Education.
10. There will be a Board of Education, over which the Chaplain will preside. It will be the authority to consider all questions connected with the education of inmates, and will decide, as the result of examination, into which Grade each inmate shall be placed on reception.
11. The education of inmates will be classified as follows:—
(1)Elementary.—Such inmates as are found on reception not to have profited sufficiently by the teaching received in Public Elementary Schools to pass out of Grade III of the National Code.(2)Progressive.—Those who can pass out of that Stage, and are fit subjects for higher Grades.(3)Technical.—Inmates who are being prepared for commercial or other special pursuit.
(1)Elementary.—Such inmates as are found on reception not to have profited sufficiently by the teaching received in Public Elementary Schools to pass out of Grade III of the National Code.
(2)Progressive.—Those who can pass out of that Stage, and are fit subjects for higher Grades.
(3)Technical.—Inmates who are being prepared for commercial or other special pursuit.
(1)Elementary Education.—The standard aimed at may be broadly defined as follows,viz.:—"the ability to write a letter such as is needed by a woman applying for employment, and such arithmetic as a woman needs for the ordinary purpose of daily life, including checking her wages." Such a Standard is practically represented by Grade III of the National Code,viz.:—
WRITING:—Simple Spelling rules.simple Composition.Reconstruction of easy stories.Easy letter writing.Dictation.ARITHMETIC:—4 simple rules.4 compound rules (money & easy weights & measures).Introduction to decimal system.Simple fractions.
All inmates not qualified to pass from that Grade shall receive Education during the first three months of their sentence, at such times and in such classes as the Board of Education, created by Instruction 10,shall decide; and such period may be extended in any special case where the Board is of opinion that it would be to the advantage of an inmate that this should be done.
Where an inmate obviously fails to profit by instruction, and there may be reason to think that this may be due to physical or mental causes, she will be specially examined by the Medical Officer, and such steps will be taken on his report as may be deemed suitable to meet the special circumstances of the case.
(2)The Progressive Classwill consist of all those inmates who have passed through a period of Elementary instruction. Arrangements will be made by the Board of Education for such inmates to attend Evening School at such times, and for such objects as they may decide.
(3)Technical Classes.—These will be limited to those inmates who have been specially selected for a career in which a knowledge of special subjects is called for.
12. In addition to the times set apart for these respective Classes, there will be a Silent Hour for private study, for which a period of absolute silence for one hour daily will be introduced throughout the Institution, during which time all inmates will be engaged in the study of educational or trade matter. It is considered that organized private study is the most satisfactory way of securing that inmates shall not be locked in their rooms until late in the evening.
The objects of the Silent Hour are:—
The objects of the Silent Hour are:—
(1) To provide opportunity (a) for the working of tasks set by the Schoolmistresses; (b) for inmates to study their trade text books and prepare notes from the same;
(2) To occupy the minds of the inmates in a profitable manner;
(3) To inculcate habits of studious application in order that the benefits of mental concentration and self-control may become apparent.
13. It will be seen that a great responsibility is incumbent on the Education Board in arranging the details of Education on these lines. It will be the duty of the Governor, acting on the advice of the Chaplain and Schoolmistresses, to arrange the details of each Class, consistently with the general needs of the Establishment and the convenience of the staff; and it is only by a real and hearty co-operation between all members of the educational staff that the object of the system can be attained,viz.:—in the first place, to raise the ignorant and illiterate to such a standard of education as will enable them to compete with the ordinary conditions of life on discharge; and, secondly, to furnish opportunity to write intelligent English, and to rise not only to the higher educational grades, but to obtain special knowledge in the particular careers to which their faculties are applied.
14. In addition to the ordinary educational curriculum, it will be the duty of the Education Board, subject to the authority of the Governor, to organize a regular system of Lectures or Addresses, on such subjects as, in their opinion, are calculated to increase knowledge, to widen outlook, and to inspire by example,e.g., readings from history or biography. They may, in addition, organize Debating Societies, where inmates can themselves take part in discussion on selected subjects. It is considered that Debating Societies might be a great advantage to the Institution. The advice of the Chaplain Inspector will always be available for the organization of the conduct of such Societies. They may also arrange for the formation of Singing or Choral Classes.
Revoked Licences.
