Switzerland.

THE general Committee of the Society for Public Utility in Switzerland, prompted by the benevolent desire of ameliorating the defects in the prison discipline of that country, and of directing the attention of the several Cantons to this important subject, resolved, in the year 1827, to devote to it their special attention. For this purpose, a series of questions was framed and forwarded to various parts of the Republic, of which the following were the chief objects of inquiry:

To point out the general character of the prisons, in the different towns and Cantons, and for what description of offenders they are destined.

The discipline to which the prisoners are subjected, their superintendence, occupation, nourishment, classification, and instruction.

The internal police of the prisons, and particularly their state as to health and cleanliness.

The average number of prisoners in each prison, distinguishing males and females, and the respective classes of each sex.

The chief administration of the prisons, and the statement of the expense. How far they combine punishment with the reformation of the individual. Whether any, and what, improvements have been recently effected.

The Local Committee of Zurich caused a translation to be made and printed, of the Inquiries published by the London Society for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, which were also transmitted by the general Committee to the members, and public characters, of the several Cantons. The Committee directed their attention especially to the state of the convicted prisoners, their treatment, occupation, &c.

From thirteen Cantons, Reports were received in the course of the year, and their contents have been analysed, and laid before the public, by Dr. Charles Burckhardt, Chief Justice of the civil court at Bâsle, one of the most zealous and active members of the Society of Public Utility. This valuable Report bears witness to the gratifying fact, that a spirit of improvement in this long-neglected cause, is going on in Switzerland, and will soon extend to its remotest parts.

It appears from the Reports, that much diversity still prevails in the mode of punishment at different prisons. In some Cantons, severity against the prisoners is still exercised, particularly in the deprivation of food, which is inconsistent with the real ends of justice. It is therefore one of the great objects of the Society, to bring about a general uniformity of punishment throughout the country, which will be difficult considering the independent relations of the Cantons as to their internal legislature. The Society is likewise sensible of the injurious system prevailing in many Cantons, of causing the criminals to work in the open streets, and recommends particularly the system of prison discipline adopted in the new penitentiary at Geneva. Much is still to be done throughout Switzerland, except in Geneva, as to classification, and the total separation of the convicted prisoners from those who are untried.

The Canton of Uri has no prison for criminals and convicted offenders, but only

for the untried. Corporal punishment, branding, the pillory, compulsory enrolment into military service, wearing badges of infamy, public reprimand, and fines, are the punishments awarded by the law to offenders of all degrees, but no imprisonment is provided for. The slender financial resources, and the small number of criminals in this Canton, are urged as the causes of a state of law which is almost unparalleled in civil society. The injurious effects of such a system are, however, much felt; and the government has appointed a Committee to take into consideration the state of the poor, and their education, and the better security of prisoners after their conviction. It may therefore be hoped that the period is not distant when the less wealthy Cantons will unite in building one suitable prison for their respective prisoners.

The prisons of Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, are likewise destined for untried prisoners only, and the same state of the law as in Uri appears to prevail, with the exception of Trogen where there is a prison for convicted offenders as well as for those before trial. It contains eleven cells, which are without fire-places, and in a very bad condition; but, happily, the number of prisoners who are sent to this abode of wretchedness is but small. The prison is on the upper stories of the senate-house. Locking-up, or solitary confinement, is seldom used, except for small crimes. In general, it is only for a few hours, and never lasts longer than a month. It is, however, considered as a mark of disgrace, and is distinguished proverbially by the expression, that the offender has had the wooden coat' on. Pillory, and other degrading punishments, attended with the loss of civil rights, are the penalties for heavy crimes. The convicts are then sent to their homes, and put under the superintendence of the local magistrates. Capital punishments are very rare: the last took place in the year 1819. But notwithstanding this defective state of criminal law, where the offender, immediately after the execution of his sentence, is suffered to be let loose upon society, the average number of recommittals does not exceed one in four of the total number of untried prisoners.

