LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Prison Conditions
Eirt,—Your reviewer of Mrs. Henry's book on her personal experiences in Holloway and Askham admits that she does not know the first thing about prisons. As one who has for many years been proud 'to be associated with them, as a visiting magistrate, may I' admire the real interest displayed by Miss Fowler. The prison officers have an obviously difficult task; discipline has to be maintained, and in the larger assemblies how ig an order to be heard if this is not given loudly?- Hence shouting. Mrs. Henry's strongest accusations against the officers are based on hearsay.
Prison officers, in what is a vocational task, have little opportunity of defending themselves against accusations, and, having seen them at work during many un-announced visits, I should like to assure Miss Fowler of their good work.
Holloway's population is totally different from that of Askham. Regulations are drawn up to safeguard the prisoners themselves as much as to maintain discipline. Every prison has to vary in methods of carrying these out; the type of ,governor and population is largely concomitant, but the structure of regulations is based on practical
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