§ Sir W. BYLESasked whether the prison treatment accorded to first offenders of tender age for trivial offences or for the default of the payment of a fine is the same as for older and habitual offenders; 968 and are they stripped naked, put into felon's clothes, the marks on their bodies noted, and their finger prints taken?
§ Mr. McKENNAOffenders under fourteen cannot be sentenced to imprisonment at all; offenders between fourteen and sixteen can only be so sentenced when they have been certified to be of a specially depraved or unruly character. They are not stripped, and there are no clothes specially designed for felons. All prisoners wear a prison dress, which differs according to their class. The finger-prints of prisoners convicted of trivial offences are not taken.
§ Sir W. BYLESWill the right hon. Gentleman give his special attention to this very important question of young prisoners who are first offenders?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, certainly.