The state of the prisons at Zurich still leaves much room for improvement. This city is behind most of the other considerable towns, in not adopting sufficient means of separation between the untried prisoners and the convicts.

In the Cantons of Berne and Schaffhausen, it is stated, that many disadvantages have arisen from deviations which have been made in the plan of classification formerly in force. Imprisonment becomes, in consequence, less regarded as a punishment; and is rendered more tolerable by the constant association of bad characters, or of such persons with those who are less hardened. The latter also learn too much vice from this association, to profit by the impressions of religion.

At Bâsle, there is a house of correction; and the untried prisoners have of late years been removed to another building. The women are under the superintendence of a Committee of ladies. The younger criminals, who have not yet attained the lawful age for undergoing conviction (fourteen years), are sent to the Orphan Institution, where separate apartments are allotted to them.

In the prisons at Schaffhausen, Chur, Pruntrut, Tobel, and Zurich, little or no classification exists. In both the latter places, however, a separation of the most criminal offenders, (those in chains) from the others has been effected of late. As the Cantons of Zurich and Bàsle are about to erect new prisons, the removal of many evils, which were inseparable from the construction of most of the old prisons, may be looked for with confidence. For it must not be forgotten, that the greater part of the prisons in Switzerland were erected expressly for other purposes, such as convents, magazines, &c.; they are therefore in a more or less defective state, as to security, classification, and other essential

points. The regulations in the sleeping rooms are likewise very bad in most of these prisons.

Geneva, however, as in many other branches of its government, has set an example to all her sister Cantons, which cannot fail to exercise its beneficial influence upon the whole country. The new penitentiary at Geneva contains male criminals only who are condemned for a term of not less than three months. The old prison, which was formerly called 'Evêche,' and now 'Maison de detention,' is appropriated for those who are convicted of minor offences, for female criminals, and also for those who are committed for trial, or arrested for debt, a class of prisoners which is rather numerous.

The females are confined in a separate part of the building from the men. This department is now under the care of a Ladies' Committee, and is conducted on an excellent system.*

Medical assistance is provided in most of the prisons. At Geneva, the physician visits the penitentiary daily. At Bâsle, the physician visits twice a week regularly, and attends besides whenever he is wanted. A regulation in respect to periodical bathing is desirable, as it is beneficial and salutary, but it does not seem to be properly appreciated. Baths are provided from time to time in the prison at Bâsle; and at Zurich, the female prisoners bathe twice a year.

At Bâsle the law very properly leaves it to the judge, to sentence prisoners to be bound in chains, and employed in the public works, or otherwise. The public exposure of criminals in the streets seems to become gradually less frequent, Labour in the field is one of the occupations of prisoners; this is practised in several places, but not at Bâsle; where, perhaps, the situation of the Canton, being on the borders, prevents its adoption. In Lucerne, the criminals are employed publicly, in cleaning the streets, cutting and conveying timber, carrying building materials, making roads, building bridges, and digging canals. The prisoners wear chains; but those who are sentenced to the house of correction, are set to cultivate land belonging to the States, and to make distant roads and canals; in the latter case some of them are bound to the land pro

