PRISON REFORM IN 1914
THE SEVENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
oF tHe
PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
1914
PART ONE
THE PRISON ASSOCIATION IN 1914
PART TWO
INSPECTIONS OF CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS
J. LYON COMPANY, PRINTERS,
AS 58-1- 2y
‘When the released prisoner returns
shall he meet
WA THIS
THIS
?
PREFACE.
ACH year the Prison Association in its annual report
aims ro present some special feature making for
prison progress. This year the report lays. special
emphasis upon the necessary development of the labor of
county prisoners, as studied and recommended by inspectors
‘on the staff of the Prison Association. The possibilities of
road work and farm work for county prisoners have been
studied in many counties. The inspections, -found in Part
Tl of the Report, are given in considerable detail
While many of the recommendations made by our, in
spectors to the executives of correctional institutions have
been carried out during the last year, it should not be over
looked that the State Commission of Prisons also inspects
all correctional insticutions and makes recommendations,
and that undoubtedly many important changes have occurred
either from such recommendations or as a result of the
recommendations of both organizations.
THE PURPOSES
THE PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
1, The protection of society against crime,
2. The reformation of the criminal,
3, Protection for those unjustly accused.
|. Probation for first offenders.
5. Improvement in prisons and prison discipline.
. Employment, and when necessary, food, tools,
shelter and other assistance for released or dls-
charged prisoners.
Necessary aid for prisoners’ families.
. Supervision for those on probation and parole.
9. Needed legislation.
10, Publicity in prison reform.
TABLE OF CONTENTS,
PART ONE.
Wonk of Ta Pateos Assoctamon.
Form of Bequest. "2 New York City's New Prisons
Preface 7 Accomplishments of Year, Depare
Purposes of Assodaton Bl 9 “mene af Coreetion to
Fable of Comers. AI Plane for Fueure, Deparment of
Officers for 195, 15 _ Correction &
Standing Commites for 1915... 14 State Prion %
Asiocaton’ Sea 1S Sing Sing Muse Go 8
In Senate, 17 Peopoued New State Prison 6
Tawoducery 19 Farm Prisons and Farm Coloiee.- 100
Parole 26 Road Wotk by Stave Prisons
Probation 38. Plan to Employ County Jail Pri
elit Work with Farr sont 106
Pion Visieor Special Tnetitiow 18
Jal Libeasies {6 Ghasifcation of Prisoners a
Financial Yeas 6 Frening Newls of State Insite
Depacement of Coreetion 7 tions M9
Hampton Farms TH Teeasuers Repore 10
Medical Service, Deparment of Cars" Coneributoee Lie 160
testo 72 Constcution and Bylaws 182
PART TWO,
Tusrscrions.
Acburm State Prison for Men......19§ Onondags County Penitentiary... 36a
‘ubuen State Pris for Women... 199 Onondaga County Pentenary Road
Glinson Prison so Camp. os i
Great Mesdow Pre, 205 Albany County Jal 268
Sig Sinn Prison Ba Allegany Couns Jail 20
Sing Sing Road Camp 216 Broome County Jal om
State Farm for Wore. 319° Bronx Couney Ja ocd
Dannerora Seate Hospital B21 Cattaraugus County Jal 24
Mattcrwan Seate Horitl 336 Cayuga Cosney Jail 3:
New York State Reformatory.-.-- 231 Chautaugua County ail 2
Enstera New York Reformatory.... 233 Chemung County Jail 29
‘Wester House of Refuge 238 Chenango County Jil 25
New York State Refotmatory for Columbia Couney Jail 36
Women 139 Corland Couns) jal yr
Albany County Penitentiary’ ...... 343 Clintan Couney a coy
Erie County Peniteniacy MP yo
Etie County Penitentiary Favmiowss 350 309
Monroe Couney Pesivntiaty.----. 357 mm
New York County Pesiteniay 6
(Gee Depariment of Correction) Franklin Cosmty Jail be
Fulton County Ji
Genesce County Jnl.
