TRANSAOTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 169 
quently been called to the imperfect character of the materials on which we had long 
depended for our criminal statistics; but improvements were even then being intro- 
duced which have anticipated much that might otherwise have been proposed. The 
: discussions at the meetings of the International Congress, Lord Brougham’s speech 
on Judicial Statistics, and the newly-established statistical department at the Home 
__ Office, had already had a practical influence. 
As part of the Report, abstracts are given of the Forms of all the returns in use 
previous to Michaelmas 1856, of those subsequently introduced, and of some of those 
which have been adopted in France and Prussia. Our own (previous to 1856) had 
reference to the mere number and nature of the offences and their punishment, rather 
than to the character and sources of our criminal population ; and in some of their 
details there was a minuteness which had no useful object. The information to be 
derived from the police did not form any established part of the particulars required. 
It is suggested that in future the information collected from this and other sources 
should, in the first instance, be as comprehensive as possible; but that, in giving it 
an abridged or tabular form, there should ‘be a distinct bearing upon some social or 
legislative question, and a generalization of details. 
As a minor instance, we are referred to the Table of Ages of Offenders, in which 
_the present classification is purely arbitrary and unmeaning ; commencing with ‘under 
twelve,” to which no significancy can be attached, and afterwards proceeding merely 
by decades. Considering that since the reformatory process has been substituted for 
punishment, the principle of doli incapaa is rarely applied much beyond the age of 
eight years, and that sixteen is the limit of jurisdiction under the ‘ Juvenile Offenders’ 
Acts,’ the first period in the classification of ages should be from eight to sixteen ; 
and as the persons who have given most attention to the subject are of opinion that 
those who pass beyond twenty-one without the commission of crime, rarely fall into 
criminal courses afterwards, the next period should be from sixteen to twenty-five ; 
the next (the passions and temptations being still strong) might be from twenty-five 
to thirty-five ; the next—in which there are rarely any general causes beyond pre- 
vious bad habits-—might be from thirty-five to fifty ; and from fifty upwards, the first 
commission of crime (at every age which it would include) is the result of accidental 
circumstances. In Prussia the classification is “‘ under sixteen; sixteen to twenty- 
four; twenty-four to forty; forty to sixty; sixty and upwards.” LEither of these 
arrangements would reduce eight unmeaning divisions (as at present) to five which have 
_ some significance; and it is suggested that on this principle every return should be made. 
_ The enumeration of offences might also, it is thought, be much abridged, both in 
the returns and in the tables which form so large a portion of the ‘ Judicial Statistics, 
_ Part I,’ prepared at the Home Office under the able superintendence of Mr, Redgrave. 
In Prussia they are classed :—‘‘ 1. Riot and tumult with acts of violence. 2. Mutinous 
‘Yisings of prisoners with acts of violence. 3. Coining. 4. Wilful perjury and sub- 
ornation of perjury. 5. Offences against decency. 6. Murder. 7. Manslaughter. 
8. Infanticide. 9. Causing miscarriage. 10. Serious bodily injuries. 11. Poisoning. 
12. Serious thefts, first offence. 18. Serious theft, repeated offence. 14. Robbery 
with force. 15. Forging documents. 16, Fraudulent bankruptcy. 17. Wilful 
burnings and other like offences dangerous to the community, 18. Offences 
_ in official situations. 19. Other offences not included in the above.” There is similar 
brevity and meaning in the Prussian classification of occupations or callings; but here 
_ agood deal must depend upon national character and pursuits; and for ourselves, 
perhaps, our own classification is preferable. 
__ From the French returns, it is suggested that we might take with advantage some 
notice of the effect of extenuating circumstances admitted by a jury in reducing 
punishments. But the point chiefly dwelt upon is the necessity of knowing more 
an we learn at present of a prisoner’s character and antecedents. In No. I. of the 
ew tables, the police are required to furnish, “as far as is known,” the number of 
_ previous commitments; and in No. II. the “age, sex and birth-place.”” The informa- 
tion as to previous commitments is, at present, a good deal taken from the statements 
made to the chaplains and gaolers by the prisoners themselves, and is therefore little 
to be depended upon; and the birth-place of a prisoner is of less importance than to 
ascertain correctly whether the crimes committed in any particular district are by 
- residents or non-residents. When there is an increase in the former, it is a proof that 
