Ernie Stevens remembers how it all started
when he was appointed follow-up officer:

I was handed the keys by security staff for
two offices in the motor license building on
West Georgia in Vancouver. In these
offices, I found an old desk, a chair and a
telephone. I then contacted the
Government Agent at the Vancouver Court
house to obtain some more furniture. I was
told that there was some discarded
furniture in the basement of the
courthouse, which I could have.

I found a filing cabinet, another desk, a
chair and a typewriter. For transport of this
furniture, I contacted the Warden at
Oakalla and the Oakalla truck was used for
this purpose. I again phoned the Warden at
Oakalla when realizing that I also was in
need of stationery. The Warden agreed to
loan me some Oakalla stationery.?7

The principle of segregation evolved with the
opening in 1942 of a separate facility for female
inmates. Separate quarters for women had been
controversial for many years. The institution
was built on property adjacent to the Oakalla
Prison Farm and administered by the warden of
Oakalla, A matron was appointed to manage
day-to-day operations of the gaol, which had
capacity for about 40 inmates.

Inmates remaining in the original wooden gaol
at Oakalla were transferred to two tiers of the
west wing of the main building in April 1943.
This unit was named Star Class. The policy for
this unit was to select first offenders 16-24
years old. The standard was lowered because
increasing numbers of first offenders were
placed on probation and offenders sentenced to
gaol required greater security. These offenders
were given educational courses under the
supervision of Tom Camm.

The services that Stevens provided to adult
probation were officially recognized. On April
1, 1943, the title of follow-up officer changed
to provincial social service officer. The duties
of the provincial social service officer included:

» Supervision after discharge;

» Assistance with employment of members of
Star Class inmates;

» Adult probation work; and

» Preparation of pre-sentence reports requested
by magistrates and judges.

Many inmates released from the Star Class
program found employment with the armed
forces. It is not known how many volunteered
for overseas service instead of being
conscripted for home defence duties.

Reviving the Borstal program

Toward the end of the war, there was strong

support from the community and members of
the public service to re-establish a Borstal-type
institution. A group of inmates in Oakalla was

considered suitable to benefit from such a
program.

Procedures for dealing with juvenile and
youthful offenders were reviewed by a

27 From interview with Ernie Stevens, 1987.

50

Corrections in British Columbia