Dr, Lewison volunteered his services for a
decade, during which time he did reconstructive
facial surgery on 450 inmates. He wanted to test
the hypothesis that “physical defects can be
dominant causes of crime, and that the
correction of facial defects in inmates of a penal
institution can effect a striking improvement in
their conduct during imprisonment, and make
them more confident on re-entry into society.”
His results showed a “marked decrease in the
rate of criminal recidivism.”

In September 1954, another pre-release camp
(Haney Camp Project) was established on the
western edge of the property purchased by the
government for the new Haney Correctional
Institution. Prior to opening the camp, the
sawmill was dismantled and other buildings
were renovated for camp occupancy.

This camp, which was administered directly
through Oakalla, was the first to operate
year-round, Selected inmates were transferred to
this program from Oakalla for the last four to
eight weeks of their sentence. Oakalla’s policies,
tules, and regulations were applied and adapted
to meet the operational needs of the camp.

Inmates at this camp assisted in clearing the site
for the new institution. They also started a
project in Garibaldi Park involving widening of
a road to Alouette Lake, Initial difficulties were
encountered with this program because staff
were inexperienced in camp administration.
While similar programs evolved, they learned
valuable lessons.

At this time, there were 11 probation offices, 15
assistant probation officers, one chief assistant
and one provincial probation officer. With the
opening of two new field offices in New

Westminster and Prince Rupert, probation
services expanded. An increase in probation
cases was also noted, following the
appointment of the first female probation
officer to the B.C. Probation Service.

Mildred Wright assumed responsibility for
probation services for women in the Vancouver
courts from the John Howard Society. Her
appointment established two important
precedents. It:

» Marked the beginning of equivalent probation
setvices for women; and

» Resulted in “sharing equal duties and
responsibilities with men on the same job
with equal pay.”®

Program alternatives made placement and

selection of offenders more crucial. A

classification system was developed. The B.C.

Gaol Commission stressed the importance of

developing a classification system similar to

what was used in California.

A classification committee was formed at
Oakalla in 1954, Classification initially involved
psychological tests, social histories and
interviews by a psychologist. By the late 1950s,
an atray of tests was administered.

The physical structure of gaols gradually
changed to accommodate the new philosophy
of rehabilitation. Gaols were transformed
through renovation, and, in some cases, existing
facilities were replaced. The gaol had to provide
sufficient space for training purposes.

For example, in 1955, a new gaol for men at
Prince George was completed. It
accommodated 100 inmates and provided space
for a progressive training and work program.

8 Corrections Newsletter, 1975.

68

Corrections in British Columbia