GAOL DISCIPLINE IN ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 620, 16 October 1863, Page 6

GAOL DISCIPLINE IN ENGLAND.

On Saturday morning was published a blue book of 512 pages, containing the report of the select committee of the House of Lords, together with the minutes of evidence, on the state of discipline is the gaols and houses of correction.

"With regard to the conclusions arrived at by the committee we may state that they are of opinion that it is desirable to establish without delay a system approaching as nearly aa may be practicable to a uniformity of labor, diet, and tieiitment ; and that whilst industrial occupation should in certain stages furrn a part of prison discipline, the more strictly penil element of that discipline is the chief means of exereisinji a deterrent influence, p.nd therefore ought not to be weakened, as it ha 1 ? beta in some gaols, still less to be entirely withdrawn. Association, or a mixed systsm of association and separation, prevails in many gaols. Such anomalies, however, are, tin the opinion of the committee very objectionable. They should be removed at the earliest practicable time ; aud their present existence can only be 'justifled by the difficulties of reconstruction, and the natural reluctance of the local authorities to incur a heavy expenditure. The committee entertain a very decided opinion as to this head, an-1 having reference to the course of legislation now extending over many years, and the agreement in opinion and practice of the highest authorities, they consider that the system generally known as the separate system must now be accepted as the foundation of prison discipline, and that its rigid maintenance is a vital principle to the efficiency of county and borough siaols. Whilst for the future the fullest development is given to the separate system, it will be for the Secretary of State to consider how far ths practical object in view may not be met, and the difficulties arising out of the expense of a re-construc-tion of many pi isons obviated by allowing a certain proportion of cells helow the average standard to be certified and sanctioned, it beiug understood that the occupauts of those cells shall consist of prisoners undergoing short sentences, who shall be chiefly employed during the day upon hard labor outside their cell. The committee recommended tint legislative measures be taken <w speedily as possible to render the adoption of separation obligatory upon gaols and hauses of correction in England Wales, aud that the paymont of the charge now issued from the public revenues in aid of the county aud borough prisons be made contingent in each case on the adoption of the seperate system. The committee are of opinion that the principle of separation fchoute bs mads to prevade the entire system of the I prison, and no adequate reaßon has been assigned for re'axafciou of the yule in school, in chapel, and at exorcise. It is, however, to be understood that this conclusion is not intended to 1 iinit the cellular and other religious instruction which the chaplain may think fit lo administer to any prisoner. The committee are of opinion that it would be possible to substitute, in many cases, the shorter term of three and seven days' Holitarv confinement on bread and water, fov the present sentences, ranging from seven to twentj-one days with hard labor. The first step towards a better and more uniform system throughout the country would, ia the opinion of the committee, be found in an authoritative definition, by act of Parliament, of the term of hard labor. It has been alleged ia the course of the evidence, that the use of the treadwheel and crank degrades, irritates, and demoralises the prisoner ; but the committee, after full consideration, see no reason for entertaining this opinion, and, under certain conditions, they highly approve of the use of both these instruments of prison discipline. As regards the short sentences or the earlier stages of imprisonment, the committee believe that they ar« adopting a safe and a moderate standard when they recommend that every prisoner sentenced to hard labor shall, unless exempted by medical authority on grounds of health, be employed at the treadwheel or crank not less than fight hours per day the first three, and not less than six houra per day during the next three months of the first year of imprisonment. They further recommend that all gaols and houses of correction sh^li, as a condition to their receipt of the Treasury allowance, both be providod with a sufficient supply of har.l labor machinery for the average number of mole prisoners sentenced to, and medically lit for, hard labor, aud be annually certified to the Secretory of State as giving 1 the full daily minimum work on treadwheel or crank.

Wiih regard to diet, it is a matter for the consideration of the Secretary of Stato aiid of tlio local authorities in their various district, how far the present scale may be with advantage modified. But it appears that there are still medical and scientific questions aa to the effect produced by confine meufc upon prisoners, and aa to the necessity of certain ingredients in the fuod, which requires further investigation. Under these circumstances the committee recommend that a. <?fPUBiSMQfI-^ISL issued to iflonirft infn these

4-1^ uuita, lyim tiumuiiiy v) ueierfiuifo wj cApsmcenT Hie points referred to them. The committee recommond that during short sentences or the earliest stages of a long confinement, the prisoners should be made to dispense with the use of a mattress, and should sleep upon planks. This i?, in fact, the practice in the military prison?, where '< jjuards beds'' are in use. No evil haa resulted from thh p: actice, and recourse might advantageously be haii to it in civil prisons. They observe that nine and a-half to ten.

hours is the proportion of time usually devoted to sleep. They are of opinion that this exceeds the fair allowance due to health, and is injurious both to tha prisoners and to thepri-ondisnipline. They would (in conformity with the resolution* of the committee of the House of Commons in 1830) strongly insist upon a limitation ot the time during which the prisoners are allowed to be in Led to eight liour3. The evening appears to tho committee to be a very suitable time for school instruction, both as fjllowing upon the hard labour of the day, and as providing occupation for ajo -Uon of the time which is now passed in sleep. But they consider school as a boon granted to the prisoner, which should under no circumstances beaome a substitute for labor. They regard as extremely unsatisfactory a pr.so.i syste^ in which i»3truct'on by tho schoolmaster, o; "self-instruction,"' is made tho subitan.ee of psnal disripline

With regard to prison punishments the committee say : —

"The most experienced witnesses are unanimous as to the wholesome influence of corporal punishment; some, indeed, have shatel that t!i y hnve never known it ineffective ; and the cjmmit"se wKU to record their opinion of its grejt value as Oiie form of disciplinary correction."

The committee recommend that further piwers should be conferred upoa the Secretary of Snte to require tfie corporation of any borough gaol — where suoh gaol is of too limited a btze to admit of satisfactory arrangements being made fjr the custody and discipline of the prisoners— to contract with the county gaol upon such terms as the Secretary of State shall approve. It will be desirable, after due inquiry into the local and special circumstance;, that these borough gaols which are not required f jr purposes of present or future utility, should be scheduled in a bill for entire abolition.— Jßxpi'ess,