A sheriff or justice of the peace may visit any prison within his jurisdiction or in which a prisoner is confined for any offence committed within his jurisdiction, and may examine the condition of the prison and of the prisoners therein and enter in the visitors book to be kept by the governor of the prison any observations on the condition of the prison or on any abuses therein.

Nothing in the foregoing subsection shall authorise a sheriff or justice of the peace to communicate with any prisoner except on the subject of his treatment in the prison nor to visit any prisoner under sentence of death.

It shall be the duty of the governor of a prison to draw the attention of the visiting committee at their next visit to any entry in the visitors book made in pursuance of this section.