New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-25
ENGLISH PRISON SYSTEM.
HOW THE CoNv1CTs ARE CLASSIFIED AND
WHAT THEY DO.

WHAT THEY DO.
T.. Ruggles Brlse. the English authority on prison
matters who is making short visit TO this coun-
try for the purpose OF studying everything that Is
new or noteworthy In American prison arrange
ments. talked with a Tribune reporter the other
day about his plans.
II cannot stay very long" he said. "and have
cot TO make the most OF my time. I have just re-
turned from Massachusetts. where ! have spent
four or five days visiting some Of the prisons there
| was much interested In what saw. and gained
several new ideas which consider excellent. am
going to Elmira TO look into the methods OF the
Reformatory. ! shall try to visit some other New
York institutions. but / also anxious TO get
out as far Chicago and see some OF the newer
Western prisons OF which have heard. The two
things which particularly want TO study while
In America are the probation and parole systems.
In England have nothing exactly correspond
Ing TO either Of them they are managed here
zone great difference in the prison systems or the
two countries Is that In England there is absolute
uniformi;y-that Is, the same laws govern all the
institutions In the land while hero the differences
in The State governments allow OF as many prison
systems as there are separate states. That
makes the subject very difficult ono to study
thoroughly: II would take so long time TO become
fully informed. II 10 me. too. that such a
diversity OF methods has drawbacks: that Il would
be better II there system. or perhaps a
few different ones complying with the needs OF
certain pats OF the country. hut 10 nave laws II.
Massachusetts different from those OF NewYork.
for instance, that appears strange and unneces-
sary However. don't think came here to crt!cise
and instruct Americans how 10 manage their own
affairs ! didn't came 10 learn. | did venture
to EXPRESS the opinion yesterday that In time there
would he uniformity under National control In
the prison laws here. but was told that II could
probably never be; that the States rights were
guarded too jealously
In answer to inquiries as to the outside work
done by English convicts. Mr.. Brisc explained some
o. the English prison customs which differ from
those here
"you know" he said, when transportation was
abolished there prisoners were divided Up into TWO
classes-long and shor, sentence men Those with
long sentences which term applies TO periods 81
over three years are called convIcts the Others
having tho appellation OF prisoners. The convicis
are the only ones who are employed AT outside
work. The three prisons where 1t Is chiefly car
rIed on are Portland. Dartmoor and Bor-'nl. Port
land and Dar,moor are very large prisons; Borsia
which is near Chatham. IL smaller; II holds be-
| tween three hundred and four hundred men.
Three entirely different kind, OF work are pursued
at these prisons. 1t Is all hard labor. such a. 10
considered suitable for men condemned 10 pcnai
AT Portland the convicts are employed a. quarry
ns Tse yn fS, Gus used for Sadns and
kinds Of Government work The splendid 81 Ii SIsah :,
many countries for It's excellence was quilt by the
| convc;s The work at Dartmoor consists OF re-;
stands on the TOP Of high hill and the country
for miles around It Is naturally wild waste o..
moorland by drainage. pioughing and planting
much Of this has already been turned into the
the work still goes on. The Borsthl convicts are
| kept busy building series OF Government FORUM
cations there. Fresh drafts OF men from the larger
prisons sent to Borstal az the Work eniarseS IL
| SCOPE and requires more hands.
IAN these occupations have been carried on most
successfully The outdoor work II good Tor the
mems health The complete system Of surveillance
which exists prevents any trouble about escapes;
there has not been a serious case IN twenty years
Besides the prison keepers. civil guards WIN rnes
are always on duty. |; Ia firmly estabhshed
| principle in England that convicis shall not ne
brought into contact with the outside world or pe
! passers-by At all the prisons ! nae meh,lohru
| they are completely Isolated. This custom doubt
less. accounts also for tho exceedingly Few escapes
that on record. 49,. ~, -
"The regular convict uniform" said Mr., Bri'e IN
answer TO II question on that point rs gray suli
marked with the broad arrow; the ola Austrah,aih
are those belonging to the star class. Lney are re
convicts who arc serving hrst tern-who nave
never been sentenced before. Instead OK inc ar,
rows they wear red star on the left sIeeVe. }us,
| az the red cross Is worn by nurses. You might
call them the aristocracy OF the convict CLASSES
The star men are all sent TO Portland rr,Som
| which are granted &c them. In distinction from
| other convicts and try, by means or GOOD bohaVor
| 10 keep their standing In the star class
| for ccnvic,s In England" said Mr.. i'rsc "Thete
Is always 40 much Government WORK o, one ne S1r s
or another that new enterprise IS ,eaoS 10, d dne
ished No. they DO no. work at road-buildlhg
There Is not very much OF that to be done now IN y,
so a, Is . mot Ns Besides in
| road building they would necessarily DC pr9uen'
into contact with tho Inhabitants OF the neighbor
hood and that. OF course. would be contrary 10 our
|