The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-10-27
lMEll0RlTIlH Of
PRISON DIscIP line
system IN VOGUE IN GREAT
BRITAIN AND THE UNIT
Ed STATES.
From the Time Convict Enters Brit
ish Prison He Proceeds Ia De.
srsss of Punishment Toward Lib
ery-Tickets of Leave.

II IN the last twenty years has beer
III 50 marked thar even those persons
who rarely observe anything hays
noted the change. The abolition Of ths
contract system. although not general in
the United States. IS practically so in all
the Northern States. and it no longer ex-
lists IN any European country Its abuses
were so varied and incurahle that il was
necessary 70 root il ont entirely, and this
has been done. except in few States in
the South. where the social conditions are
such as 70 prevent any radical changes
unless pushed with persistent EFFORT That
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 al1erent pris-
sons 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-
ninistration.
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
cipline is stern and unyielding and every
day Of a 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 un-
alloyed hades.
On conviction and sentence the prisoner
IS taken TO n county prison TO do nine
months of separate confinement. This is
spent In a large cell well warmed. lighted
and ventilated without bed for the first
three months.wit b bed two nights in
the week for another three months. and
then with increasing frequency until the
last month. when a bed, with sheets. rug
and pillow. is given every night
The work is sowing bags and weaving,
and the task is as much as a green hand
can do with industry. The food is ample
hut unvaried-23 ounces of bread daily.
made from unbolted -four: pint of Cruel
Ter breakfast and supper. based upon
ounces of oatmeal and pint of soup for
dinner Tour DAYS IN the week and } ounces
IF meat on the other three DAYS. with 8
ounces of potatoes daily The 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.
araer 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 to a prisoner except in the brief
asst terms. and then only 10 issue an order
spent six months in this separate con-
inement without hearing a human voice
except at church service. and the whole
nine months of separates" without speak
;ng 70 fellow prisoner The intention
If this imprisonment is 70 give the pris-
oner realizing sense OF his Dosition. and
Il fetches him every time hy its cold. calm.
silent exchanging oppression.
The Separates being finished the
prisoner IS transferred 10 the public
works prison. of which there are now four
n England-Dartr.oor Portland Park
hurst and Borstal-with female prison
at Aylesburv. in Oxforlshire. Men who
were engaged in the same ofense. or
brothers. are not sent 10 the same prison
Punishment of Men.
The transfer is made in a prison car.
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 ii. There is an average of one warder
or assistant warder to every ten men. be-
sides battalion OF the Royal Infantry
for guards at each station. These ward
ers are long service men with frst-class
discharges from the army. navy or marine
eorr.s in which school they have learned
thar an order from a superior is sacred
They are forbidden 20 censfrue any Of
Tense they nav observe in any other way
than as subject of report. and report
means punishment in 800 eases out of l.
600
Punishment consists Of confinement in
separate cells. light and warm. with one
pound of bread and enc pint nj water
daily. loss of class. privileges OF writing
or receiving letters or visits For assaults
on officers the penalty Is Aogging with
either the cat or birch. not more than
thirtr-nine strokes of either. but no man
fails to he taken to the hospital who has
received twenty cuts of the cat The work
is redeeming marsh land. building fort
resses. qBarrying stone or cutting Il Tor
building purposes But the days work
even IN summer. IS rarely more than seven
hours. Meals are taken in the cells and
the food Is not sufficient There are no
fat men in penal servifude. 1t il pre-
scrihed to the fraction Of an ounce and II
the prisoner feels that he has not his al
iowance he can. at al siEses. have Il
weighed or measured IN his own presence
Classes Of convicts-
As his sentence wears away the prison
er passes into different classes. which are
shown BIZ the fsc1ngs on his jacket. with
increased privileges and the last rear Of
his sentence. If be has been good-cnn
siuef man throughout. nsay be spent in the
special class. which gives him blue
5res~- visits every two months and more
frequent letters The burden Of penal
servifufe falls IN with the perpetual su-
servision- which never relaxes. No man
can 20 ont Of sight ef the os75ser IN charge
Of his parrv ror pass behind him. BE
rnzzsr ret talk. laugh. nor eFen smile He
Is net asIowed anv other article IN his
poseession than handkerchief He can
have % paper nor pencil Int one riece Of
SOAP. ore towel ore wooden spoon one
pssts- tn eup and washhsSin. He must
he silent shessient and although the rnles
Do not ssy 80. he must look as miserable
as il Is intended to make bin feel The