A Comparative Statement OF THE PRISONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES, Which come under the Provisions of the Act of 4 Geo. 4, cap. 64, Commonly called the GAOL ACT. Specifying the Number of Classes or Divisions, and of separate Sleeping Cells, in each Prison; the greatest Number of Prisoners at one time in the Year, and the total Number in Confinement from Michaelmas 1822 to Michaelmas 1823;-also, the Proportion of Prisoners employed, and the Amount of Earnings; the Weekly Cost of Food; the Proportion of Sick; and the Number of Deaths in the Year. By the new Gaol Act, Returns are required to be transmitted to the Secretary of State, from each prison, agreeably to a tabular form, containing various inquiries as to the actual state of the several prisons. The Returns for one year, ending at Michaelmas 1823, were laid before Parliament last sessions, and have since been printed in compliance with an order of the House of Commons. The annexed statement embraces the general particulars of the parliamentary Returns, (as to numbers, &c.) which have been compressed, in order to form a comparative table. A few remarks may be necessary to elucidate the statement, as well as to elicit further attention to various particulars connected therewith. The numbers contained in the second column, exhibit the great disparity of classification which exists at various prisons. The Act requires that in every gaol, or house of correction, there shall be ten classes of prisoners. In many county-prisons it is necessary that a further division should be made, in order to form the prisoners into small companies. This arrangement is observed at Maidstone, Lancaster, Stafford, and some other gaols; and a similar system is worthy of general adoption. A comparison of the numbers, in the third and fourth columns, shews the want of separate sleeping cells in many prisons. It is a common practice to place two or three prisoners in one night-cell: many of these cells are of a sufficient size to contain two prisoners; and these might generally be divided into smaller cells, an alteration which appears highly necessary, especially in the case of male prisoners; it being of great importance that each individual should sleep in a separate cell. The sixth column shews, by comparison, the discipline enforced at each prison, in the proportion of prisoners who are kept at labour. In houses of correction, no prisoner should be without some means of employment. The proportion of working prisoners is least in the gaols, on account of the labour not being compulsory on the unconvicted; but where good discipline is maintained this description of prisoners find it much to their advantage to be employed. The seventh column exhibits a considerable difference in the amount of earnings, in proportion to the number of prisoners employed. In many Returns the amount is not fully stated, much labour being performed for the service of the prison which is not accounted for. In some few prisons a decrease has been sustained, by the recent introduction of tread-wheel labour, which is not in all cases attended with pecuniary profit. In the eighth column is stated the weekly cost of food per head, or the usual allowance to each prisoner. In some prisons the practice is still continued of allowing money to prisoners, for the purchase of food and necessaries; but this is highly objectionable. It incurs additional expense, as well as trouble and inconvenience. The prisoners are also liable to suffer from imposition, or from misapplication in the expenditure. The proportion of sick prisoners, inserted in the ninth column, differs in a remarkable degree. This subject requires the attention of the proper authorities, in order to discover the causes from which the disparity arises. Some county-prisons still remain without any infirmary or sick wards; and cases have occurred where prisoners have in consequence suffered by the introduction of contagious diseases. The summary statement, inserted at page 182, contains the number of persons committed for trial to the prisons in each County, on criminal charges, in the year 1823. The difference of numbers in this and the preceding statement, arises from the former numbers having included all commitments to prison; viz. debtors, summary convictions, vagrants, &c. To this statement is annexed the population of each county, in order to shew the actual extent of crime. A Comparative Statement of the Prisons in England, which * No Returns have been made from these prisons, notwithstanding that they are required by the Act of 4 Geo. 4, cap.64. |