Greene County fail
Heskimer Counsy Jal
Jeferson Couey Jal
Kings Couney Jail
Lee C
Living
Couicy Task e’page
30)
Nats Councy Jl
Oneida County jl, Rome
Oneida County Jal, Urea
Onondses County ji
Ontario County Jal
Grange County jad, Goshen
Orange County Jay Newburah
Orleans Councy Jail
Onwego Count Jail, Osweae
nero County Jail, Plas
Schenectady County Jail
Schoharie Cooney Tat
Schuyler Couney Jail
cra County Fal,
Steuban County Tal.
Sue County Jai
Saliva Couney Jal
Tioga Couney Jail.
‘Tompkins County Jail
Uinter Couney Fa
Warren County Ja
Weshingzon County Jail
Wayne County Js
‘Wertchester County al
Wroming County Jal
‘Yater County Jai
Ses Department of Corection, City of
yes New York 6
S27 City Prion, Manharean rs
339. City Peon, Broklye an
Jy0_ Gite Prison, Queens eS
a6 oe
ae os
SAL Bifth Date Prt es
344 Sixth Disriet Pen rs
352. Seventh Districe Paso
S53 Einheh. District Pen, New York
Chey 70
New Vari County Bestendany.-s. Sot
s36 Wore Hacked Mant fs
So Brand Wek, Have Ian 54
sry fo Male Mie
584 See Acid and oda
388 Hous of fag, Reda ind
First Precinct Palice Station, New
"Yer
Glen Falls Police Locka,
399 Tarrytown Lockup oa
et Nee Roche Cowal Pace Se
re ss
S &
os ss
oI a
ae fish
aN ca
a a
49 315
as sn
a a
a a
M9. Elmira Police Headquarters Lockup. $80
452 Houre of Detention, New York
iy
THE PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK.
OFFICERS FOR 1915.
PRESIDENT,
Evorne Sutra.
RECORDING SECRETARY.
Decatur M, Sawven,
TREASURER,
J. Seety Wano, 135 E. rgth Sta N.Y
(GENERAL SECRETARY,
OF Lew
VICE PRESIDENTS.
Re. Rev. Davin H. Greer,
Faux AD.ER,
Roser W. pr Fonzsr,
Evcene A. Parsi,
Jacos H. Scutrr,
Tnomas Morr Osnonne.
i EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
©. Aveadcross,
W. W. Barrersnats,
B. Oonen Cursoun,
J. Fewmone Coorea,
‘Austin Fiswr, M. D.,
Cornznius B. Gown,
Wa. H. Gratwrex,
Henry G. Gray,
Henry E. Grecony,
ALEXANDER M. Hanpex,
Epwin O. Hoxrer,
Rucwagp M. Hero,
Joun W. Hurcitivson,
Geonce W. Kircuwey,
Epwano B. Merenc,
Frank D. Pavey,
Dean Sacre,
Grouse G. Suevron, M. D.,
Gino C. SPERaNza,
Evsnr Jansex Wenpztt,
Morxay Waites,
Jauss Wooo,
E. Trowsrincr Haut.
STANDING COMMITTEES FOR 1915.
LAW COMMITTEE No. 1
Messrs, Wittsams, Kincuwey, Grecory ano Hotter
LAW COMMITTEE No. 2
‘Messrs. Sack, Pavey, Sremanza anp Gray
(COMMITTEE. ON PRISON DISCIPLINE.
Messrs. Huxp, Sawyer, Woop anp AvcnincLoss
COMMITTEE, ON DISCHARGED CONVICTS.
Messrs. Happen, Hurcuinson axp Hourer
‘COMMITTEE ON DETENTIONS.
Messrs. Cutsonm ann WenpeLt
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Messrs. Warp, Cutsoim, Happen axp Hurp
HOUSE, COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Gricory axp Warp
LIBRARY COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Grecory, Gray axp Warttams
“
‘THE PRISON ASSOCIATION'S STAFF FOR 1915.
