Administration of the gaol system was

tightened in 1896 by the inclusion of a “Scale of Dietaries for Use in Provincial Gaols” in the Prison Regulations Act. This scale provided regulations governing prisoners’ meals. It also formalized a practice that existed since colonial times.

Two scales were provided:

1. For prisoners awaiting trial, or under sentence with hard labour for a term of 30 days or less, and the labour done ts ordinary gaol work;

2. For prisoners sentenced with hard labour for a term of more than 30 days, and the labour consists of cutting wood, breaking stones, ot is extta-mural.

Discipline and punishment

Disciplinary problems continued to plague the gaol system. In 1898, two provincial gaols were investigated regarding discipline. A commission of inquiry at Kamloops Gaol looked into charges of neglect of duty made against a gaoler, who in return made charges of laxity against the warden. The charges against the gaoler were partially substantiated; charges against the warden were not.

A commission of inquiry was also established at New Westminster Gaol to:

hold an enquiry for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of matters alleged in a letter from Mrs. Harry Thompson...regarding the conduct of Warden Armstrong or Guard Calbick of

the Provincial Gaol at New Westminster.

Prisoners wrote the letter on which the charges were based. Certain charges against the guard regarding appropriation of prisoners’ money were substantiated.

A special committee was appointed in 1898 to inspect the Provincial Gaol and Reformatory at Victoria. Discipline was not found to be a problem, although there was an issue of

segregation regarding juvenile offenders. The committee recommended relocating the reformatory away from the gaol. It was argued that the negative association it created in the public’s mind might prejudice the careers of the boys.

During the same year, changes were made in the adult system to improve discipline and control. Statements regarding visitors were added to the rules and regulations for provincial gaols. An attempt to restrict outside influence was made. The regulations stated that it was desirous that visits be as brief as possible.

Strict discipline was stressed in handling juvenile offenders. Juveniles housed in the reformatory were viewed as neglected by their parents. A committee appointed in 1899 stated:

Neglect by the parents, either through poverty, intemperance, or illness, is a fruitful cause of these very young children going wrong,

Neglect, it was argued, resulted in a lack of discipline. For this reason, disciplinary measures were viewed as having a reforming effect on these boys. In the committee’s words:

Era of Punishment (1871-1949)

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