STAFFING OF THE PRISONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 21, 20 October 1920, Page 8

STAFFING OF THE PRISONS

A DIFFICULT TASK TO-DAY. The Controller-General of Prisons comments in his report for 1919-20 upon string difficulties that have confronted the Department during the past year. He "In my first report after the conclusion of the war I expressed the hope that with the advent of peace our diinculties in regard to the staffing of the different prisons and institutions wouui cease, but I regret to <*)' &£. such is far from being the case. \\itli tno closing of some of the older prisons and the reduction in grade of others, 1 thought we should bo able to ieap oil'staffs up to full strength, and to make many very necessary improvements in our organisation. Unfortunately, however, our experience has been quite contrary to my expectations. Not only lias it been found impossible to keep our staffs up to full strength and to augment them where required, but there is at present a pronounced shortage of officers 'in all our large and more important institutions. ■ "More serious still is the dearth of suitable applicants for employment in our service. Under former conditions the work of a prison warder was comparatively simple—he was little more than a ■ guard whose chief concern was to see that the prisoners carried out their very elementary tasks, that they did not escape, and that discipline was maintained. The position has now completely changed. While a certain number of guards are still necessary, the majority of our officers are required to ten knowledge of the various trades and callings that are being followed in the. different institutions. They are also expected to interest themselves in the work and in the lives of the men under their charge, and to assist where possible in building up character, and generally in fitting the men to become useful citizens on their release. Unfortunately, there is not one applicant in fifty who is qualified by experience or temperament tor ' the role he is called upon to fill. In fact, the aveiago candidate for employment is not even up to tho average standard of twenty years ago. In proportion to the total number of officers there is no Department in the Public Service through which so many men pas* in the course of tho year. Many of them leave within a few days or weeks (It reporting for duty, many move are dispensed with for general unfitness, while others, again, transfer to the more highly paid Police Force, or take up more remunerative private employment. "The Department is fighting hard to improve conditions in every direction, and has mot with a fair measure of success, but I am reluctantly compelled to admit that further progress along the road of reform will be difficult, if not impossible, unless ive are given the means to attract the right type of man to our service. In the first place the pay must be raised to a rate at leas equivalent to that allotted to the sister service, the police. With increased pay we should we able to build.up our staffs to full strongth, and so provide for a reduction in hours and for an improvement in the conditions under which our officers work. With the present limited and partly ten--pgrary staffs, it is quite impossible to have an efficient or contented service, it is probable that the contemplated general increase in salaries may somewha.' improve the position, but, taking into account the special nature of tho work and the hours of duty, it is apparent that the Prisons Department should be given exceptional trcatmant if it is successfully to carry to fruition the soliemea of reform unon which it has entered."