Westminster Gaol “to enquire into the conduct of affairs.” Charges of immorality, neglect of duty, violation of rules and regulations of the prison, and ill treatment of prisoners were made against the warden. A gaoler and three trustees were also charged with the above. The commission reported:

The commissioner found that the Warden was lax in his duties, that he made no effort to remedy abuses, and that he disregarded the rules and regulations, but that the evidence did not show that the charge of immorality was sustained.

Increasing concern was expressed about isolating juvenile inmates from the contaminating influence of adult male inmates. In addition, the building in which the boys were housed was too small for current requirements.'” Plans were made for a separate institution,

Prior to completion of the new reformatory, the superintendent of Provincial Police conducted an investigation at the Victoria Reformatory. This investigation was prompted by four boys who locked up the officer in charge and escaped.

Several recommendations wete made to improve the administration of this institution. According to the report, dated November 18, 1902:

« Extra assistance was needed during the day when the boys were out of their cells. During the past five years, there were 30 escapes (and only one staff member was on duty);

» Boys should be clothed in regulation prison clothing to “...present a cleaner and smarter appearance”;

» Rules and regulations should be passed for the reformatory to guide officers and prisoners, which should include a definition of all forms of punishment for breaches of discipline, and copies should be posted; and

» A separate “punishment book” should be kept with a record of the names of boys punished for infractions of prison discipline.

These changes were considered necessary due to growth of the province and an increase in juvenile offenders. Comments about the existing facility and its unsuitability were restrained, because the new reformatory was under construction.

Industrial schools

The Industrial School for Boys’ (initially called a juvenile reformatory) opened at Jericho in Vancouver on February 1, 1905. The Victoria Juvenile Reformatory closed once its juvenile inmates were transferred to the new institution, Fourteen juveniles were received during the

first fiscal year of operation, ending October 31, 1905.

Of this group, 10 were charged with theft, three with being incorrigible and one was transferred from the Vancouver City Gaol by special

13 D.W. Higgins, Chairman, Report of the Select Committee Appointed to Visit the Victoria Gaol, the Reformatory, and the

Refuge Home. In Sessional Papers. Victoria, B.C., 1899.

14 Industrial schools were viewed as treatment focused and tended to be less severe than reformatories.

Era of Punishment (1871-1949)

33