Enclosure to despatch 166 of 10 May [see CO 137/500/33]. Commission of Inquiry into...

Enclosure to despatch 166 of 10 May [see CO 137/500/33]. Commission of Inquiry into the Civil Service. This volume contains the detailed verbatim proceedings of the Commission's enquiry into prison administration. Witnesses examined in February and March 1878 were:

• Mr J Foster, Superintendent of the Penitentiary;
• Dr Izett Anderson, Surgeon of the Penitentiary;
• George McDougall Duff, Principal Clerk, Penitentiary;
• John Ingram, Deputy Superintendent of the Penitentiary;
• Archdeacon Campbell;
• Reverend Mr Downes, Rector of Kingston Parish Church;
• Reverend Mr W E Pierce, incumbent of St Michaels;
• Reverend Mr J S Roberts, Baptist Missionary Society, Calabar College;
• Reverend Mr Ratcliffe, minister of the Established Church of Scotland;
• Reverend Mr D J East, President, Calabar College;
• Reverend Mr Wookey, minister of the Congregational Church;
• Father Hathaway, Roman Catholic priest;
• Mr Astwood, visiting Justice;
• Reverend James Roberts, Methodist Free Church;
• Mr H B Shaw, Inspector of Prisons

Questions put to the witnesses covered all aspects of prison administration (covering both the General Penitentiary and the district prisons) including the following subjects:

• Statistics relating to the prison population;
• Accommodation, association of prisoners, clothing and diet;
• Work performed by prisoners both within and outside the prisons and payment received;
• Prison discipline including use of the treadmill and crank;
• Treatment of juveniles;
• Matters relating to female prisoners including pregnancy, childbirth and the presence of babies;
• Naval and military prisoners;
• Ticket of leave system and release of prisoners;
• Mortality rates;
• General health of prisoners and incidents of disease;
• Release of the very sick;
• Mentally ill prisoners;
• Hospital accommodation;
• Purchasing and supply and stock control;
• Financial management;

The representatives of the religious denominations were concerned primarily with prison visiting, availability of worship and spiritual guidance, religious education and the lack of a chaplaincy.

Topics

Clothing

International

Litigation

Mental illness

Religions

Caribbean

Children

Navy

Operations, battles and campaigns

Prisons