Administration of the gaol system was

tightened in 1896 by the inclusion of a “Scale of
Dietaries for Use in Provincial Gaols” in the
Prison Regulations Act. This scale provided
regulations governing prisoners’ meals. It also
formalized a practice that existed since colonial
times.

Two scales were provided:

1. For prisoners awaiting trial, or under
sentence with hard labour for a term of 30
days or less, and the labour done ts ordinary
gaol work;

2. For prisoners sentenced with hard labour
for a term of more than 30 days, and the
labour consists of cutting wood, breaking
stones, ot is extta-mural.

Discipline and punishment

Disciplinary problems continued to plague the
gaol system. In 1898, two provincial gaols were
investigated regarding discipline. A commission
of inquiry at Kamloops Gaol looked into
charges of neglect of duty made against a
gaoler, who in return made charges of laxity
against the warden. The charges against the
gaoler were partially substantiated; charges
against the warden were not.

A commission of inquiry was also established at
New Westminster Gaol to:

hold an enquiry for the purpose of
ascertaining the truth of matters alleged in
a letter from Mrs. Harry
Thompson...regarding the conduct of
Warden Armstrong or Guard Calbick of

the Provincial Gaol at New Westminster.

Prisoners wrote the letter on which the charges
were based. Certain charges against the guard
regarding appropriation of prisoners’ money
were substantiated.

A special committee was appointed in 1898 to
inspect the Provincial Gaol and Reformatory at
Victoria. Discipline was not found to be a
problem, although there was an issue of

segregation regarding juvenile offenders. The
committee recommended relocating the
reformatory away from the gaol. It was argued
that the negative association it created in the
public’s mind might prejudice the careers of the
boys.

During the same year, changes were made in
the adult system to improve discipline and
control. Statements regarding visitors were
added to the rules and regulations for provincial
gaols. An attempt to restrict outside influence
was made. The regulations stated that it was
desirous that visits be as brief as possible.

Strict discipline was stressed in handling
juvenile offenders. Juveniles housed in the
reformatory were viewed as neglected by their
parents. A committee appointed in 1899 stated:

Neglect by the parents, either through
poverty, intemperance, or illness, is a
fruitful cause of these very young children
going wrong,

Neglect, it was argued, resulted in a lack of
discipline. For this reason, disciplinary measures
were viewed as having a reforming effect on
these boys. In the committee’s words:

Era of Punishment (1871-1949)

31