Reports and Observations on the Discipline and Management of Convict Prisons, 1863, Ed. by the Earl of Chichester (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1863 Excerpt: ... Record. These forms, combined with the regulations for working them are considered by the most experienced officers to afford a record of all the information that is really necessary for determining the promotion and advancement of a prisoner through the different stages, and for calculating remission. Every prisoner is thus thrown upon his or her own resources. They know that classification, promotion to the different stages, amount of gratuity, and final remission of sentence, all depend upon conduct and industry. What more is wanted? If the limit of useful effect be attained all beyond is superfluous and to to be studiously avoided by officers whose time is otherwise fully occupied. In Western Australia these records by letters are rendered somewhat more precise by annexing to them a scale of marks; V. G. three marks; G. two marks; and this it is which appears to have been adopted in Ireland. In principle, the mode of keeping the record differs in no respect. The letters were adopted when first Portland was opened, and have been persevered in ever since. Mixed Sentences and Remissions. It must be remembered, that whether the principle be right or wrong, the sentences have been passed with the express object of stimulating a prisoner to gain credit by good conduct and industry day by day and week by week towards a remission of the additional term which it is assumed, in conformity with the provisions of the Act of 1857, has been added to his sentence. The convict knows that every day on which he gains a good mark for conduct and another for industry, he has gained with it a remission of so many hours of his sentence, every month he has gained so many days, and so on; it becomes to him as the Visiting Justices observe of the Irish prisons, "a possess...