Reformatory Prison Discipline as Developed by Sir Walter Crofton in the Irish Convict Prisons  (English, Paperback, Carpenter Mary)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1872. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE CROFTON SYSTEM. CHAPTER I. DESCRIPTION OP THE CROFTON SYSTEM. The system of Prison Discipline developed in the Irish Convict Prisons, by Sir Walter Crofton, while Chairman of the Board of Directors, is the only one known to exist in which all the principles have been fully developed, which have been already stated to be essential to the success of Reformatory Prison Discipline, and in which they have been carried into practical operation. Every part of the system, even details apparently trifling, are essential to the successful working of the whole. It will therefore be attempted to present a clear account of the organization of every part of this system, and to show its intention and its connection with the whole. This will be derived from the various writings of Sir Walter Crofton himself. B The circumstances -which led Sir Walter Crofton. to the development of a truly reformatory system of Prison Discipline in Ireland must be borne in mind, in order to understand the bearing of some of its principles. In former times transportation was resorted to as the first secondary punishment. But our Colonists, with the exception of those of Western Australia, having refused any longer to receive our criminal population, it became necessary in 1853 to pass an Act of Parliament (16 & 17 Vict. c 99) by which convicts under sentence of transportation could be discharged at home on Tickets of License. We were thenceforward to provide in the United Kingdom for the liberation of convicts discharged from the Government prisons, with the exception of the small number which could at that time still be sent to Western Australia. The British public having found that convicts at large on license were frequently in a most unreformed condition, felt increased unwillingness t...