These federal initiatives contributed to the context of changes that occurred in British Columbia corrections. Meanwhile, there was momentum for a new direction at the provincial level.

The movement toward a treatment approach in British Columbia was evident in the Report of the B.C. Gaol Commission (1950). The

commission was appointed by the attorney general to inquire into the state and management of the gaols of British Columbia. It produced recommendations based on a treatment philosophy, and laid the foundation for changes in the provincial correctional system.

The British Columbia Gaol Commission

The B.C. Gaol Commission, chaired by Eric Pepler, was a landmark in the history of British Columbia corrections. Like Saskatchewan‘s 1946 Penal Commission, it was the first major investigation into the administration and operation of gaols in the province. The commission provided a plan for the development of corrections in B.C. The process

of implementing its recommendations spanned almost two decades.

Oakalla security: Watch tower (date: unknown) Corrections Branch Archives

Concern about overcrowded conditions and the deteriorating state of gaols in the province prompted the appointment of the B.C. Gaol Commission. In particular, something needed to be done about overcrowding at Oakalla Prison Farm. The population at Oakalla on March 31, 1950, was more than 350

ptisonets.

The commission’s investigation looked into all provincial gaols as well as probation and parole services. According to its findings, no major improvements had occurred in the gaol system for 38 years. It noted one exception—the establishment of New Haven as a Borstal-type institution.

The commission’s recommendations were superfluous, based on observation and assessment of how the treatment philosophy fared in other jurisdictions: England, Ontario, Saskatchewan, California and other states in the United States. Its recommendations were directed at alleviating overcrowding at Oakalla, Its proposals for change emphasized a rehabilitation model, focusing on the training and re-education of offenders.

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Corrections in British Columbia