ADMINISTRATION.
©. F, Lewis, General Secretary.
D. E. Kimpats, General Agent.
Punav Kueis, Assistant Secretary.
R. Cass, Assistane Secretary.
Miss F. 8. Avcnatsravon, Private Secretary.
R. §. Mosisox, Cashier
(0, Wiure, Stenographer.
Mise Jia Marsnemaer, Clerk,
Miss Brarnice Sreckir, Clerk.
Mise Besste Ratner, Clerk.
Miss Ewa DeBaanas, Clerk
‘Miss ALice Scumuor, Messenger.
PAROLE AND RELIEF BUREAU.
Auousr L. Bou, Parole Agent.
Joseen Fouty, Assistant Parole Agent
Mrs. H. B. Roncens, Relief Agent.
Mrs. W. H. Brows, Stenographer.
PROBATION BUREAU,
D. E. Kimpatt, Chief Probation Officer.
Miss Minerva Rossntuat, Stenographer.
MEDICAL BUREAU.
Dr. Groror M, Parker, Paychiatrise
STATE OF NEW
No. 68
IN SENATE
PREL 19, 1913
SEVENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
Hon. Epwanp Scnoengck, Lieutenant-Governor of New York
S1n-— In accordance with chapter 163 of the Laws of 1846,
we have the honor to present the seventieth annual report of
the Prison Association of New York, and to request that you
will lay the same before the Legislature.
Respectfully,
"THE. PRISON ASSOCIATION
‘OF NEW YORK,
by Evcene Surrit, fi
President.
0. F. Lewis,
General Secretary.
CHAPTER 1.
‘THE, WORK OF THE PRISON ASSOCIATION,
INTRODUCTORY.
HE Prison Association of New York, with the publi¢a-
I tion of this report, marks the seventicth year of an
unbroken existence. Few charitable organizations in
the United States have a longer record. No organization
in the world, of the nature of the Prison Association, has
played a more significant part in prison reform.
In 1844 a number of residents of New York City, deeply
concerned at the gross inadequacies of the prison system of the
State and of the City, organized themselves as the Prison
Association of New York. In 1846, the Association was incor-
porated and received a charter, giving to the society a wide
feld of activity, and in che matter of inspection and super-
vision of all the prisons of the Seate a far-reaching authority
not only to inspect the institutions, but also to conduct investi«
gations when necessary; to require the production of neces-
sary papers and other documents, to subpoena witnesses and
take testimony under oath. The Society has also from the
first concerned itself especially with “the amelioration of
the condition of prisoners, whether detained for trial, or finally
convieted, or as witnesses.”
The Association has also continuously fought against the .
corruption produced by partisan politics in Stare and city
correctional institutions, It was instrumental in the estab-
lishment of Elmira Reformatory.. ‘Throughout the late sixties
and early seventies, under the leadership of Dr. Enoch C.
Wines, the Association collected and published comprehensive
statistics and documents relating to prison conditions through
out the world. Doctor Wines, while Corresponding Secretary
of the Prison Association, organized the National Prison
Association, now the American Prison Association. The
initiative for the organization of the International Prison
Congress, which has been the most representative gathering in
the world for prison reform, eame directly from Doctor Wines,
and indirectly from the New York Prison Association.
20 Tu Prison Association or New York.
In later years, the foundation of the Berkshire Industrial
Farm can be largely attributed co this Association, The
first probation law of the Stare was written by Dr. Samuel J.
Barrows, Corresponding Secretary of the Prison Association
during the first decade of the twentieth century. In the latest
years the Association has played a part in the development
of educational propaganda, through che establishment of
The Delinquent, 2 monthly magazine evoted 19 prison rform
and published by the General Secretary of the Associ
The Society has been the champion of Great Meadow prison
methods of outdoor employment and the development of the
honor system. During recent months it was largely through
the campaign conducted by the Association that Mr. Thomas
Mott Osborne and Mr. Charles Hf. Johnson have been appointed
respectively warden and deputy warden at Sing Sing prison.
