City Gaol and House of Correction, Coventry, Warwickshire

Keeper, £200. He receives coals and candles, but no other emolument whatever. When he conveys convicts, he is allowed 10s. per day for personal expenses: he used to receive a guinea, but the fares and coachmen are now paid by the city.

Chaplain, £75. He formerly received £100 annually.

Surgeon, £35; for which sum he also finds medicines. He formerly received £50 annually.

Matron, £20 (is the wife of the keeper).

Two turnkeys receive each £40.

Construction.

This new prison was opened in 1830. It is secure, not overlooked, dry, and moderately well ventilated. The only mode of heating yet practised is by coal fires in the day-rooms: there are also two cells containing fire-places. There are 85 or 86 cells, including debtors' rooms, but not including day-rooms: there are consequently sufficient accommodations for far more than the usual number of inmates. The greatest number of prisoners existing at one time during the last year was 82, but such a circumstance is rare: I have hence been induced to suggest the adoption of separate confinement in this prison, provided that some means are taken to warm the cells, and that proper regulations are framed. All the yards are paved, and each yard has a water-closet and supply of water. In every yard there is a wash-house, for washing the face and hands, cups, plates, &c.: this is a useful appendage to a prison-yard, if only one prisoner is suffered to enter at the same time. There are no dark cells, properly so called. Some of the debtors cells look upon the felons' yard, and they can thus easily communicate together. This is a limit common, indeed, to most of the cells — that the inmate can look down upon the yards. The cells, in general, are sufficiently well lighted, and well enough ventilated; but some have an iron screen, which diminishes these two advantages, and particularly the former one.

The number of day-rooms is 9; of cells, 86, — of which are set apart 16 for male debtors and 2 for female debtors.

Since 1830 there have never been more than 82 prisoners at one time, but never as many prisoners as cells.

Management.

There are a few printed rules,but new and better and more copious ones are very necessary. Members of the town-council meet to visit the prison on the first Tuesday in every month. Silence is observed in some degree. Wardsmen ate chosen from among the prisoners. The use of tobacco is still allowed, but I believe that my representation to the magistrates on that head will soon check that indulgence: All the prisoners associate in their respective yards and day-rooms. No separate confinement has as yet been attempted here, An inconvenience results from the scanty accommodation for women. Of the five women now in the prison, four are sleeping two in one bed; one of these four women is subject to epileptic fits, The practice is most improper. All the men are sleeping separately. The debtors here, as often elsewhere, are found troublesome. One turnkey sleeps in the prison alternately. Both the turnkeys are married: they attend upon the female prisoners, as well as does the matron; but this part of their function should be immediately separated, and transferred solely to the matron. The women sometimes perform a little household work for the keeper, but he has a private servant. There is a fire-place in every day-room, and coals are allowed for the day-rooms throughout the whole year. The prisoners keep the coals themselves. There has been no alarm from fire at the prison during the last nineteen years.

This prison is, in most respects, superior to the generality of borough prisons: it is neat and clean, and generally well maintained.

Diet.

No wine nor spirits are permitted to enter for the use of any prisoner. For the prisoners who are at hard labour 2lbs. of bread is daily allowed. I have recommended an improvement of this diet. The untried and the debtors receive 1½lb. of bread daily. Warm water they can readily obtain. All may receive food from without, and a majority of the whole number are thus supplied, The surgeon may order meat and extraordinary articles when he thinks proper. In my opinion this diet requires some addition, as of vegetables and gruel. The prisoners who received no contributions from without made heavy complaints to me. One young woman has been receiving for several weeks a quarter of a pound of meat daily, by order of the surgeon, on account of her suffering in health: two men have also lately received an increase of diet on the same account by the direction of the same officer.

Bedding.

There is no fixed scale of bedding, but it is provided for all, including the debtors.

Clothing.

If a prisoner is destitute a dress is furnished, consisting of trousers, shirts, stockings, shoes. A few articles of dress are sometimes allowed to the women. They have combs and towels, and a barber comes on regular days. Soap and salt are allowed to the prisoners.

Accounts.

There are a magistrate's, chaplain's, surgeon's book, gaoler's book for felonies and misdemeanors, and another gaoler's debtors'-book. There are no tradesmen's books.

Suicide.

During nineteen years only one instance of suicide has occurred here; this was in the year 1834.

Punishments.

During the last year three individuals have been whipped for offences committed within the prison, and one has been placed in solitary confinement. About twenty-four is the ordinary number of lashes, and the surgeon is always present.

Letters and Visits.

All letters are read first by the governor: no other permission is necessary. All friends are admitted front 9 till 10, 12 to 1, and from 3 to 4 in winter, and front 4 to 5 in summer, This permission is not in writing, it is only old custom. This freedom extends to all prisoners after they are fully committed. The visit lasts a few minutes — turnkey is present.

Statistics of the Population.

The number of prisoners confined in the course of the last year was 280. The greatest number of prisoners at one time in the prison amounted to 58. The number of prisoners at Michaelmas 1835 was 50. The number of prisoners at Michaelmas 1830 was 33; of these 33, 3 were male debtors, 9 were male misdemeanants, 17 were male felons, and 4 were female felons. Of the 30 misdemeanants and felons 23 have been tried, and 7 are untried. Of all the 33, 30 are above 17 years of age, and 3 are below 17 years or age.

Care of the Sick, Disease, and Mortality.

The surgeon comes every other day, and whenever he is sent for. During the year, from June 27, 1835, to June 27, 1836, he visited 178 times, had occasion to order no extra allowances, and numbered only one death among the prisoners: the deceased was a debtor. There is no insane prisoner in confinement. There is a room with a fire-place for the sick males, and a female debtors' room (also containing a fire-place) is occasionally used as an apartment. for a sick female prisoner. I have recommended that this female debtors' room should. be set apart and fitted up as a permanent infirmary for the female prisoners. There is another room appropriated for the female debtors, capable of accommodating three beds, and also having a fire-place.

Religious and other Instruction.

The chaplain reads prayers every day, twice on a Sunday, and on that day delivers a,sermon. He converses with the prisoners frequently. He keeps a separate journal, and has no other professional avocations. No provision is made for instructing the prisoners in reading, but there is a supply of religious works. If the debtors do not go to chapel their allowance of bread is stopped.

Labour.

There is a tread-mill here, which holds six or eight; only six conveniently at once. It has no compartments: only a wardsman is present at the work. A turnkey ought to be constantly in attendance; the presence of a wardsman is a most feeble check. The hours of labour are from 7 till 9 morning, 10 till 11 ditto, 1 to 4 afternoon. The wardsman receives half a pound of meat daily, and has no labour. Beans and oats are ground by the tread-mill; the profits are £5 or £6 annually. The other modes of labour are raising water, whitewashing, and washing the clothes. One prisoner, sentenced to hard labour, cleans each yard.

Statistics of Labour during the last Year.