Nelson Gaol (1954) BC Archives (-27275)

transcontinental train near Monte Creek in
May 1906. They were tried and convicted
in Kamloops and spent a few weeks

(t) here.

Given the attention to security, it is revealing to

examine offences committed during this period.

In 1896, the Police and Prison Report showed
the number of prisoners convicted for offences
during the years 1891 to 1895 for the four
provincial gaols (Victoria, New Westminster,
Nanaimo and Kamloops). Excluded from this
information are offenders sentenced to short
incarcerations for drunkenness or non-payment
of fines. Sentenced offenders served their time
in lockups maintained by municipal
government in Victoria, Vancouver, New
Westminster, Nanaimo and Kamloops.

The most common offences for all years, at
every gaol, were:

» Drunk and disorderly conduct;

« Infraction of the Indian Liquor Act;
a Vagrancy; and

a Assaults,

Breaches of naval discipline were frequent in
Victoria.

In 1896, the year the Kamloops Gaol was built,
a gaol with the same layout was established in
Nelson. The new Nelson Gaol allowed
ptisonets in the Kootenays to serve their
sentences locally instead of being transported to
Kamloops or New Westminster Gaol. Security
problems may have played a part in building
this gaol.

12 Favrholdt, K., The Kamloops News, 1986.

30

Corrections in British Columbia