‘The work through the years and the decades, however,
has in general been less conspicuous for the pinnacles of success
attained than for the broad and more inconspicuous progress
of prison reform developed and furthered by this society.
Is policy has been that of quiet cooperation, when possible,
with the many public bodies concrolling or ‘supervising the
correctional institutions of the State and city. While only
t00 often the forces of indifference or of downright partisa
politics have been too powerful to overcome, even after long
campaigns, it is nevertheless true that few movements jn the
Seate of New York in prison reform have reached their goal
without the active participation and frequently the powerful
leadership of the Association.
Yer for all the activity of the society, the so-called field of
prison reform in this State is far broader and deeper than the
‘Association has yet found itself able to compass. Year by
year, as the finances of the society allow, additional activities
aie undertaken. During the last two years, for instance, two
assistant secretaries and a prison visitor have been added
to the staf, the secretaries mainly for the purpose of inspecting.
correctional institutions, the prison’ visitor for the distinct
field of visitation, counsel, relief and the securing of employ-
ment for persons in prison or recently released.
Torday, the Association’s work is conducted by the Executive
Committee, and by a number of separate bureaus which,
outlined below, and described in detail will show the ramifica
tions of our present activities,
Auburn Psion, The Fourth of July Holiday
‘Tue Work oF THe Prison Association ar
1. Administrative. ‘The control of the Association is vested
in 2 board of managers called the Executive Committee,
numbering not over thirty-five persons. The Executive Com-
mittee elects annually a president, five vice-presidents, a
secretary, and a treasurer, all of whom are unpaid, and a
salaried general secretary, who is the executive officer of the
society.
‘The objects of the Association are defined by article first
of the constitution as follows:
1, The amelioration of the condition of prisoners, whether
detained for trial, or finally convicted, or as witnesses.
2. The improvement of prison discipline and the government of
prisons, whether for cities, counties oF states
3, The support and encouragement of reformed convicts after
their discharge, by affording them the means of obtaining an
hhonest livelihood, and sustaining them in their efforee at reform.
‘Through che years, the experience of the Association has
interpreted the objects named in its charter to include the
following purposes:
1. The protection of society against crime,
2. The reformation of the criminal
3. Protection for those unjustly accused.
4 Probation for first offenders.
5. Improvement in prisons and prison discipline.
& Employment, and when necessary’, food, tools, shelter and
other assistance for discharged prisoners.
7. Necessary aid for prisoners? families,
8, Supervision for chose on probation and parole,
9. Needed legislation,
The Executive Committee, which is the board of managers,
not only determines at its monthly mectings the policies of the
Association, but also through its standing committees and
special committees gives frequent individual and committee
service throughout the year. The law committees areespecially
active during the legislative session. All bills relating to
legislation within the field of the Prison Association are
analyzed and, when necessary, supported or opposed. Legis-
lation is also initiated through the Executive Commitee.
Other committees conduct their work mainly through the con-
22 Tue Prison Assocation or New York.
tinued activity of individual members. Special committees
for ingpection, investigation or other purposes are appointed
With increasing frequeney members of the executive com-
mittee are conducting inspections of correctional institutions,
The most significant inspection tour by members of the board
of managers in recent years took place in June and July, 1914,
when as the guests of Mr. Richard M. Hurd, himself » member
of the executive committee, several other members made an
automobile tour of inspection of over a score of institutions,
covering altogether a territory of more than 2,000. miles.
The executive committee is also ably represented upon the
State Commission on Prison Reform through Thomas Mott
Osborne, and George W. Kischwey. Many members of the
executive committee also occupy positions as members of
boards of managers of other institutions, among them the
House of Refuge, New York Juvenile Asylum, Berkshire
Industrial Farm and the New York State Reformatory for
Women. Mr. Osborne, a vice-president of the Prison Associa-
tion, has recently become warden of Sing Sing prison. Several
members of the executive committee (George W. Kirchwey,
Richard M. Hurd, and 0. F. Lewis) ate also. members of the
Joint Committee on Prison Reform, and Mr. Osbome and Mr.
hhwey are members of the governing body of the National
Committee on Prison Labor. Mr. Decatur M. Sawyer is
president of the Board of Managers of the State Reformatory
of New Jersey.
