food, bedding, clothing, and hospital stores
for the offenders; the salaries of the officers,
fuel and light, for the erection of new
buildings and repairs, and for all other items
of expenditure; also the cash on hand, if any,
at the close of the year;

(g) An inventory and valuation of all the
property, estate, and effects of each gaol,
distinguishing the estimated value of the
several descriptions of property; a statement
of the cost of each prisoner to the Province
in the several gaols thereof; and an account
of the tenders received for supplies.

First Prisons Report, 1879

The first annual Prisons Report, on the principal
gaols in the province and some outlying

lockups, was submitted by the inspector to the
attorney general at the end of 1879. The report
included rules and regulations applicable to the
gaols at Victoria and New Westminster, which
were drawn up by Superintendent of Police, C.

Todd.

The rules focused on order, discipline, control
and security within the gaols. Prisoners had to

maintain strict silence in the cells. No shouting
ot loud talking was allowed in the gaol yard.

Security measures required prisoners to be
seatched upon admission to the gaol. They
were searched every evening before being
locked in their cells, which were also checked.
Irons could be placed on prisoners to prevent
escape or bring misbehaving prisoners under
control.

An explicit accounting of behaviour was
recorded in a book of conduct, which could
remit a prisonet’s sentence for good behaviour.
This was done on the assumption that prisoners
understood that their sentence was to
encourage discipline and obedience.

The following punishments were made for
disobeying prison rules:

1. Solitary confinement in a dark cell, with or
without bedding, not to exceed six days for
any offence, or three days at any one time.

2. Bread and water diet, full or half rations,
possibly in combination with #1.

3. Cold-water punishment, with approval of
the visiting physician.

The Prisons Report of 1879 also published the
following notice:

Rules to be observed in the Victoria and New
Westminster Gaols:

1. All prisoners upon being admitted to the
Gaol must be thoroughly searched in the
presence of a Constable and Officer of the
Gaol.

2. Prisoners must be searched every evening
before being locked up in their cells, and the
cells and beds must also be searched.

3. The cells in use must be scrubbed and
whitewashed every week, and the passages
every day.

4. Prisoners shall have clean underclothing and
a bath when required, not less than once a
week. Hard labour prisoners shall have their
hair cut to one inch in length.

20

Corrections in British Columbia