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NEW PRISON REGULATIONS.

Thq, new rules for the remission of sentences of prisoners confined in public prisons in New Zealand seem likely to tff.ct somewhat of a revolution in the way of prison management in the Colony. They are, no doubt, anticipations of the time when prison management, in so far as it deals with prisoners, undergoing penal servitude, will be under a general control. The present rules, though professing merely to deal with the manner In which sentences may be remitted by the action of the prisoners themselves, in reality compel the adoption of a somewhat uniform system of prison management throughout the Colony. The remission is in future to come altogether from the industry displayed by the prisoner, and part first of the second rule expressly says: “No remission will bo granted for good conduct.” But from this it must not be inferred that good conduct does not form a necessary ingredient in a claim for remission. The rule we have just quoted goes on to say ;—“ It is only on condition of good conduct and obedience that prisoners will be allowed to earn by their industry a remission of a portion of their sentences.” Thus it will be seen that without good conduct it is impossible for a prisoner to shorten his time, as the saying is; yet, while this is the case, good conduct is placed at its true value, namely, as a mere sine qud non— a thing essential, indeed, in itself, but for which no special reward is offered, and no encouragement thereby given to mere pretence and hypocrisy. The scale of marks is given as follows ;

Eight marks per diem for steady hard labor, and the full performance of the allotted task. Seven marks per diem for a less degree of industry. Six marks per diem for a fair but moderate day’s work.

No remission is to be granted for the first three months of a sentence, which are to be looked upon as a period of probation ; a prisoner’s marks, therefore, will be calculated at the rate of six per diem, as commencing three months from the date of cmviction. It is provided that no prisoner whose conduct has not been good and industrious during the first three months of his imprisonment, shall be entitled to marks until he has passed a further period of three months’ pro bation. Should his conduct during this second period of probati -n be good and industrious, his marks shall be calculated as commencing six months from the date of conviction ; but if not, the prisoner shall not be entitled to marks until his conduct has been reported good and industrious for a period of three months prior to the da'e from which they are calculated. If by his industry a prisoner gains eight marks per diem and does not forfeit any for misconduct, he will thereby earn the full remission of one-fonrth of the time for which his marks are calculated. When a prisoner, by his misconduct, is sentenced to forfeiture of time, a number of marks equal to the number of days forfeited, multiplied by six, is to be added to the whole number of marks he has to earn ; as he can by bis industry earn tight, he may thereby gain a remission of onefourth of such forfeiture. Prisoners whose sentences involve separate confinement can only be credited with six marks, at the highest, during the period »f such confinement. Prisoners in hospital are only allowed six marks, except by special recommendation of the gaoler to the visiting justice. On Sunday, of course, an exception is made to the ordinary rule, marks being allotted only for good conduct on that day. Idleness or misconduct will Involve a fine of a number of marks proportionate to the offence.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18750623.2.21

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Evening Star, Issue 3847, 23 June 1875, Page 3

Word count
Tapeke kupu
634

NEW PRISON REGULATIONS. Evening Star, Issue 3847, 23 June 1875, Page 3

NEW PRISON REGULATIONS. Evening Star, Issue 3847, 23 June 1875, Page 3

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