The chief of the administrative bureau is the General
Secretaty of the Association, who also exercises direct super~
vision and control, under the Executive Committee, of all the
activities of the society. An important function of the General
Secretary is becoming rapidly that of adviser, because the
Association is consulted daily upon the mose widely different
problems in the field of prison reform. Demands of this
nature upon the Association are largely increased by the absence
of any central national organization ‘that might cover with
expert activity and experience the broad field of delinquency
Primarily, through the General Secretary, the Association aims
to keep abreast of important constructive movements in the
State of New York and to cooperate in movements in which
the Association does not itself take the lead. Among. the
special activities of the General Secretary during 1914, have
‘Tur Work oF tHe Prison Association 33
been: Cooperation in the development of a comprehensi
constructive program for the Department of Correction of
the City of New York; the campaign for a more humane and
modern construction, with outside cells, in the case of the
new Erie county jail, to be built at Buffalo; the development
cof methods of inspection and supervision of our correctional
institutions; the appointment at Sing Sing of a non-political
social worker, experienced in prison reform, as warden, Mr.
Thomas Mott Osborne: the publication of The Delinguent
and of the annual report of the Prison Association (1913-1914)
a volume of 516 pages; cooperation with the Joint Commitvee
‘on Prison Reform in a series of conferences in New York in
March 1914 and others to be held in the winter of 1914-19155
During the early months of rorg the General Secretary also
conducted an extensive campaign for the abolition of Sing
Sin and the establishment of a farm industrial prison else-
where in the State, to replace the ancient prison.
2. Inspection.— The inspection bureau concerns itself pi
marily with the inspection and supervision by representatives
of the Prison Association of all correctional institutions in the
State, This function is required by Section 6 of Article 11
of the Constitution of the Association which states that
the executive committee of the Association, by such com-
mitgees as they shall from time to time appoint, have power,
and it shall be their duty, to visit, inspect and examine all the
prisons in the Seate and annually report to the Legislature
their state and condition, and all such other things in regard
to them as may enable the Legislature to perfect their govern~
ment and discipline.”
These imporeant powers are conferred upon the General
Sceretary and two assistant secretaries of the Association,
as well as upon each member of the Executive Committee of
the Association,
Inspections have been made particularly of county jails and
of the institutions of the Department of Correction of New
York City. The reports of such inspections have been for-
warded to the authorities in the respective counties in control
of the correctional institutions, and to the chief executive
officers of the institutions, and more recently have been also
given out to the newspapers. The field is sufficiently broad
to Keep the inspectors of the society constantly active, and
24 Tu Prison Association or New York
indeed several additional inspectors are almost indispensable
in this bureau.
3. Parole— For many years the Prison Association has
served as parole agent for State institutions. Prisoners
released upon parole from Elmira and Napanoch Reformatories
were under the supervision of the Prison Association until
1912, when the Board of Reformatory Managers took over
several of the staff of the Prison Association, constituting them
parole officers under the direction of the Board of Reformatory
Managers,
‘The Board of Reformacory Managers continues to have its
parole officers for New York City in the Prison Association
building.
The Prison Association receives inmates on parole from the
sons of the State, and also occasionally from
outside the State. For this purpose the Prison
Association is able to maintain so far only one officer. The
work is highly important and, when finances admie, che seafF
will be increased.