15. Inmates whose licences are revoked, if not removed to a special Institution for such cases, will be placed in the Penal Class for one month, and will work with their room doors open, and will be employed at any suitable form of manual labour. After one month, they may, at the discretion of the Governor, be placed in the Ordinary Grade, and will be again removed to the Penal Class if he is satisfied that the inmate is making no real effort to improve. Any such case will be recorded in the Governor's Journal, to be laid before the Commissioner or Inspector at each visit. If no signs of improvement are manifest, the case will be submitted to the Visiting Committee for such action as may be desirable under Section 7 of the Act of 1908.
Industrial Training.
16. It is desirable that after a close observation of character and capacity, a definite view should be taken as to the class of training—industrial, domestic, clerical, or otherwise—for which an inmate is best fitted, and that she should be specialized on this with a view to her employment on discharge, but each inmate should, in the first instance pass through a course of instruction in laundrywork, housework, needle-work and cooking, as such a course must always be of advantage, whatever the special employment to be followed on discharge may eventually be.
Farm and garden work, attending to poultry and cattle, will be a special feature of the Establishment, and will require special training, which will be provided. The various garden spaces will also offer profitable employment and training under suitable instruction. In any place where there are garden plots, they will be kept with scrupulous care and neatness in all parts of the Establishment. The grass will be kept closely mown, and flower beds placed in all appropriate spots. Officers will be given the option of cultivating the plots contiguous to their Quarters, but failing this, it will be the duty of the inmates.
Farm and garden work, though it can be assigned specifically as training for a certain number of inmates, is rather a valuable subsidiary employment, to be made use of largely on medical and physiological grounds for girls requiring active labour in the open air, or who areunsuitable for other forms of labour. For such reasons, there would be no objection to employing girls in the Ordinary Grade on such work for limited periods, or in the summer evenings in lieu of labour in their rooms, always provided that girls in this Grade work under disciplinary supervision, which will be the differentia of this Grade.
Punishments.
17. No punishment or privation of any kind shall be awarded to an inmate by any officer of the institution except the Governor, or in his absence, the officer appointed to act for him.
An inmate shall be guilty of an offence against the discipline of the institution if she;—
(1) Disobeys any order or rule.(2) Treats an officer with disrespect.(3) Is idle or careless at work.(4) Is irreverent at Divine Service or Prayers.(5) Uses bad language or threats.(6) Is indecent in language, act or gesture.(7) Strikes or behaves in a provoking way to another inmate.(8) Makes a disturbance by singing, whistling or shouting.(9) Does any damage.(10) Has in her room, or cubicle, or dormitory, or in her pockets or clothes, anything she has not been given leave to have. Nothing found on the grounds, or on the farm, may be picked up and kept.(11) Receives anything from any other inmate, or gives anything to any inmate without leave.(12) Misbehaves herself in any other way.
(1) Disobeys any order or rule.
(2) Treats an officer with disrespect.
(3) Is idle or careless at work.
(4) Is irreverent at Divine Service or Prayers.
(5) Uses bad language or threats.
(6) Is indecent in language, act or gesture.
(7) Strikes or behaves in a provoking way to another inmate.
(8) Makes a disturbance by singing, whistling or shouting.
(9) Does any damage.
(10) Has in her room, or cubicle, or dormitory, or in her pockets or clothes, anything she has not been given leave to have. Nothing found on the grounds, or on the farm, may be picked up and kept.
(11) Receives anything from any other inmate, or gives anything to any inmate without leave.
(12) Misbehaves herself in any other way.
The Governor may examine any person touching any alleged offence against the discipline of the institution, and determine thereupon and punish the offence.
In addition to the power vested in the Governor for ordering an inmate to be placed in the Penal Class, the above offences may be punished in the following way:—
(1) By deprivation of any privilege, or(2) In the manner prescribed by Prison Rules.
If an inmate is charged with any serious or repeated offence for which the punishment the Governor is authorized to inflict is deemed insufficient, she shall be brought before the Visiting Committee, or one of them, who, in addition to any power vested in the Governor, may order such punishment as is prescribed by Prison Rules; or, in the exercise of their discretion, may report her to the Secretary of State as incorrigible, orexercising a bad influence, with a view to commutation to a sentence of imprisonment under Section 7 of the Act of 1908.
18. Officers and Inmates of Borstal Institutions shall be subject to the Standing Orders for Local Prisons, except in so far as they are inconsistent with the Regulations and Instructions made under the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908.
TIME TABLE FOR FEMALES.
APPENDIX (b)
RULES FOR PERSONS UNDERGOING PREVENTIVE DETENTION.
