BARKING.

County House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THIS prison continues in a very defective state, as described in the last year's Report. The committee of magistrates have, however, recommended that a new house of correction should be built, at or near Ilford, sufficient for the proper confinement of 24 males and eight females. In 1823, 262 prisoners were committed to this bridewell, and at one time 37 were in confinement, for whom there are only two rooms and six sleeping-cells, with three small yards. The number of recommittals in the year was 18.

Oakum picking is occasionally introduced as an employment. The allowance of food is one pound and a half of bread, and a quart of table-beer, for each person daily.

A chaplain reads prayers, and preaches a sermon on Sundays, and the prisoners are supplied with bibles and prayer books.

THE number of prisoners committed is very small. In 1822, there were only six prisoners; and in 1823, but four.

The prisoners are employed in beating hemp, but it is in contemplation to erect a tread-wheel, should the number of prisoners render it necessary.

The minister of the parish occasionally attends at the prison. Irons are used with such as are committed for felony, and with those who are refractory in the prison.

The matron of the house of correction has the superintendence of the females: she is the only officer besides the keeper.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

GLOUCESTER.

County Gaol and Penitentiary.

May 1824.

THE prisoners in the gaol are divided into ten classes, viz.

Males:

1. For trial for capital felony.

2. Do.... for simple felony.

3. For trial for misdemeanors, fines, or want of sureties. 4. King's evidence.

5. Under sentence of death.

Each class has a separate day-room or kitchen, and an airingyard, excepting prisoners under sentence of death, who are confined in separate cells. Male and female hospital-wards àre provided for the sick: there are also a ward for infectious diseases, a room for convalescents, and four lazarettos, or reception-rooms. The chaplain reads prayers, and preaches a sermon every Sunday, and also reads prayers every Wednesday and Friday morning: he frequently visits every department, and attends to the instruction and morals of the prisoners.

A tread-mill is in daily operation for grinding corn, by the labour of the male prisoners only. The females are always employed in washing, making, and mending, for the use of the prisoners, and also in making cloth-shoes, half-boots, &c.

A partition board between each of the prisoners on the tread-wheel, entirely prevents conversation, and they are placed under the inspection of officers. None but convicted male prisoners are thus employed: the number is from 28 to 40, varying according to circumstances, and independent of the necessary relay. The whole time the prisoners are employed at the wheel does not exceed nine hours in summer, and five hours in winter: the average time each prisoner is on the wheel, is about 18 minutes, and about 10 or 12 minutes off, according to the number of prisoners in the Penitentiary.

The amount of earnings from the tread-mill, from December 20th, 1822, to December 20th, 1823, was £103. 2s. Od, which sum is as yet unapplied.

The whole expense of the mill has been about £1200; the power of the mill is employed in grinding and dressing corn, for hire, and for the use of the prison, and in raising water. The health of the prisoners is found to be not in the least injured by the labour, but on the contrary is improved, according to the opinion of the surgeon. The labour also appears to produce improvement in the morals of the prisoners, and

in their behaviour generally. They are orderly, quiet, and peaceable.

In the last year there were four prisoners recommitted: the number committed for felony from 1st January 1823, to 1st January 1824, was 227. In 1820, the number was 283; in 1821, 226; and in 1822, 239.

The whole number of commitments to the gaol during the year was 431, and the greatest number at one time, 124. In the penitentiary there were 64 males and nine females at the date of this report.

The experience of the present year, and particularly of late, induces a hope that crime is not increasing in this district.

No irons are used excepting in cases of violent and refractory conduct, which very rarely happens.

The present ration of food for prisoners who labour, is one pound and a half of the best bread given to each prisoner every morning; for breakfast, one ounce and a half of oatmeal, a quarter of an ounce of salt with leeks and other herbs made into gruel; for dinner, on Mondays and Fridays, three quarters of a pint of peas stewed with legs and shins of beef, seasoned with salt, pepper and ginger; on the other five days, two pounds and a half of potatoes with a quarter of an ounce of salt. The weekly cost is 2s. 24d. per head: clothing is allowed, which costs the county £2. 4s. Od. per head.