4, Probation.— Similarly, the Association maintains a pro-
bation officer of long experience in the Court of General Sessions,
Probation differs from parole, in that while parole represents
a period subsequent to imprisonment and during which the
paroled inmate is on his honor to conduct himself properly
and not to violate the erms of his parole, probation is =
period of test, during which a suspended sentence has been
imposed by the Court, and the convicted person is per-
mitted to escape a term of imprisonment so long as he con
ducts himself properly and fulfills the terms of his probation,
his discharge from probation occurring afver a suitable period
at the discretion of the court
Both probation and parole in this State have developed
greatly in recent years. In connection with both the pro-
bation and parole bureaus, necessary stenographic and clerical
help is afforded the officers.
5. Relief Burcau.— This bureau gives assistance and counsel
not only to persons released from prison who need food,
lodging, clothes, employment and often tools and other material
aid, but also when necessary, to the families of those who, re-
cently released from prison, have not yer secured a foothold
Our relief agent, a woman, gives her entire attention to the
assistance of families of prisoners and also to women released
‘Auburn Prison, ‘The Band, Sly 6 1914
Auburn Peson, Inmates Bowling, July 4 2015
‘Tue Work oF THE Prison Assoctation 25
from prison. Both the parole agent of the Association and
the prison visitor administer relief in the cases of men released
from prison. Several voluntary committees also assist in the
decision as to the best methods of assistance.
6. The Appeal Bureau— The budget of the Prison Associa-
tion increases from year to year. In order systematically
to raise necessary funds for the Association’s activities, and
particularly because the Association is entirely dependene
upon voluntary contributions and receives no State or city
financial aid, an appeal bureau is maintained. This bureau
has direct charge of all written and printed appeals, and
cooperates with the treasurer, cashier and book-keeper.
The activities of the Prison Association will now be described
in greater detail, Chapter IT will treat especially of the
relief work of the Association; Chapter II will outline
phases of prison progress in this State in which the Associa
tion has played an important part.
CHAPTER IL
‘THE RELIEF WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION,
For many years inmates released from prisons and reforma-
tories in this State have been paroled in the custody of the
Prison Association. This means that inmates have been
released from prison before the expiration of their maximum,
sentence, with the provision that for 2 certain period, generally
from six months to a year, they shall enjoy conditional libera-
tion, during which time they must adhere to the rules and
regulations laid down by the prison authorities or a board of
parole, in return for the liberty accorded them. Parole officers
of the Prison Association have supervised them during their
parole period. Such inmates have been required to report
regularly to the parole officer, at least once a month, and they
have been prohibited from frequenting improper places or from
associating with improper persons. At the end of their parole
period, they have been granted absolute release if the period
has been satisfactorily: passed
In short, parole is similar in many ways to the earlier
ticket-of leave plan pursued in England. Te is a period during
which che former inmate can test his ability to be outside of
prison walls and to merge properly again into industrial and
social life, The parole officer should be one of the most
sagacious and helpful friends to the released inmates.
‘The parole period is a necessary sequence to the indeter-
minate period of the prisoner's sentence. That is to say, the
first offender in felony, whether sent to prison, reformatory
‘or State prison, receives an indeterminate sentence, there being
limits within which the prisoner may be released upon patole.
In the case of Elmira and Napanoch’ Reformatories, no mini-
mum is prescribed, and the maximum period of imprisonment
is that provided by law in the penal code, as the maximum
that might be given for the specific crime committed. In
the ease of the State prisons, the offender who has not previously
committed crime punishable by imprisonment in a Seate
prison receives a minimum and a maximum sentence. At
‘Tue Reser Work or Tar Association 7
the expiration of his minimum he becomes eligible for parole
in case he has conducted himself properly in prison. Within
the limies of his minimum and his maximum he may be con-
tinued on parole. Second and third offenders (those who have
previously been convicted of one or more felonies within the
State of New York) are not given indeterminate sentences,
but definite sentences, which may be reduced about one third by
commutation obtained through good behavior while in prison
For many years the Prison Association received on parole
the great majority of young men who came from Elmira and
Napanoch reformatories. In 1912, however, because of a
decision of the Attorney-General of the State that private
corporations might not by law serve as salaried parole agents
of the reformatories, the Board of Reformatory Managers of
Elmira and Napanoch Reformatories took over several of the
parole officers of the Prison Association into the Seate service.