(1.) Persons undergoing Preventive Detention shall be divided into three Grades, Ordinary, Special, and Disciplinary. On entering upon Preventive Detention, they shall be placed in the Ordinary Grade.
(2.) After every six months passed in the Ordinary Grade with exemplary conduct a prisoner who has shown zeal and industry in the work assigned to him may be awarded a certificate of industry and conduct. Four of these certificates will entitle him to promotion to the Special Grade. With each certificate a prisoner will receive a good conduct stripe carrying privileges or a small money payment.
(3.) A prisoner may be placed in the Disciplinary Grade by order of the Governor as part of a punishment for misconduct, or because he is known to be exercising a bad influence on others, and may be kept there as long as may be necessary in the interests of himself and of others. While in the Disciplinary Grade he may be employed in association if his conduct justifies association, but he will not be associated with others except at labour.
(d.) Prisoners will be employed either at useful trades in which they will be instructed, or at agricultural work, or in the service of the Prison, and those in the Ordinary and Special Grades will be allowed to earn gratuity by their work. They will be allowed to spend a portion of their gratuity in the purchase of additions to their dietary, or to send it to their families, or to accumulate it for use on their discharge.
(5.) A prisoner who is in Hospital, or medically unfit for full work will, on the recommendation of the Medical Officer who will certify that the disability was genuineand not caused by the prisoner's own fault, be credited with gratuity in proportion to his earnings when in health or calculated on his general disposition to work, coupled with good conduct.
(6.) A canteen will be opened in the Prison at which prisoners in the Ordinary and Special Grades may purchase articles of food, and other small articles at prices to be fixed by the Directors. The cost of such articles will be charged against each prisoner's gratuity. The privilege of purchasing articles in the canteen may at any time be limited or withdrawn by the Governor.
(7.) Prisoners who have obtained three certificates of industry, will be eligible to have a garden allotment assigned to them which they may cultivate at such times as may be prescribed. The produce of these allotments will, if possible, be purchased for use in Prisons at market rates, and the proceeds credited to the prisoner.
(8.) Prisoners in the Ordinary Grade may be allowed to associate at meal times and also, after gaining the second certificate, in the evenings. Prisoners in the Special Grade may also be allowed to associate at meal times and in the evenings, and shall be allowed such additional relaxations of a literary and social character as may be prescribed from time to time.
(9.) Any of the privileges prescribed in these special rules or gratuity earned may be forfeited for misconduct. A prisoner has no legal claim upon his gratuity, which will be expended for his benefit, or may be withheld at the discretion of the Society or person under whose supervision he is placed.
(10.) It will be the duty of the Chaplain and Prison Minister to see each prisoner individually from time to time during his detention and to promote the reformation of those under their spiritual charge. Divine Service will be held weekly in the Prison, and there will be in addition such Mission Services, lectures and addresses on religious, moral and secular subjects as may be arranged.
(11.) Prisoners shall receive the diets which the Directors may prescribe from time to time.
(12.) Prisoners will be allowed to write and receive aletter and to receive a visit at fixed intervals according to their Grade.
(13.) The Board of Visitors appointed by the Secretary of State under Section 13 (4) of the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908, shall hold office for three years. Their powers shall not be affected by vacancies. The Secretary of State shall, as soon as possible, fill any vacancy by making a new appointment. At their first meeting they shall appoint a Chairman. One or more of them shall visit the Prison once a month, and they shall meet as a Board as often as possible. They shall hear and adjudicate on such offences on the part of prisoners as may be referred to them by the Directors, and they shall investigate any complaint which a prisoner may desire to make to them, and, if necessary, report the same to the Directors with their opinion. They shall have free access to every part of the Prison and may see any prisoner in private, inspect the diets and examine any of the books. They shall bring any abuses to the immediate notice of the Directors, and in cases of urgency they may make recommendations in writing which the Governor shall carry out pending the decision of the Directors. They shall keep minutes of their proceedings, and make an annual report to the Secretary of State at the beginning of each year.
(14.) The Committee appointed under Section 14 (4) of the said Act shall meet once a quarter, and shall forward to the Directors such reports as may be required for their assistance in advising the Secretary of State as to the prospects and probable behaviour of prisoners after discharge.
(15.) Any person whose licence has been revoked or forfeited may on his return to Prison be placed and kept in the Disciplinary Grade for such length of time as the Board of Visitors shall think necessary.
THE ENGLISH PRISON SYSTEM.
INDEX TO CHAPTERS