PRISON REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 767, 16 March 1910, Page 8

PRISON REFORM.

OUTLINE OF NEW SCHEME

v APPROVED BY CABINET. ; GRADUAL ADOPTION NECESSARY. . Among the matters which' occupied tha attention of' Cabinet yesterday was the new scheme for. the reorganisation of the prison system which was approved. Upon. obtaining ■a. copy of the scheme a Dominion - reporter was informed by the Hon. Dr. Findlay that part of it would require legislation - to' make it effective, and that .it would be-asked for during the coming session, It--was not intended tc attempt to carry the scheme into operas tion immediately, but to steadily mould the present system until it was in com-. pleto conformity with the lines of the ; scheme. "Although this course will ba taken firmly and persistently/' the Minister continued, "it will. necessarily b« some time before the complete scheme will be in force. . Moreover, Cabinet will he asked from time to time to •' furnish any moneys required to carry out .those parts of . the scheme involving out lay. I am satisfied that when it is in operation the_, system will. cost substantially less than that at present.in vogna. The scheme will , justify-itself in . a few years in a . marked : reduction in tha' average recidivism, shown during the last ten years in -New Zealand. If . Ner South Wales by. following- similar lines to thoss' shown in the scheme, could achieve such splendid results- is' their last prisons' report shows there is no treason why' we, in this country, should not achieve; the same results. The scheme has -been: submitted to all the; judges and somaalterations have been made in deferehc© ■ to one or. two ,or. their Honours' ob» jections." '

Two Prisons To Be Closed. .. . .The scheme (it is.stated)is based ujpoa principles of modern penal • science.". It is adapted- to meet the present and -' prospective requirements of this country, and also to utilise, as fax as possible, the buildings, equipment and administratiTd machinery already eiisting. Besidei State institutions official recognition ia given; to the work of private agencies and ' their assistance requisitioned whereso- - ever available .and" adaptable. The. provisions of the indeterminate sentence are' extended and made'applicable to-all nro. per cases. When a prisoner has' served any determinate ;; sentence V imposed ' ?K°f i™ Wable to prove; that he is .in....a : position to support himself and can give satisfactory assurances that he is no longer a menace to the peace and order of 'society his re. ' lease is granted. The questions and condiuons of are determined, by a. : tribunal of suitable experts, ascent that in the case of any person convicted of a crime punishable by hard labour for Wa . -power of release shall be exercisable bjr the Governor-in-Council. The determinate sentence will still be retained ia all proper case& Institutions. axe pro-' vided. as , follow:-Penitentiaries ■ for mala, prisoners, an .institution for sAynaT whs verts and criminals of unsound mind, ak institution for' incorrigible • ■ drunkardsprison camps,.'a reformatory farm, and at-' ' penitentiary and reformatory for women. ? "S, " 18 institutions existing at nrosent -.will he used. Napier, and Dnnedia present 'so, many, difficulties on'account o£ '• their situation, design, and the impossi-, bility, of. installing necessary industries, •that.as. proper.provision can bai ; made they, will be closed. Bv requisitioning the aid of private agencies, provisioa is made for the 'extension of the proba-' : ? and dealing with occasional 1 and habitual. drunkards. Privileges' wn • be gained only by industry and moral irru provement; concessions will.be granted to those'physically or mentally afflicted, when such .concessions are necessary in' -^6 of humanity, but indulgences Hill" never be' granted. The' hops of »- ward is the main stimulus to improve* ment.

Classification and Treatment of Prisoner*, Prisoners . are classified upon, a donfila'. i basis—firstly, as to type; secondly, as to conduct and. improvement. According to type, they will' be classified follow s— ! (IV Professional criminals. 2)' Sexual perverts. 3) Criminals of unsound mind. i) Drunkards. , 5) Incipient and pseudo-criminals.': 6) -Corrigible.,criminals. ... 7) The rest of the criminal class. 'And females will be classified ttas*-- ; (8) Incbrrigibles. - :' ' (9) Coriigibles., (10) Incipient and pseudo-criminals, <a criminals 'of unsound mind. ■ The institutions will be classified as tny dor;— - (1) Penitentiaries for the' detention ep criminals enumerated in Class ,1. (2) Criminal . asylum ■' for. classes 2, 8, and 11. . . ! ' (3) An inebriate, institution for incor--rigibledrunkards.■/.' • (4) Reformatories for Class 6. ■ (5) Camps. ~ ;. ■ (6) An institution equipped as a peni - tentiary and a reformatory for Classes 8' and 9. - - - - Private institutions for.- Classes 5, 10, the occasionals, and habituals of . Class 4. Offenders whose crimes do not 'show; "'. any criminal taint and are not of a gravel character are dealt with' by fining. Those whose offences are not of a. grave charaoter, but indicate that the offender Has • a criminal inclination and apt to develop criminal habits,.'are admitted to proba-' tion. The case 'of every, prisoner, so sentenced is, after his probation has been served, .reviewed every three. months by a competent expert tribunal, which may order the release of such.prisoner when, it considers that he is no longer a menace to the peace and order of society. . The amount of daylight and ventilation in prisons is to be increased'where necessary. Prisoners are classified into three classes, which are' kept apart from one another at work and cn all occasions when the men are assembled. They work at=. different; industnts, -,ths 'object beins to-direct tiiqir into channels which are out o£ sympathy with, and in.no way suggest, their former manner of life— -are not employed' at' stone-, .. dressing or where blasting is carried , on.

