The Sun.
London, England, 1853-09-09 00:00:00

DISCIPLINE AND MANAGEMENT OF

CONVICT PRISONS.

( Concluded from The Sun of Sept. 7.)
PARKHURST PRISON.

In my last report I stated that, during the preceding
year, several important alterations had been introduced
into the daily routine.

One object of these changes was to afford increased
facilities for the industrial training of the boys ; another
to give greater encouragement to good conduct. Having
been in full operation during the whole of the year 1852,
a judgment may be formed of their effects.
The governor thus speaks of them :
" In my last report, pages 61 and 62, I stated that
the direct incentives to industry and good conduct
which were granted to prisoners here from the Ist
April, 1851, had been productive of a marked improve-
ment in the conduct of the prisoners during the last
nine months of that year. A return which I am en-
abled to append to this report will show that the same
routine, followed out during the whole year 1852, has
been attended with even more satisfactory results. The
proportionate number of instances of misconduct in the
general wards has been reduced to the ratio of 17 to 21,
as compared with 1851, and of 2 to 7, as contrasted
with 1850 ; while the proportion of prisoners not re-
ported at all during the year has been augmented to the
ratio of 3 to 2 as compared with 1851, and of more than
3tol in comparison with 1850. The numbers showing
the reports for misconduct in the general wards, include
many cases of trivial character, which were disposed of
by admonition merely, without any punishment. Of this
class, there were 129 cases in 1852, so that the number
of punishment was only 579.
"In the junior ward, the improvement in general
conduct was not less remarkable ; the number of pri-
soners not reported at all bears a very high ratio in
contrast with any one of the three preceding years, 98
boys not having been punished for any misconduct in
the prison, and 171 not having any report against them
from the school.

" In the general wards, 287 prisoners (more than two-
thirds of the total number) had no report at all against
them for misconduct ; 41 others were only reported
once, 18 were only twice reported, and 10 three times ;
while 166 offences were committed by 12 individuals.
" Escapes.—Only four prisoners passed the prison
boundaries attempting to escape. These boys ran from
the labour parties on the land. They were almost im-
mediately retaken and brought back to the prison. The
first occurred early in January ; the others in July."
The chaplain of the junior ward observes :
" No punishment is ever awarded except by the go-
vernor or myself, nor without great carefulness and deli-
beration, that every offence may be dealt with according
to the circumstances of the case and the disposition of
the prisoner. Most of our offences have been committed
by prisoners of the first year's standing ; about the se-
cond year they generally begin to feel that we are inte-
rested in their welfare, and that it is for their own good
that a strict but salutary discipline is continually ob-
served, and that privileges and advantages keep pace
with good conduct."
The chaplain expresses his opinion that lessening the
time spent in intellectual instruction, and applying more
to industrial occupations, has worked well, and that,
according to his experience, industrial employment
ought to form a part of the routine of every school in-
tended for the working classes.
As regards the religious and moral state of the priso-
ners he observes :--

"I have to report very highly of the orderly and good
conduct of the generality of our boys, and of their at-
tention to the rules of the prison. Leaving out of con-
sideration altogether the long training which our boys
have had in evil practices, and thinking only of what
human nature is, I suppose I must never expect to see
a better moral state to prevail than that which now
exists."

The chaplain of the junior wards remarks upon the
same points :

" The conduct of the prisoners during the year has
been very satisfactory. The great improvement which
commenced under the alterations made in 1849 has con-
tinued to progress up to the present time—a further evi-
dence that industrial employment is a great handmaid to
secular and religious education in reforming prisoners,
and in fitting them for a better class of society than that
in which they had passed the early period of their life.
" The prisoners have acquired much more industrious
habits ; they work more cheerfully in the fields ; our re-
ports for idleness and indolence in that department have
very much decreased.

