QSR1908/1/2/4a; 4b

Correspondence: Home Office referring to the Borstal and Lincoln System

27th December 1907

From: 1907 To: 1908

Correspondence: Home Office, White Hall, S.W. 159,690 I am directed by the Secretary of State to refer to the Home Office circular of the 6th February last, of which a copy is enclosed, respecting the system of dealing with young prisoners known as the Borstal System. He is glad to find that advantage has been very generally taken of this system; But as a consequence of this the pressure on the accommodation in the prisons at Borstal or Lincoln is now very great and it has been found necessary to send to other prisoners some of the prisoners sentenced to long term with a view to Borstal treatment. Mr Gladstone is anxious that it should be clearly understood that in such cases the intentions of the Court are effectively compiled with. Should both Borstal and Lincoln be full, prisoners sentenced with a view to Borstal treatment are, if eligible, sent to certain other selected prisons where treatment of a similar character in all important particulars is now being carried out, and the Secretary of State hopes that Courts will continue to bear in mind the benefits that may be obtained from this discipline in suitable cases. The class of prisoners to whom the system is applicable is described in the enclosed circular, but the selection of the particular cases for sentence with a view to undergoing it is of course a matter for the discretion of the Court, and Mr Gladstone therefore desires me again to draw your special attention to the three classes of prisoners for whom it is not suitable. These tree classes are:- (a) Young prisoners whose previous character is good and who might suffer more by association with recidivists and “hooligans” “hooligans” than they would gain by special training. (b) Lads in bad health or of poor physique who are unfit for drill or hard work. (c) Lads who have already had a chance of reformation in Reformatory School or in a prison under Borstal treatment and have failed to profit by it. Difficulty is caused by prisoners coming under any of these categories being sentenced for the purpose of Borstal discipline and Mr. Gladstone earnestly hopes that great care will be taken to avoid any such cases. To assist courts of Quarter Sessions in deciding which cases can on conviction be most suitably sentenced for Borstal training, information will be appended by the Prison Commissioner to the confidential Calendars of Prisoners for trial which are laid before Chairman of Quarter Sessions and Recorders. Mr Gladstone directs me also to say that in order to avoid any mistakes it is most desirable that whenever a prisoner is sentenced to a long term of imprisonment with a special view to Borstal treatment, a written intimation to this effect should be sent with the Order of Court to the prison where the prisoner will go in the first instance. I have the honour to be, My Lord, Your Lordship’s obedient Servant, C. E. Troup

2 pages

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Gladstone, William Ewart,
Troup, C E

Westminster Whitehall, prisoners, Borstal Institutions, Lincoln