Prisons to be Self-supporting. The prison population is debited vritl the entire cost of the -Prisons Depart, inent To discharge this debit each prisoner mhst r perform his daily task so as not to incur debit marking. Every credit mark that he gains has-a' monetary Value. The ; relief of the'dependents of a prisoner is made the first charge upon his earnings. Should these • dependents -! bo idle, iimnorhl, or disorderly, they receive no benefit. Prisoners hove the opportunity of purchasing for themselves certain comforts, such as a: strip, of carpet (regulation size) for their cells, a picture, writing materials, certain . 'articles 01 food, etc. -Earnings spent in suoh personal comforts have not so great a purchasing poivor as in the ordinary public markets; Prisoners may' allow their earnings to accumulate, and receive them on' discharge in siich. manner as the authorities decide. ~ " . .

All debits incurred for-laziness,'insulx ordination, or other breach of the rulesj are met before any appropriation ..from credit balance is £ulowed.; v No deliit is incurred on account of suspension from work occasioned through genuine'illness. The cost of any entertainment, pfovidedby the institution, such as lectures, etc., is debited to the prisoners benefiting, those prisoners in the higher grades being de-, bited with a smaller anidunt than thost in the lower grades. Prisoners who send the whole of their .earnings tc support their dependent are permitted without cost to themselves to attend such entertainments as '.they would otherwiso ba entitled to. Besides their monetary value, a prisoner's conduct marks are submitted as data for examination when the question of, his release is being considered, The discipline throughout the institution is strict, .without -being. severe. The. war-. ders are to endeavour to secure a cheerful recognition of all rules and regulations, and so to. issue their own command.' that they, will be readily obeyed. As.fat' as possible,. punishment takes U>a.*- v.

of fines, reduction, in grade, and solitary confinement. . .... • . List of Prison'lndustries: < • All men physically capable are. <d upon remunerative works. The ohoice of the class of industries which shall lip sstablished in these prisons, is to bo governed by' the following considerations :— The .work, must' be econoiiiically and profitably carried, on; the products most suitable for use in other public' Departments,' but will not., compete with the outside ...market 1 ; the. iiulustry must not suffer, by treason of a fluctuating number «f men being employed (the' numbers in this- class'are not likely " to'; ' fluctuate much:-there will be a steady increase in numbers, until, -a- certain aggregate,- is reached,' after this the numbers will decline' until' a certain percentage is reached, which will rcmaiji fairly constant); themen i om'ployed-.must - gaiii an' incjustrial- training which : will bo, useful; :to' them- upon, their- release.-,: The industries suggested are-.T-Stonemasonry, iro'nmouldIngi tinware, r making, book-covers, boot-, making:. When the requirements .fot the prison bnildiugs now being erected are completed, the work of quarrying »nd dreeingbuilding-stone -is carried out in connection with . other public buildings. Chrushing stone for roadmaking is also jarried; on. " When the quarry is ex-, hausted the area will be used for accommodating; buildings in. connection with otherlndustries to be established.. Stonedressing' is carried on in the .yard as at present, but when, the drives and walls are complete this work will; be carried on in the'quarry area, and the vacated yard used ..for the : purpose of accommodating other'industries... At-one of .the<penitentiaries . workshops will ...be!., established which will make all the boots required at prisons and'• prison camps;' the': reformatories/make their own.''A repairing'shop, .is 'set up./at all institutions. '.The prison clothing—i.e., \conts, vests, and .trousers— is made .-.under, similar, conditions.

