Page:Elizabeth Fry (Pitman 1884).djvu/127

Rh With respect to the classification of prisoners, Mrs. Fry recommends four classes or divisions which should comprise the total:—1st. Prisoners of previous good character, and guilty only of venial crimes. This class, she suggests, should be allowed to dress a little better and be put to lighter labours than the others. From their ranks, also, should temporary officers be selected, while small pecuniary rewards might be with propriety offered. 2nd. Prisoners convicted of more serious crimes. These should be treated with more strictness; but it should be possible for a prisoner, by constant good conduct and obedience to rules, to rise into the first class. 3rd. In this class the privileges were to be considerably diminished, while the 4th class consisted only of hardened offenders, guilty of serious crimes, and of those who had been frequently committed. “This class must undergo its peculiar privations and hardships.” Still, that hope may not entirely give place to despair, Mrs. Fry recommends that even these criminals should be eligible for promotion to the upper classes upon good behaviour. It will be seen that this system partook somewhat of Captain Machonochie’s merit, or good-mark ystem, introduced by him with such remarkable ss into Norfolk Island.

Among other gestions relative to the classification of prisoners find one recommending the wearing of a ticket by each woman. Every ticket was to be inscribed with a number, which number should agree with the corresponding number on the class list. Each class list was to be kept by the matron or visitors, and was to include a register of the conduct of the prisoners. In the case of convicts on board convict-ships proceeding to the penal settlements, Mrs. Fry recommended that not only should the women wear