"Prevention is at all times better than cure. How-
ever, the best that can be done for them now is done,
and, I believe, with great success. I consider, under
existing circumstances, that the system pursued at Park-
hurst is admirably suited to their necessities.
"I unhesitatingly state that I have never seen in any
school, and I have been officially connected with many,
such uniform steadiness of conduct, and diligent atten-
tion to the instructions of the masters. Though I visit
the schools every day, I do not remember having once
observed disorder or inattention during the year ; and
on the Sabbath•day, when the whole prison is assembled,
morning and afternoon, for scriptural and catechetical
instruction, general order prevails. Formerly we have
had more trouble with the boys on this than on any
other day. I consider that there cannot be a more decisive
proof of the great improvement in the prison than this
change.
" I take a class of 20 boys every Sunday evening,
and examine them in Scripture and the Church cate-
chism, giving them also some general advice in a fami-
liar way. This I confine to the boys in the evening
school, dividing them into five classses ; I find it a useful
help to the other means employed for their instruction.
" The evening school is still continued, and with much
advantage, as an encouragement to the boys. It is open
for an hour every evening in the week, under the super-
intendence of one of the masters. None are admitted
but those of very good conduct, having badges. The
average attendance during the year has been about 108;
more than one-half of the junior prisoners. They are
also privileged to write letters to their parents once in
three months, and receive letters in reply—a privilege
greatly valued by them, and beneficial to them in many
ways."

NUMBER AND DISPOSAL OF PRISONERS.
Remaining in confinement, let Jan., 1852 558
Received during the year 1852 164
- 722
Removed to Van Diemen's Land Bl
JP Western Australia
,f Public Works at Portsmouth
1,7, Portland
,P Dartmoor
lf Pentonville Prison
7/ Millbank
~ Stirling Castle invalid hulk
Pardoned

12
10
4
1

on medical grounds..

Died

186
Remaining in confinement 31st December 1852 536
- 722

PRISON OFFICERS.

It has been a question with some who are well quali-
fied to form an opinion, whether a different class of
officers would not secure a better result. Nearly one-
half the present officers have been sergeants in the army,
who, in addition to the habits of regularity they never
fail to acquire in the service, have been specially se-
lected, as being particularly qualified for keeping boys
in good order without the necessity of resorting to pun-
ishment, a result which is generally considered a sure
indication of good discipline. The remainder of the
officers have never been in the army at all, but have
been carefully selected from a large mass of applicants
with a special reference to their qualifications.
The chaplain thus speaks of them :
" I cannot pass by this opportunity of observing, that
much is also due to the subordinate officers of this estab-
lishment, including all their grades and departments ;
and I am far from being insensible to the advantage of
labouring in conjunction with so respectable a body of
men, who are, I believe, one and all, anxious to add
their quota to the accomplishment of our great object,
that of rendering the poor boys sent here fit once more
for a place in honest society ; and as a minister of Christ
I often feel grateful for the support which I know they
give to my ministrations in that Gospel which is the one
instrument of a sinner's conversion.
The chaplain of the junior wards also observes :
" It is of the greatest importance that those who have
the immediate charge of these youths should possess no
ordinary qualifications. The class of criminals who come
to this prison have been well trained to every kind of
vice ; deceit, lying, dishonesty, and insolence are pre-
vailing features in their characters ; therefore, the most
careful and judicious treatment, together with the incul-
cation of right principles of morality and religion, will
alone counteract this evil ; and by patient continuance
in this good work, we hope, under the Divine blessing,
to succeed in a very great measure." _

If it were possible-, with due regard to economy, to
obtain a much higher class of officers, for instance,
schoolmasters, in whom were combined the vigilance
and discretion which are essential for the safe custody
and discipline of prisoners, with the attainments neces-
sary for industrial training on the land and in the shops,
there can be no doubt of the advantage which would
accrue ; but such men cannot at present be found in suf-
ficient numbers, nor could such varied qualifications be
commanded without giving a very high rate of salary.
It has been said that the boys would not attempt to
run away if they were under sufficient moral controul,
and had sufficient inducements to remain. This may be
very true of a school, where the stay is more or less
voluntary. It will, however, be generally admitted that
a penal school or prison for criminal boys should have
some features by which it could be distinguished from a
school for the honest or destitute. This distinction
would naturally cause it to be less attractive.
It will also be admitted that the attractions to a juve-
nile of a school of any kind are not of such an amount
as that much can be spared.
when
If the experiment of bringing together into one
within the
estab-
lishment 500 criminal boys, sentenced by law to remain
there, were tried, it would doubtless be found that a
The farmsivn
considerable proportion of them would desire to go away,
that unless prevented by the vigilance of officers
they were employed in the fields, and by the cere-
mony
been thoroughly of locking the doors gates when they were
walls, they would not fail to do so.
Loperations have, as heretofore, been car-
husbandry during the year. The boys
FARMING.
Crops, and generall Yin
ing land, in sowunhly instructed in draining and trench-
ing on by
and planting, taking in different
have been somewhat above a general aver.
carrying on a farm.
The crops all the work that is required in