Education and Other. Matters. , receive instruction .-in • reading, writing, and. arithmetic''up to : the requirements of. the. fourth standard pass certificate." All; institutional" and civilian officers are to be men of strict morality and sobriety, of fair education, and of firm' but not harsh; address.. The food imS roves according to grade.' Prisoners in le punishment grade, dine in their oells. Those in the; intermediate grades dine at long narrow-'benches, all «j.eing the one ,ivay." Strict silenoe is insisted upon at .meals. • Men-'in the "honour" grade dina at six at a rectangular table, and'-'are allowed; to converse. ; No- smoking is allowed, ih.the, punishment grade. In other grades/men are allowed to. smoke from

6.4o'pjh. to'7;pjn., sittihg on their Btools immediately -outside - the. doors 'of 1. their' cells." ;; They are, during this' time, .allowed • (*>'• converse; with the'; prisoners." on ■ either side of them,' but-not .to change their position. Loud talkirigi is not permitted/ 1 : When aprisoner,, having served' . any' determinate sentence imposed, on him, ,has iriade such progress'that he is deemed to 'be no:'longer a menace. to ; the peace and order of society.'and his '-record i is ehown 'to' be satisfactory, and he has .incurred no:, debit..for ..a-, prescribed period, and he can show that lie is able to pro-, vide for Jus'." own', support, ho is granted (his release upon parole. • Details, of the Camp System. ' The object of tho- camp system, is to aid in the classification - of prisons; reduce- the t populations of town prisons; afford useful, remunerative, and health-ful-occupations for, the-prisoners; and provide. an r . opportunity for their reform. The camps are graded so that "greater 1 , privileges,; may be awarded to the'; men who are-best conducted. "- 'In tree-plant--ing camps - the arrangements being now carried.out'are <not"disturbed'.-' - In-oth'ei camps,- the buildings'are constructed of wood or'iron deterinined'-most suitable. 'The;cells are 'furnished as/in penitentiaries.';lndustries. suggested in Connection : occasional; habitual s./incorrigibl&s.' Cas- 1 oement/:' 'manufacture,";;-- brickmakinjj, tree-planting,'other pub-. Jio; works. - The 'camps ; for, quarrying .braiding-stone, - manufacturing cement;. ' and making bricks' are situated in such parts of the '• Dominion ' as 1 will enable their ...products, to be. easily . loaded i( , l iiL scows'and readily,distributed to fhb'prinoipal centres. ■ .- .; Troatment of Drunkards. Drunkards- are, classified as:—Casuals, occasionals,. incorrigibles. . Casuals are' men who get drunk at; but -fare; interval. /Occasionals/are men' who from time to; time indulge in" driiking-habits bad'enough, to cause them loss of employment.: Habituals arc described by their name. They are: mostly loafers, and -work but intermittently, spending what -wages they earn on drink.lncor-; Tigibles,- besides' being habitual drunk-.' ; «ds, combine minor,' offences -with; their fire dealt with iby ,fining.. The/amount -of 'the .fine/is determined according' to 'ability'to pay.Occasionals and habituals are admitted to" & specified term of probation. Tho former.'are committed- by,;the/magistrate to' the custody of a'probation officer, whose dirty, it is • to see that his charge reports himself every evening not later than a prescribed hour, at the,, institution; of which the' probation officer has charge. . The offender remains: in ,'.the : . institution all', night, and leaves after'breakfast in •the. morning, provided, thathe has occupation to go to. His wages are not paid ito himself,, but to his wife or a receiving ■officer,-asV the magistrate thinks fit and : The first- charge against his wages is for the cost of his board and lodging: at the institution. ■ As the offender gains the confidence of the probation officer and proves himself worthy of trust, the officer has, power ' to report to; the . magistrate' that his ' charge; is' worthy of ■jb,/.relaxation of . disciplinary oversight, and, authority being given, he may' allow, "the Offender to sleep'at his own home on oie'or more specified nights in , the week. If this privilege is abused, the probationary; officer can, summarily .'withhold it, reporting his actioii , as i soon ' as : possible to the magistrate, for; endorsement and; for; further; instructions. : If the > .magistrate' deems;that the offender's conduct; is sufficiently bad ho may summons . jthe'.offender.. to : appear -in his presence,' >and;- after investigation,"deal with the 'offender as either an' habitual drunkard ail - incorrigible drunkard. An habi'tual. drunkard is admitted to a term of under more stringent regulations. He is committed • to the Probaition! who- keeps him; in close detention, giving him only such liberty as ihe may deem" expedient, .submitting to jthe magistrate; a report of; the conditions .of ; tho.-form of detention imposed. The ;magistraie will endorse- ; the: report or •otherwise,', according / to"', his discretion. Incorrigible drunkards are committed to imprisonment in a State; inebriate in. stitution, which is for the - detention of incorrigible inebriates—that is to • say, persons who are convicted , of . minor crimes which .are in' themselves the result -of'excessive drinking,- such persons being considered unsuitable' for detention under probationary ' discipline. The in-, tftituiion is in all respects a prison camp, ■except- that ■ this / one class of offenders is alone committed to it. ' The Reformatories. Eeformatories are to be of two classes —(a) ; agricultural and (b) industrial. The, site, which has been selected for the agricultural reformatory .is near enough to means 'of transit to avoid the cost of carriage becoming, a; weighty expense. It is far enough away, from other population; to avoid, intercommunication, laxity of : discipline, or, facilities of. escape. About 1200 acres' (possibly more) is tho area.'.of the'farm. ,The soil is fair to good average, so that prisoners are "able to learn how to bring in rough'land, and j .fertilisers. The necessity for fertilising is... not so great as to constitute. a . burden. .Average natural, advantages- and disadvantages exist, so that prisoners may; learn how to "avail themselves, of .the one, and how to secure themselves against the other. There are three grades, tho first, the second, and the third., Upon entering' tho reformatory "the men are placed in the second arode, from which they can, when they have . established a perfect record for seven consecutive, months, graduate to the first, grade. . .first-grade men are ; candidates for- release on parole when they have earned a perfect record for six consecutive months. Induction to the third ;or punishment grade is occasioned through ' grave offence;'.on the part of the' inmate. Every inmate has a separate ce11.,. The members of the second grade their meals at long narrow benches, all facing the same way. The members of the/third grade dine in their/cells. Tho members of the-first grade are housed under a system similar to that prevailing in tho camps. Farming is

