dies 4) Waa }

sx
s252
|

=a
oe!
——_

AAA
nt

rr
“Nil

|

a.

Women’s section at Oakalla (1935) Corrections Branch Archives

Cowley’s job was to assist “trainees” released
into the community from the B.C. Training
School.

This was British Columbia’s first attempt at
paroling adult offenders. The appointment
ended in 1941 when Cowley resigned to take a
job with the wartime Prices and Trade Board.
He was not replaced.

Officially, New Haven closed due to the
outbreak of war in 1939 and a lack of suitable
offenders. As a result of the involvement of
young Canadian men in the war, offenders who
came before the courts were deemed poor
security risks and not suitable for an open
setting institution. New Haven was highly

politicized during the election campaign in
October 1941, which may have played a role in
its closure. The election resulted in a change in
attorney general, from Liberal to Conservative:
Gordon Wismer was defeated and R.L.
Maitland was appointed in the new
Liberal-Conservative coalition government.

New Haven closed in Match 1942, after four
yeats of operation. During those years, the
average number of trainees was 28. By March
1942, the population of the training school had
dropped to 11. Remaining trainees were
transferred to the original wooden gaol at
Oakalla where segregation continued.

48

Corrections in British Columbia