classed"as tir3t offenders'; for when questioned on their admission to the prison, such characters take especial care not to make the worst of themselves. It is an acknowledged fact that in tho first-offence divisions there are with those who are confined in a%aol for the first time, in constant association, some of the most depraved and hardened characters, who are brought in contact with the novice in crime, both in the yards and when at work. Such prison classification may aid the prison officers in more readily distinguishing the character of their criminal charge then under detention; but as a point of discipline for any important purpose of moral improvement it is quite out of the question. We may be permitted to present another picture of the in-' jurious tendency of prison classification upon the inutility and demoralising influence of the classification system. Here, a prisoner, let him be a common reputed thief, or the most notoriously bad character, should Ije bo committed under a summary conviction for an assault, breach of the peace, or the like, although perhaps about to commit a felony, but prevented by accident, is placed along with the more honest and more respectable portion of prisoners, whose only crime is inability to pay a small fine or give sureties to keep the peace. It frequently occurs that a convicted felon may be liberated from gaol one week and the next return as a misdemeanour, and thus go the round-of all tho classes. From such absurd prison arrangements is not 'classification' not only worse than useless, but fraught with consequences which inflict s, deeply moral injury upon the prisoner, and pernicious to society." The futility of classification has been aptly commented upon by two enlightened Continental jurists— Mr De Beaumont and MrDe Tocqueville—who offer the following sentiments:—"For along time it was believed that, in order to remedy the evil caused by the intercourse of prisoners with each other, it would be sufficient to establish in the prison a certain number of classifications. But after having tried the plan its in sufficiency has been acknowledged. Classification of prisoners, according to the technicality of legal distinctions, allows no approach', seemingly, towards separating the very bad from the better sort. They are continually changing places—those in for felony in one session being in for larceny or assault the next, and -nee versa. Classification should be left to the visiting justices and governors of gaejs." In further, condemnation of classification we give tho opinion of '^dT^gVished Transatlantic jurist (Professor Itieber) on classification. :• Ho remarks i-^'JFirst, there are young trans- ! gres^ors, who have offended beeau3e never submitted to sound and strict discipline; secondly, offenders who commit infractions of the law rather from an absence of principles than the presence of settled bad principles, from thoughtlessness rather than positive deeprooted and conscious perversity'; thirdly, hardened, unreflecting criminals. 'Again, there are offenders i,n whose'shame that nucleus of possible reform is not annihilated ; others who have lost it.' There are offenders who have transgressed the laws from sheor- heedlassness ; others'from rashness': ethers, again, who are criminals by trade, well trained in thought and skill, How is it possible to make all these classifications in reality ? How can we make the necossary "subdivisions according to all the various shades and combinations? How can we test tho true state of an offender? and. this would bo absolutely necessary, for r.s soon.as sentence according to strict Jaw'or fact has been passed, it" is for society to step in again and treat every case "according jto moral demerits, as far as lies in human'power.' How, after; all, can '^"prevent ''contamination, even aftey, tha~BubtJ63t classification? Tosum-jn. Ihavo'no hesitation in 9ayingr that daasific*' tion is a gross fraud upo*-, Q ™,v •■ a delusion and a ft^ Aw • tho silent system h, w you pW'" -vf loi?. t. c I'Gmains a fearful ordeal fap cmv * '"' , ? tiu Is thera an? residiYUmin J^- C^W* whew you haye taken aw- „t t woith having love aid the rocipwdty of of H? Sed^ 0 r^ary in New Y^kt-er UwEto?JwTi I"? t0 °m-another through wMnfc ™ n * next> co«c°<:ting a murder, which was afterwards .carried into execution. -Uie desire for society must have been intense to drive them to discover such a medium for the expftJvngo of sighs and sympathies."