he state of the prisons in England and Wales 2

German Prisons Overview

Prison Regulations and Conditions

  • Emphasis on cleanliness and discipline

    • Strict monitoring against dirtiness; offenses reported immediately to the Inspector.

    • Penalties include confinement and severe punishment for disobedience.

  • Prisoners receive a copy of the rules and public readings every Sunday to ensure awareness.

Daily Rations

  • Men: 2 lbs of bread, soup, 1 quart of beer, and 0.5 lbs of meat (except during Lent).

  • Women: 1.5 lbs of bread with similar provisions.

  • Sick prisoners receive better provisions (e.g., white bread, veal).

  • All prisoners receive clean linen weekly, laundered by female prisoners.

Daily Reports and Religious Practices

  • Morning reports by the Keeper about health and numbers of inmates.

  • Daily Mass conducted by a Capuchin priest.

  • Separate galleries for men, women, and orphans; accommodations for private devotions for Protestants and Jews.

Specific Prisons in Germany

Hanover Prison

  • Built around 30 years ago by the river Leyna.

  • Comprised of 11 small rooms (10 feet square); equipped with stone beds.

  • Separate larger apartments for debtors.

  • Limited number of prisoners: 7 criminals and 1 debtor observed during visit.

  • No liquor sold by the Keeper; has a salary instead.

  • Torture chamber exists but has been unused for four years.

Lüneburg Prison

  • Notable for criminals working with chalk extracted from Kalck-Berg.

  • Tasks included digging, grinding, sifting, and packing for casks.

  • Each criminal bore a light chain of about 4 pounds.

  • Rations: 1.5 lbs of bread and 3 halfpennies in money.

Hamburg Prison

  • Felons placed in irons; common execution method is decapitation.

  • Presence of a torture device noted; last reported usage was two years prior.

  • Prisons for minor offenses involve confinement to bread and water for up to one month.

Bremen Prison

  • Prisons report low occupancy of debtors, often due to trade limitations.

  • Debtors do not have the right to be with their families while imprisoned.

  • House of Correction noted for quietness and orderly conduct.

  • Women engaged in knitting and spinning; a clean environment observed.

Prison Work Details

  • Workhouses in Bremen include various labor tasks like weaving and spinning.

  • Earnings documented; a portion is allocated to prisoners based on performance.

  • Regular inspections by married directors ensure quality and fairness of treatment.

Prisons in Holland

Conditions in Dutch Prisons

  • Prisons are notably clean and maintained, reportedly leading to healthier inmates.

  • Each prisoner afforded private space; very few criminals are housed in comparison to workhouses.

  • Rare executions, with the offending party facing decollation or breaking on wheel for serious crimes.

Role of Debt and Society

  • Magisterial disapproval of idleness spurs social responsibility on debt issues.

  • Creditors pay directly for the maintenance of jailed debtors; if unpaid, the debtor is discharged after eight days' notice.

  • Occasional visits from family permitted but cohabitation not allowed.

Focus on Rehabilitation

  • Houses of Correction emphasize labor and moral instruction.

  • Encouragement for good behavior leads to reduced sentences or early discharge.

  • Examples of rehabilitation where inmates gain skills leading to positive re-entry into society.