PRISONS AND PRISON DISCIPLINE IN SCOTLAND. (Hansard, 29 February 1844)

§ The Lord Advocate

moved for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law with respect to Prisons and Prison Discipline in Scotland. Previous to the year 1839, the law of Scotland in regard to Prisons and Prison Discipline had been in a very unsatisfactory state. The prisons were hardly in a fit condition for the reception of human beings, and they afforded no security for the detention of the prisoners. The expense too for building and maintaining these prisons, was imposed upon the Royal Burghs of Scotland—the counties generally not contributing anything. The burghs being poor, the consequence was that a very defective state of things arose. There were, it was true, certain local statutes that made a difference in some places, but it clearly appeared by various reports laid before the House, that much was required to be done. At last the attention of the public was attracted to the matter, and in 1839, a Statute was passed to improve Prison Discipline in Scotland. That Statute had ever since been in operation, and great improvements had resulted from it. The prisons were in a more fit state for the reception of those confined, while there was greater security against escape. Boards were established in different counties, and a General Board was established in Edinburgh to superintend the prisons. But it was not wonderful that in the operation of a new system introduced by one Act of Parliament, some defects should exist. During the two last years reports had been laid on the Table, noticing these imperfections, and suggesting alterations. The last report, after expressing a complete conviction of the 433 soundness of the principle which had been in operation for four years, at the same time pointed out some imperfections which required to be amended. The learned Lord read an extract from the report, recommending the adoption of measures to carry out the principle of the Bill of 1839. It was in order to accomplish this object that he now proposed to introduce the present Bill. Since 1839 there had been a new census—that of 1841—and the apportionment of the expenses laid on the population being according to the census of 1831, a very imperfect mode of assessment necessarily existed. Again, imperfections were found to exist in the mode of transmitting prisoners from the general prisons to local prisons; and also with respect to the means of providing for the sustenance of the prisoners. He concluded by moving for leave to bring in the Bill.