carried on in all branches, except that J uo branch is undertaken which for any. reason proves unprofitable or a burden to the institution. Every branch carried on is taught in and practical manlier, arid so as to provide for training the inmates in habits of industry and application, -and otherwise providing for the , installation of. recognised reformative treatment. .Instruction is to be given in '■ the Agricultural Reformatory on draining,' fencing (wire, rail, and life), fertilising, bringing in rough land,'cropping, raising , vegetables, _ cutlivatmg fruit,- bee-farming,, shearing sheep, crutching, and dipping, milking, fattening cattle, sheep, and pigs, killing and dressing cattle, sheep, and - pigs; treatment of diseases of cattle, sheep, aud pigs, poultry-farming. • Handicrafts to be Taunht- • - : Training is to bo given, in such handi- ■ crafts ,as are necessary'for the economical working of a farm. Tho training covers . instruction in—(l) Blacksmithing:.Tyring a wheel, rivetingi sharpening and hardening a ploughshare, fitting and nailing "..'on a horse-shoe, removing and changing shoes (not the making of a shoe), welding, the , .use'of th? soldering-bolt, the use of the ftock and die. (2) Carpentry: General instruction in tho uses of all ordinary tools used in carpentry, with special instruction in the use of the axe and adze. General instruction in the suitability oi different varieties of timber for different .'purposes. (3) Miscellaneous:..Tho use of cement; how to lay concrete or rubble floor; how to lay brioks for small jobs; how-to glaze; and how to mix and use •paint. All prisoners are required to master the handicrafts that are necessary for, the ■ successful undertaking of their branch of farming. As some of the men may take up land, in the baekblocks, they, are taught liow ; to cook for themselves, how to preserve their 'health,-treat minor ailments,, and.-detect the presence . of. more serious; ones. . Educational.— •Instruction is given "in tho following' branches of education:—Arithmetic: Thekeeping of accounts, calculation of interest, nature' of simple financial transactions, and simple mensuration. English: How to speak and write correctly; how to correspond upon matters of business, and express ono's thoughts on matters of general interest"; how to understand and appreciate , English 1 standard authors/ When the Agricultural Reis; fairly established, the accommodation will be so extended as to allow for the establishment of. a reformatory carried outoorn r a purely industrial and educational system. .The two reformatories will ; occupy the same site and bo placed under the same administration, the difference being that some men will be applied to industrial, tasks, and others to agricultural. The indusfrial training provided -for agricultural inmates will still be carried on. There will in fact be but one reformatory, having the two sides', the ;one industrial,'; the other, agricultural. Female Institutions, ; - Provision is .made for the. setting-apart .of one central prison ,for the detention of all females sentenced to imprisonment. •Inis building ( is divided into two main divisions, the of. the one division having no. communication whatsoever with" the .inmates of the - other division. Ono division'is conducted as a reformatory, and the other as a prison or penitentiary. To tho reformatory are committed all females whose case is regarded by the Court ;as being hopeful. Generally speaking, such-cases are those whose oflenco consists in drunkenness or crimes arising - directly therefrom, and' ' those whoso crimos arise from prostitution. Ihe women are thoroughly ; instructed In all' branches of domestic seiyice.t'and housekeeping, ■ advari6ed classes in cookery, - t dressmaking,. ahd . millinery ' being provided for those who show special aptitude, and who -'are likely to earn their living at such employment. 