Remarks on prisons / By Stevenson MacGill.

  • Stevenson Macgill
Date:
1810
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on prisons / By Stevenson MacGill. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the open air. These courts should correspond with the different wards of the prison, and the different classes of persons who are confined. In populous districts, where the prisoners will be, probably, numerous, a court should be appropriated exclusively for Females; another for Debtors; a third for the Accused; and a fourth for the Condemned. In the generality of prisons, where the number of prisoners is small, it might be thought hard, to provide courts of large dimensions for a few of each class. When circumstances do not permit a large appro- priation of ground, a similar, though not equal advantage, might be obtained by fewer courts, if different periods of the day were allotted for different classes of prisoners. And, in general, perhaps, it might be more advantageous, to have a few large and airy courts for exercise, than a great number which were narrow and confined. In such cases, however, the strictest attention would be necessary to the right division and allotment of hours. Without this, not only the most hurtful effects would follow' to the moral interests of the prisoners; but those of a better character being unwilling to mix with others, and be exposed to the rudeness of their manners and conversa- tion, would be deprived of that benefit which was designed, and which the more worthless, by such means, would almost exclusively enjoy. Cleanliness is of the first importance to health. It is particularly necessary to persons in a place cf confine- ment. The air being more confined, is more easily
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