Extract of a letter from a member of the Ladies' Committee, at this prison. — The rules and correctional system, introduced in 1828, have produced a good effect. The matron being now appointed and paid by government, has more authority than whilst only supported by the Committee. The Committee meet once a fortnight, when the matron makes a report of the transactions of the last fourteen days. In addition to this, each Lady visits, by herself, on a fixed day every week (there are five Ladies in the Committee); she reads the Scriptures, or some other good book, converses with the prisoners, and gives individual advice. With regard to diligence, obedience to the rules, harmony among themselves, respect to their superiors, and attachment to the matron, we have no cause of complaint. Some leave the prison with regret ;-having acquired habits of industry, they fear the temptations to which they may be exposed, and desire to be directed and instructed. Here is our greatest difficulty, and this is also the most important part of the duty of the Committee. The smallness of our Canton and its population, add to the difficulty of procuring places for these poor creatures-abandoned by all--and it is difficult to find work for them. We are obliged to put them out to board, and this is attended with inconvenience it would be much more desirable to give them active employment, as we wish to make them industrious. However, we have, notwithstanding our difficulties, some subjects of encouragement: we can reckon up four women who, in the space of five years, have been placed out as servants, of whom three have been a long time in the same family; and of the real conversion of these we have no doubt: two are eminently piousone, who is elderly, lives in a family under great embarrassments, and she will not receive any wages, because she will not add to their distress-trusting in Him who has saved her from perdition, still to preserve her from want. There are two others, who are prevented going to service from ill health, and for these we pay part of their board: we think them quite reformed. Many are removed to a great distance, of whom we have heard nothing.

prietors and work in companies, under the care of an inspector, or in smaller divisions under a confidential agent. Some of the female prisoners ('correctionels') are employed in cleaning the public buildings of the magistrates, and in cultivating gardens, &c.

The works which are performed in the prisons are of various kinds. At Zurich, the prisoners are employed as shoe-makers, tailors, and linen-weavers; the other employments for the men are, picking, carding, and spinning of cotton, twisting and winding silk, weaving silk and cotton stuffs, making wicks, cleaning coffee, &c.

In the prison at Berne, there are shoemakers, tailors, carpenters, and smiths, who work for the service of the prison; and weavers, who work for the establishment, and also make various articles for sale, such as counterpanes, carpets, and horse cloths, out of calves' or goats' hair. The preparation of the materials employs several hands in combing, spooling, &c. The women are generally employed in spinning.

At Bâsle, and also at Lausanne, weaving and other manufacturing trades, form a prominent part of the prisoners' occupation.

The penitentiary prisoners at Geneva weave linen articles, covers, carpets, &c. Some of them also work as shoemakers, and tailors.

The period of the prisoners' daily labour does not exceed that of the working classes, but on the contrary, it is rather less than that of many who enjoy their liberty.

Happily all the governments of the Cantons are now alive to the importance of imparting religious and moral instruction to those unhappy beings, in whom for the most part ignorance alone is the great lever for the commission of crimes. Societies and Ladies' Committees are now forming in many towns. We may therefore trust that Switzerland will soon redeem herself from the reproach to which she has been subjected, by the state of her prisons and their unfortunate inmates.

Number of convicted criminals, &c. during the year 1827.

Report made to the Society of Public Utility, on the Criminal Statistics of that part of Switzerland, contained in the Canton de Vaud.

THE Society of Public Utility directed that there should be furnished by the Cantons, some statistical accounts, shewing the number and nature of the crimes committed, and the judgments pronounced; the number of accused, their personal circumstances; and such other information on the results of the penal law, as might illustrate the ameliorations which it may be found desirable to introduce therein.

The following is the result of the inquiries made in the Canton de Vaud,

comprising a series of remarks extracted from the archives, which contain the judgments pronounced by the tribunals.

This statement embraces the number of the judgments pronounced by the tribunal of appeal; the judgments pronounced by the tribunals of the first order, (' premiere instance,') which impose a sentence of criminal imprisonment, either correctional or disciplinary, from which there has been no appeal; also the judgments pronounced by the same tribunals, within the limits of their jurisdiction, imposing condemnation either to the prison of the district, or other punishments.

In respect to such judgments as are not recorded in the archives, no account has been obtained of them, in consideration of the paucity of crimes; and the same is also the case in regard to the condemnations made by a justice of the peace.

Summary Statement from the 1st of July 1803, to 1st May 1826.

Number of processes, 2070; number of accused, 3072; of whom 2494 were men, and 578 were women; 2391 were natives, and 681 foreigners.

The number of persons accused is greater than the number of processes, several individuals being implicated in the same crime.