PRISON PENALTIES

Hokitika Guardian, 29 November 1933, Page 8

PRISON PENALTIES

SOME NEW RULjto ENGLAND. COMFORTS FOR REMAIN’D CASES

New Home Office rules lor the government of, and for the conduct and, discipline, in, English prisons have recently . come into force.

' Perhaps the most' interesting of the new rules is an experimental one. It provides, further concessions to unconvicted .persons: in custody, or “trial and remand prisoners” as they are officially described. In future, they are to bo given—if they require it—, a separate room, suitably furnishd, away from the cells and the ordinary 'prisoners, wherein to have their meals. To those who can afford Hie luxury,

there is the welcomfe news that, wren their 'food,, they will be allowed to drink a pint of ale, cider, or stout, and half a bottle of wine! But, of course, at their own expense. • They may also have their meals-, sent in from outside the pid6on. ' Under certain i iconditions these prisoners will be allowed to smoke a little while at exercise, but in such a way. a s not to arouse envy in the breastg of those who are serving sentences, The -Prison Commissioners are not disposed to recommend the enlargement of thee restricted privileges with .regard •to smoking owing to the fact that it might lead to an increase in the smuggling of cigarettes end tobacco. Breaches of prison discipline are to b<» punished severely. The punishment •will not, however, involve as .hitherto, the cancellation, of 'the "prisoner’s right to recoe've letters. om-d visits from friends during the period in .which ho *s• undergoing it! It has been brought home to the • authorities that thi s form of punishment involved hardship upon those outside the prison who wished to keep in touch with the prisoner, concerned.

Experience has -proved that the most salutary form of punishment for those recalcitrant.'prisoners who are guilty of breaches of prison , discipline i 6 that which affects their rations. In future such prisoners wilj have their diet varied or reduced in a manner not to their liking, Thg governor’s right to award solitary confinement is preserved, but there is to. be no flogging for internal offences unless ordered by the Court. With regard to work in. prisons, the new rules provide -that prisoners shall be employed upon suitable work—Sundays excepted—for at,, least eight hours’ a day outside their cells, and not more than two hours out of the 24 inside them.

, There will be- very little difference between the treatment of “hard'labour” prisoners and those who have been sentenced, to plain imprisonment. The only distinction will be that the former mustsleep without! a mattress for the first 14 days of their sentence, unless the medical .officer or . the g-overnpr ... otherwise orders. There is no difference at all between ...the two classes of imprisonment so , far as,,women are concerned. Whether a person is sent to hard labour, plain imprisonment, or serves his sentence in tjre second division, the nature -of , the work allotted will be the same.; It will not be affected by the nature- of the sentence, but will be determined-by the capabilities of the prisoner, and the kind of- work that Happens tia be available.

Recent events have caused the authorities to take appropriate steps tq prevent the escape of prisoners and those disposed in future to make the attempt wiir find the difficulties censiderobly augmented by additional safeguards.