The Act to make better provision for the control of prisons and for the custody of prisoners, 1874 (37 Vic. Act No.14) was better known as the Prisons Act of 1874. It Established the office of the Comptroller General of Prisons, who was responsible for the “care, direction, and control” of all prisons and prisoners in the Colony of New South Wales. The Act specifies that the term prisons includes all public gaols, prisons, houses of correction, and reformatories for juvenile offenders.
Prior to the introduction of this act, reformatories had been under the control of the Colonial Secretary, and the control of other prisons, gaol, houses of correction and prisoners was placed with the Sheriff. The Sheriff maintained certain responsibilities and powers under the 1874 act, such as those relating to prisoners who had been sentenced to death.