PRISON KEFOKM. 207 



it seems the height of folly to allow the free range among them of old 

 offenders. " Any advance in the reform of prisoners," says Gen. 

 Brinkerhoff, "must commence with the county jails, and such separation 

 must be secured as shall not allow any one prisoner to associate with 

 any other prisoner during the period of his incarceration in such jail." 



This system is called the separate, cellular, or individual system. 

 The sepai-ate system was recommended in England by a select com- 

 mittee of the House of Lords as far back as in 1835 ; again in 1847, 

 and still again in 1850. The committee in their report in 1850, state 

 that " they entertain a very decided opinion on this head — that the 

 separate system must be accepted as the foundation of prison discipline, 

 and that its r-igid maintenance is a vital principle in the efficiency of 

 county and borough jails." 



Copies of this report wci'e transmitted to the Governor General of 

 Canada in 1865, strongly urging the adoption of the separate system 

 in Canada, and adding : " You will bear in mind that no ordinary 

 difficulties, nor indeed any difficulties should be allowed to stand in 

 the way of the establishment of the system." 



In the International Prison Congress held in London, in 1872, the 

 delegates from Russia, Germany and Belgium, reported that they 

 were satisfied with their prison system so far as it was cellular or 

 separate and no further. 



In Great Britain the cellular system is in operation in all the 

 local prisons, and these prisons are now under the absolute and un- 

 divided control of the Home office. Convicts who ai'e under sentences 

 of five years or more, spend the first nine months in cellular confine- 

 ment. After the first nine months they are allowed to work in 

 association, but at other times they ai'e kept separate. It is found 

 that short sentences with cellular confinement in the local prisons has 

 a much greater deterrent effect than lonser sentences without such 

 cellular confinement. The cost of the construction of the jails on the 

 cellular plan is greater, but it is good economy, firstly, because the 

 prisoners receive shorter sentences, and, secondly, because there are 

 fewer re- committals. 



Industrial Employment. — Regarding the necessity for industrial 

 employment for prisoners, there is no difference of opinion among 

 prison managers. There can be no reformation or proper discipline 

 without it. Prison experts also believe that prison labour has no ap- 



