Report of the Committee of the Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, and for the Reformation of Juvenile Offenders

minute is 48: the height, from one board to the other, about seven inches and a quarter, and the velocity of the wheel twice in the minute. The only regulator is the quantity of corn supplied by the miller. The proportion of working men on the wheel during the operation is about three-fourths. Grinding corn, and pumping water for the prison, are the purposes to which the power is applied.

The amount of earnings last year was £53. Os. 9d. There is a considerable profit by grinding the corn, and baking the bread consumed in the prison, besides.

The weekly dietary is as follows: for each prisoner, eight pounds and three-quarters of bread, two pounds six ounces of oatmeal made into gruel, three quarters of a pound of meat, three quarts of soup, seven pounds of potatoes and two ounces of salt.

There is no doubt but that the health of the prisoners is improved by the discipline. No instances to the contrary have occurred: those who are sick have generally entered the prison in a state of disease.

CANTERBURY.

City Gaol.

July 1824. WITH respect to the separation of male and female prisoners in this prison, as much care as possible is taken to keep them apart, but from the construction of the building, it is difficult to prevent conversation and occasional intercourse between them in the day-time.

There has been no recent alteration in the state of the gaol, excepting that the prisoners are compelled to work, a short time daily, at a pump which supplies the prison with water.

Before the meeting of parliament, a correspondence took place between the magistrates and the Secretary of state for the home department, on the subject of the city prisons. The general sessions for the city, which were held on the 12th instant, were adjourned to the latter end of next month, for the express purpose of concluding upon the necessary alterations and improve ments of the gaol. The magistrates are desirous of doing all in their power, to remedy the evils which have been so long complained of, and it is probable that this prison will not much longer continue in its present defective state.

ROCHESTER.

City Gaol.

June 1824.

Ir continues to be a subject of regret, that no alteration has been effected in the construction or arrangement of this small and inconvenient prison. (Vide Appendix to Report, 1823, page 43.)

There is neither classification nor employment within its walls. Formerly there was no religious instruction; but now, it is stated that a minister attends at the prison once a week, gratuitously.

Irons continue to be used on felons and refractory prisoners.

LANCASHIRE.

LANCASTER.

Castle County Gaol.

Aug. 1824. In this prison the number of classes is 16, viz. debtors, two; convicted felons, six; convicted misdemeanants, four; prisoners for trial, three; and prisoners committed for want of sureties, one. There are 32 day-rooms, and 12 airing-yards; 74 workrooms, and 136 separate sleeping-rooms; also four hospitalwards for the sick.

The alterations on the male felons' side, described in the last year's Report, have been completed, and are found to answer the most sanguine expectations. The day-rooms of the prisoners, being removed from the further extremity of the radiating yards, are now arranged in two stories, immediately around the officer's room in the centre, and all are under the same roof. By these means he not only inspects those rooms on the same floor with his own apartment, but is also enabled to look down upon the prisoners, in their rooms below, through diverging apertures in the cielings, terminating in small openings for the eye of the inspector. This ingenious contrivance has the advantage also of

These openings are only large enough for the eye; they are covered with a piece of plate-glass: if the officer wishes to speak to the prisoners in any of the rooms, he can do so by lifting up the eye-piece, or he may overhear their conversation with great facility. This arrangement deserves the attention of those concerned in the construction of prisons.

conveying the least noise from the rooms below into the officer's

room.

The tread-mill continues to be a regular source of employment for the prisoners, in addition to that of weaving calicoes, which, in the present brisk state of trade in the cotton manufacture, are in great demand. Two power-looms are worked by the treadmill. It is at present a question whether a larger number should not be introduced, and a further power obtained by an extension of the tread-mill; but it is thought that so nice a machine as the power-loom may too easily be deranged, by the neglect or mischief of a prisoner. The rate of individual labour continues at about 10,000 feet per day, with no injurious consequences in any known instance. A fly-regulator over the mill proves of essential advantage, in maintaining a constant limit to the velocity of the tread-wheels. The sliding scale, for the measurement of the labour, is also found a useful and ready means of ascertaining the rate of each man's work, as well as of apportioning the number of relays, in the varying classes of prisoners.

The female prisoners are never put to work on the treadwheels; but those sentenced to hard labour are employed at hand-mills, in their respective working-cells, under the inspection of the matron. These mills are of an improved construction. Hardened steel grinders, instead of stone, reduce the corn to flour in a very superior manner: the quality of the flour is in high repute. There are various other sources of occupation for the female prisoners, with whom the same excellent management is maintained as heretofore.

A committee of ladies continues to visit this prison, and render their benevolent assistance in promoting the moral improvement of the women, and in providing them with the means of constant employment, Several have been restored to their families and friends, on their discharge from prison, with very satisfactory prospects of their recovery from vicious habits; and some, who were found destitute, have been placed in the county "Refuge for the Destitute," until suitable situations could be provided for them.

The prisoners are instructed in reading and writing. Prayers and the scriptures are read daily. A general appearance of good order and discipline was observable throughout this large prison, the whole state of which it may be truly said is highly creditable to those who are concerned in its management, and reflects honour on the county.

The amount of earnings for the last year was £800. 16s. 1d.: one-third is allowed to convicted felons, one-half to convicted misdemeanants, and one-half to prisoners before trial, who

choose to work. The taskmaster receives 10 per cent. in addition to £60 per annum. The remainder is placed to the credit of the county.

The weekly cost of food is for criminals 2s. 3 d. per head, and for debtors 1 s. 9 d. The allowance of clothing for each prisoner costs £1.4 s. 6d. and of bedding 11s. 3d.

The number of commitments during the year was 853; the greatest number of persons at one time in confinement 306. The re-committals during the year were 31. At Michaelmas 1823, 286 persons were in confinement, of whom the proportion was as follows:

Of the above, twelve prisoners were for trial, and only eight were under 17 years of age.

The officers consist of two keepers, a matron, a clerk, taskmaster, three turnkeys, an assistant, and watchman.

PRESTON.

County House of Correction.

July 1824.

THE present number of prisoners is small, viz. 92 males and 15 females. They are divided into seven classes; four for males and three for females. When completed, the buildings will contain 14 classes, nine for males and five for females.

This prison is undergoing very extensive alterations; its present state can therefore scarcely be reported upon with effect. The external wall is raised, and the projecting masonry has been very properly trimmed off, which will render it a much more secure boundary. An excellent infirmary, divided into male and female wards, has been erected; and a new laundry, washhouse, and kitchen, are nearly completed. A tread-mill, with four stepping-wheels, to contain 80 prisoners, is to be put up. Several of the prisoners have been diligently occupied in the performance of these works, which will probably require several months to complete. The other prisoners are employed in weaving, &c. as stated in former Reports.

In this prison an increased attention has for some time been paid to instruction and religious duties. The chaplain attends daily. Divine service is regularly attended by the prisoners, and on these occasions they behave with great propriety. Punishments for refractory conduct are of rare occurrence: they consist of close confinement, a reduced allowance of food, and in some cases of fettering; but only four instances of the latter punishment took place in the last year. The prisoners are very healthy; only 15 cases of sickness having occurred in the last twelvemonth.

It appears from the governor's Michaelmas Report, that of 695 prisoners, eight had been committed twice; five, three times, and two four times. The number of commitments is as follows: