The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-27
lMEll0RlTIQA OF
PRISON DIscIP. line
SYSTEM IN VOGUE IN GREAT
BRITAIN AND THE UNIT
ed STATES.
From the Time Convict Enters Brit
ISL Prison He Proceeds Ia De
srees of Punishment Toward Lib
ety-Tickets of Leave.

IL
who rarely observe anything hay,
contract system, although not general il
the United States. is practically so in al
the Northern States, and il no longer ex
lists IN any European country. Its abuse.
were so varied and ineurahie that il was
necessary 70 root it out entirely. and this
has been done. except in a few States In
the South. where the social conditions ars
such as 10 prevent any radical changes
unless pushed with persistent effort. Thai
was the most important step made in pris
on reform. and its good effects upon the
prisoners are so obvious that they cannot
be questioned. There is however. little
harmony of method in the prisons of diff.
ferent States. or even in the inherent pris-
ons Of the same State, the management OF
each institution being the author. for the
most part of its body of rules and regula-
tons. although in New York a long step
in the Capitalization of authority has been
made. and in the similar methods of ad-
ministration-
In British Prisons.
1t is possible that. with the frequent
improvements made in the condition OF
conyicts in recent years, those who profit
by them may be interested in the methods
employed in Great Britain. where the dis
eipline is stern and unyielding, and every
day of sentence has twenty-four hours
Of time in il. 1t has fallen to my lot to
do long tagging" in a public works
prison in England. and the experience has
no alternating memory. 1t was simply I'M
alloyed hades.
On conviction and sentence the prisoner
is taken to a county prison TO do nine
months of separate confinement. This is
spent in large cell. well warmed, lighted
and ventilated without a bed for the first
three months.wit a bed two nights in
the week for another three months. and
then with increasing frequency until the
last month, when bed. with sheets. rug
and pillow. is given every night.
The work is sowing bags and weaving.
and the task is as much as green hand
can do with industry. The food is ample
hut unvaried-23 ounces of bread daily.
made from unbolted -four: pint of Cruel
sor breakfast and supper. based upon
ounces of oatmeal: and pint of soup for
.iiIIner four DAYS in the week aud 3 ounces
of meat on the other three days. with
ounces of potatoes daily. Tho food is
clean. served in the cell. hot and is am
pie for a man not working the open
air.
No one except keeper comes into the
ell. The governor of the prison passes
the open door daily. and the doctor comes
{ summoned No books except Bible.
nraer book and hvmn book are given. and
there is no variation in this awful period.
n which many men break down physical
" or mentally. The keeper is not allowed
20 speak 10 prisoner except in the brief
est terms and then only TO issue an order
spent six months in this separate con-
fnement without hearing a human voice
EXCEPT at church service. and the whole
nine months of Separates" without speak
ing 10 a fellow prisoner The intention
Of this imprisonment is 70 give the pris-
aner realizing sense of his Dosition. and
t fetches him every time by it's cold. calm.
silent uuehanging oppression.
The ..separateS'' being finished the
prisoner is transferred 10 the public
works prison of which there are now four
IN Ensland-Dartmoor Portland. Park
hurst and Borstal-with a female prison
were engaged in the same offenss. or
brothers. are not sent to the same prison.
Punishment of Men.
The transfer is made in prison ear.
which is simply an exclusive carriage. and
the traveller is not made the wretched vic
tim OF public curiosity.
Arriving on the public works. the pris-
oner is assigned to outside work and kept
at IT, There is an average of one warier
or assistant warder to every ten men. be-
sides a battalion of the ROYAL Infantry
for guards at each station. These ward
ers are long service men with hrst-class
discharges from the army. navy or marine
corrs in which school they have learned
that an order from a superior is sacred
They are forbidden TO construe any Of
Tense they NAV observe in any other way
than as q subject of report. aud report
--,r,. - ,,,,,.ehr.a,4 IN QrFl ssaQaS ont nf
600.
Punishment consists Of confinement in
separate cells. light and warm. with one
pornd of bread and one pint If water
daily. loss of class. privileges of writing
or receiving letters or visits For assaults
on officers the penalty IS logging with
sither the cat or birch. not more than
thirty nine strokes Of either; bnt no man
fails to be taken to the hospital who has
received twenty cuts of the cat. The work
Is redeeming marsh land. building fnrt-
resses. auarrying stone or cutting il for
building purposes. But the DAYS work.
even in SIMMER. Is rarely more than seven
hours. Meals are taken in the cells. and
the food Is not sufficient. There are no
tat men in penal servifude II Is pre-
srrihei 10 the fraction of an ounce and IL
the prisoner feels that ne has not his al
iowance he can. At all tines have IL
weighed or measured N ais own Frese0se
Classes of convicts.
As his sentence wears Away the prison
er paSses into different classes which are
Shown BIZ the fscings on his jacket with
increased privileges and the last rear OF
bis sentence. If he has been good-con-
sinrf man throughout may Ne spent in the
special class which gives him r blue
dress. visits every twc months and more
srsauent letters The burden of penal
servirnde falls in With the perpetual SUI
rervision. whirh never reiaxess No rnan
gan 20 or Of sight Of the officer IN charge
Of bis partv nor psss behind him He
Vnnst cot talk laugh nor even smile BE
i not allowed any other srtiele IN his
possession than a handkerchief He can
have 10 Faper nor penefl. but one piece Of
s0ar. one towel one wooden sr.oon. one
plate. TN cup ard wzshhasin- He must
he silent e'seiiens ard although the rules
DO NOT <sr - he must look IS miserable
as il Is fnssnded To make kim feel. The