Standards of practice

In the adult system, respect for authority was
important in maintaining discipline within
ptisons, according to the Prisons Report for the
year 1892, The superintendent of police
strongly recommended that an allowance for
uniforms be given to officers of the gaol to
promote obedience and respect. He stated:

It is a well known fact that criminals of all
classes have greater respect for a man and
obey his commands more willingly when
they know that he is an officer duly
appointed to enforce the law and can
distinguish the same by his dress.

By 1892, there had been considerable expansion
in facilities for prisoners. Along with the
principal gaols—Victoria, New Westminster,
Nanaimo and Kamloops—there were 36
lockups. They included the two lockups built
during the year at Ainsworth and Golden.

Standards for the operation of these gaols and
lockups did not occur until this year.

Under the administration of Superintendent of
Police, F.S. Hussey, the rules and regulations
were extended to all provincial gaols and
lockups, and printed in the Sesstonal Papers in
1893. The rules were virtually identical to
Superintendent C. Todd’s rules in 1879.1!

The rules and regulations for provincial gaols
and lockups were amended in 1893 to meet the
requirements of gaol discipline. In the amended
tules:

« Behaviour was more tightly controlled;

a The rule of strict silence in the cells was
extended to all parts of the gaols; and

» Conversation between prisoners could only
occur by special permission of the officer in
charge of the prisoners.

More explicit rules governing the conduct of
prisoners’ behaviour were spelled out. A stricter
approach to discipline and negative perception
of prisoners was reflected in these rules.
Twenty-three clauses described misdemeanouts
in the prison, with corresponding grades of
punishment that were considered fair.
Deprivations could be ordered for the
following offences:

1. Disobedience of rules and regulations of the
gaol.

2. Common assaults by one prisoner on
another.

3. Using profane language.

4, Indecent behaviour or language towards
another prisoner, an officer of the gaol, or a
visitor.

5. Idleness or negligence at work by a prisoner,
or an officer of the gaol.

6. Refusal or neglect to keep himself or his cell
in order,

7. Wilfully destroying or defacing gaol
propetty.

8. Insubordination of any sort.

11 One minor amendment was added to the rules and regulations. All prisoners—not just prisoners serving
sentences of hard labour—were required to have their hair cut.

28

Corrections in British Columbia