VPRS 12199 Inward and Outward Unregistered Correspondence

This series consists of inward and outward correspondence created and received by the Indeterminate Sentences Board. A precursor to the Adult Parole Board (VA 1087), this agency was established under s.22 of the Indeterminate Sentences Act 1907 (no 2106). This Act came into operation in July 1908, and regulated the detention and control of habitual criminals, established Reformatory Prisons in Victoria (whose prisoners were detained during the Governors pleasure s.15) and established the Indeterminate Sentences Board. The Board reported annually to Victorian Parliament.The correspondence in this series covers a variety of subjects, some of which are described briefly below:Some relates to the Boards call for nominations for suitable persons to become probation officers. The Governor in Council could appoint probation officers under s 27 of the Indeterminate Sentences Act and s 536 of the Crimes Act 1915. Their duties included visiting or receiving reports from persons under supervision as required, seeing that conditions of recognisance were observed, and to advise, assist and befriend persons on probation and when necessary to endeavour to find him suitable employment (s28).The Board wrote to agencies in different areas, such as the police, asking for nominations for probation officers, setting out the duties of this position, and the desirable qualities for nominees.Following on from the Boards call for nominations, this series contains acceptance letters from/letters of appointment to probation officers.There are lists of the names of probation officers and the regions in which they were working.There are recommendations by the Board for the release of prisoners.Recognisances: these documents were issued by the courts in order to suspend the sentence of first-time offenders. Sections 23-25 of Indeterminate Sentences Act 1907 deals with recognisances. The Act provided that courts may suspend the sentence of first-offenders upon the offender entering into a recognisance. This required a surety, the persons good behaviour for a fixed period, may require supervision by probation officer. The Recognisances record the offenders name, amount of surety, offence, conditions, etc.There are copies of relevant Rules and Regulations, for example for Probation Officer Regulations. The Governor in Council had power to make regulations under the Act, for example for the management of reformatory prisons and classification of habitual prisoners, and such matters incidental to the appointment resignation and removal of members of the Indeterminate Sentences Board and of probation officers (s 32). Such regulations were required to be published in the Government Gazette.This series contains copies of portions of the Indeterminate Sentences Act 1907.Certificates of Discharge on Probation (has details of from where discharged, any conditions, etc).There are also some information sheets on prisoners detained in Reformatory Prisons. These are of a similar format to those bound together in VPRS 10858 Central Register of Prisoners. These contain information such as the prisoners offence, religion, country of origin, previous convictions, parents, relatives, medical reports, etc.