The females are placed under the care of a matron.

There are five inferior male officers in the prison, consisting of a clerk, a gate-keeper, and three turnkeys; also one messenger and two night-guards.

GLOUCESTER.

City Gaol.

Jan. 1824. THIS prison has lately been undergoing considerable alterations and enlargement, by which the classification of the prisoners will be materially extended. At present there are but three classes for the men, viz. two for felons and one for debtors; each class having a day-room and airing-yard. For the women, there are two day-rooms; one for felons and one for debtors, but only one airing-yard for the two classes. Hitherto, the prisoners have not been employed, but a tread-mill has been recently erected, for the purpose of keeping them at hard labour. Each prisoner is allowed one penny in money, and a quartern

loaf daily: the latter costs 44d. No clothing is provided, excepting in cases of absolute necessity.

The prisoners are furnished with bibles and prayer-books: the chaplain reads prayers on Sundays, and preaches a sermon. He also reads prayers on Wednesdays.

In 1823, forty prisoners were committed; the greatest number at one time being 21, and the average of two years 18. No re-committals took place during the last year.

Nine prisoners were put in irons for attempting to escape, being detected in the act of making a hole in the wall. Besides the keeper there is a night-watchman.

HORSLEY.

County House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THIS prison is stated to contain five classes of prisoners, but there are only four airing-yards and three day-wards. There are 54 sleeping-cells, and the greatest number of prisoners, at one time in the last year, has not exceeded 60. Two apartments are provided for the sick.

The employments consist in the labour at the tread-mill, and breaking stones; also mending shoes, and the prisoners' clothing. The articles of clothing allowed are a jacket, waistcoat, and trowsers, a pair of clogs, and a day-cap, night-cap, clean shirt, and a pair of stockings every week. The weekly allowance of food costs 2s. 4d. per head. The dietary is as before. A matron is appointed for the females.

The chaplain reads prayers twice a week, and preaches on Sundays: he also instructs the prisoners in reading, and supplies them with bibles and religious books.

No irons were used during the last year. The whole number of committals, during that period, was 378, and of re-committals only four.

A turnkey and miller are the only inferior officers.

NORTHLEACH.

County House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THE prisoners are divided into five classes, with a day-room, work-room, and yard for each class; also two wards for the

sick, and a large room for convalescents. There are 48 separate sleeping-cells.

The male convicted prisoners are employed at a corn-mill, which is turned by hand: they work five or six hours in the day, and change every hour. The women are employed in making, mending, and washing for the service of the prison. The amount of carnings is applied to the county-stock. Prisoners who labour have an extra allowance of food, consisting in the week, of three quarts of soup, four pounds of potatoes, and one quarter of a pound of cheese: the weekly cost per head is 2s. 4d. The description of clothing is similar to that at Horsley, and costs the county about £2. 4s. Od. per head.

The chaplain reads prayers and preaches a sermon on Sundays, and reads prayers every Wednesday. He also distributes books for the moral and religious instruction of the prisoners.

The greatest number of prisoners at one time during the year was 52; the whole number of commitments, 271; and of recommitinents only two.

The officers consist of a governor, matron, turnkey, and miller.

No irons are used in this prison.

LAWFORD'S GATE.

County House of Correction.

Jan. 1824.

THE prisoners are divided into five classes, and occupy sixteen day or working-cells, three day-rooms, and 41 sleepingcells. The greatest number of persons in confinement at one time during the last year was only 22.

There is no regular source of hard labour introduced into this house of correction. Some of the prisoners are employed in the garden, and in whitewashing the prison, and there is a watermachine turned by hand, to supply the prison with water to keep it clean.

Every prisoner receives one pound and a half of good household bread per day. The allowance of clothing is the same as at the other houses of correction for the county.

A matron is appointed for the female department.

The Chaplain reads prayers every Wednesday and Friday morning, and preaches on Sundays. There are two separate rooms for sick prisoners. During the last year the number of commitments was 177; and of re-commitments 15.