1 Instruction is also given in .the"laws of health, in nursing the sick, rendering first, aid,' ■in the care of '.infants, and in the raising of-pot-plants and'cultivating flowers. An ordinary sohool training" is provided for women of deficient education, and ■ opportunity given for those of a higher education to pursue their studies in certain directions; .. The, library is well' stocked,' and the; women are encouraged to make reading.an; interesting recreation. . Leeturea are given on usoful- and .intor,'esting; topics... Religious ..instruction is given, and Sunday services are held. An inmate-choir exists,: the ' members, oi whichare -trained, to /read 'musio, ahdthey attend , regular .'practices. ; If, after every influence , has fen exhausted,, any reformatory .inmate proves incorrigible, tho authorities report tho case to tho judge of the Supreme Court, who, if satisfied that the. inmate is successfully resisting the 1 reformatory discipline, ordere such inmate to be_ transferred to'the penitentiary. ; All inmates are discharged upon.parole. The period fixed is hot less than twelve months. For breach of parole the person can be returned to the reform atary. A good: report throughout the period of parole gaips an absolute release. No person is paroled until a suitable situation is found for her, o.r until she can bo returned'to her friends ■ under conditions deemed satisfactory by the. authorities. ■ \ . The Penitentiary. To this division are committed those TEomen who are deemed habitual and incorrigible;. .criminals. . Tlie women are classified "aeoording to-age, conduct; and the character of ..their . crimes. These classes are kept-apart from one another as far as possible. The women are employed at such industries as—Knitting socks (by machine.-v) for the prisons' service ; making; shirts for prisoners and patients in hospitals; making mattresses and pillows for the Public Service; hemming sheets and pillow-cases for the Public Service; laundry-work (tho installation of large rotary, washers driven by machinery would enable the prison to do the washing for the hospital besides the prison washing); raising vegetables; keeping poultry. . Educational and religious. advantages are provided; Release'is granted when it,appears to the authorities that the. prisoner, .will . behave herself, and when , suitable employment has- been found, and proper supervision for her conduct for a' period of not less -than twelve, months from date of release has been provided. If any inmate of -the penitentiary shall give proof, deemed conclusive to tho authorities, that she intends to amend her life and is otherwise a. suitable person to be transferred to the reformatory, the ' authorities shall report her case to the judge, who shall determine whether such transfer shall be granted. , New Probation System. For dealdng with that class of prisoner that, does not need- the more' severe discipine of the penitentiary' nor the educational treatment of the reformatory, certain approved private agencies are registered under the Prisons Act. The effect of this registration, i^:—These agencies place their, institutions at the disposal of the Department.. They work, in respect to the persons committed -to their charge by the Courts, under Government regulations and inspection. They receive such assistance from the Department as '\till' enable them to carry out their discipline effectively. They receive such subsidy as may -be decided upon. The Courts decide what persons shall be committed to-the charge ,of these agencies, and also the conditions of the probation; Probation is of three kinds:—Simple probation: Under this form of probatnon persons are not disturbed in their domestic or industrial relations,. but are under the care of an o.fliccr whose duty is to see that his-charge fulfils the obligations imposed by the Court. Night detention: Night detention means that the person is ■not otherwise disturbed in his domestic or/industrial relations, except that' he' must .report at the institution of the agency at p.m.; and not leave again, until after breakfast. His wages are paid to his wife or to a receiving officer, as the Court may direct, and a chuTg© is made against Mm to reimburse tho agency for expenses incurred. Close detention: The inmate spends the whole of his time at tho institution, being allowed just such liberty as may bo decided upon. Under both these two latter forms of probation the inmate is allowed increased liberty according to his behaviour. Any person committed to - probation for refusing to pay . a fine inflicted in the Magistrate's Court shall have during the currency of _this probation his wages paid to a rc"oeiving officer, arid the fine deducted in such' proportion as the magistrate shall direct. Probation expires when the fine and all other consequent debts are paid.