The English Prison SystemRuggles-Brise, Evelyn, Sir
History
The English Prison System
Ruggles-Brise, Evelyn, Sir
Prisons -- Great Britain
three years' penal servitude, but provides many safeguards against the
too easy use of the new form of punishment."
A new Prison for the reception of these cases has been constructed at
Camp Hill in the Isle of Wight, where it has been possible to secure
not only an admirable site, with sufficient ground for cultivation,
and for additional buildings, if necessary, but a locality which,
from the point of view of climate and salubrity, and opportunity for
agricultural work of a severe nature, is well adapted for the custody
and treatment of a new class of prisoner, for whom, in conformity
with the words of the Act, it has been necessary to devise a treatment
which, while subject generally to the law of penal servitude, shall
admit of such modification in the direction of a less rigorous
treatment as may be prescribed; while, at the same time, they shall be
subjected to such disciplinary and reformative influences, and shall
be employed on such work as may be best fitted to make them able and
willing to earn an honest livelihood on discharge. The rules made,
attempt to follow, with as much precision as possible, the prescription
of the Act, which, it will be recognized, does not admit of a simple
or easy solution. They have been framed generally with a view that,
consistently with discipline and safe custody, there should be a
considerable modification of the severer aspects of a sentence of
penal servitude. Promotion from the ordinary to the special grade is
earned by good conduct and industry, as in penal servitude, but certain
privileges, such as association at meals, and in the evenings, smoking,
newspapers and magazines, &c., can be earned, as well as a small wage,
not exceeding threepence a day, part of which can be expended on the
purchase of articles of comfort from the canteen. Special provision has
recently been made for the location in what are called "Parole lines,"
of such men as are, in the opinion of the authorities, qualifying for
conditional discharge. The rules permit a considerable relaxation of
discipline and supervision, so that each man may be tested as to his
fitness for re-entry into free life.
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