The location of the Reformatories’ offices, however, continues to
bein the Prison Association building and there is a most inti
mate and cordiaic ooperation between the parole offices of the
reformatories and the staff ofthe Prison Association. The Asso-
ciation moreover renders material relief in worthy cases of need
called to its attention by the parole office of the reformatories.
Our parole work for the State prisons has developed very
gratifyingly. Numerically the Association has had a con
Siderably larger number on parole from the prisons during 1914
than 19133 our parole methods have become more efficient,
and our parole officer for the State prisons, whose services are
placed by the Association at the disposition of the Board of
Parole for State prisons so far as is necessary, has done
excellent work and has been recently designated as special
parole officer for Great Meadow prison, thus fulfilling certain
official functions while continuing to be the parole agent of the
Prison Association.
‘Our parole work tems with most vital problems, which
can be best illustrated by specific eases drawn from among
the many which have occurred during the last twelve months.
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30 ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
Speaking first of the parole work of our fiscal year 1913
and 1914, we find that 254 men from State prisons were on
parole. Of these:
White. 140
Colored. aaeies
Chinese
The disposition of these men on parole during the year
were as follows:
Discharged by absolute release.......... 105 (4 dead)
Still reporting September 30, 1914 133
Declared delinquent during the year 33
Analyzing now by prisons we find that of the 254 on parole
during the year, there were from:
SHOE SiG. op nerarorecnrneneenuces
Auburn
Clinton
Great Meadow...
Comparing now the delinquency from the various insti-
tutions on the basis of the total number on parole, the follow-
ing interesting figures resule:
Delin-
Total quency
on during
parole year. Percent.
Sing Sing 86 7 20
Abit excavennessie 5 ° °
Clinton. *! 3 6 19
Great Meadow... 133 10 8
‘The division by color for those paroled during the same
yeat who became delinquent, shows as follows:
Paroled Delinquent Per cent
White ae 8 4 7
Colored |. & 59 10 7
to Yard July 1984
Tus Rexisr Work oF tHE Assoctatton =
ADDITIONAL FACTS.
avestigations made. = a7
Employment found, permanent. 0.00.0 so. 24
Employment found, temporary 20
Mellorrssssscrevresrrecsessscce Bsf3t-8373.10
Lodgings..-.-- EEE MID: sooo. 05
Garments 487
Shoessvusvssssesseuseuseuseussenees om
Persons ralieved a : 6
Agent's expenses. 8145.71
Number of different men calling from:
Elmira viccteuteiesesesess n
Napanoch’ ee ee
Sing Sing. ae "4
Auburn s.sc.lcsesssees oun a
Glineon: 4
Great Meadow. a
Blackwell's Island penitentiary... 284
Blackwell’s Island workhouse. vassseaates 104
Criminal coures 4
Other prisons
Total... onguseunaay, 896
Among the very numerous instances of assistance
our parole officer, Mr. Bohn, we choose the following as
typical
A. B., paroled from Great Meadow Prison.
At time of his release he was separated from his wife and
children, with apparently no hope for reconciliation. He
was given permission to go West, where he secured a position
with a prominent concern. I wrote him several letters in
an effort co again interest him in his family affairs. I also
sent for his wife, and had quite a lengchy interview with her.
She finally took a trip to the city where her husband was
employed, with the resule thae he was reunied with his family,
and is apparently living in very comfortable circumstances,
Ac the present time, he earns a salary of $2,500 a year.
32 ‘Tur Prison Association or New York
From the attached letter you will note that my efforts to
aid this man have not been entirely in vain.
My Dear Mr. Bobo,
L have changed my location to the above address. I would
very much like to hear from you. I expect to be at work about
next week some time, please do not worry about me braking
my parole. I have too much at stake to do anything like that.
L would not do anyching like that under any circumstances
gest well” “no danger” if all the graduates were like me
you'd had very litle trouble with chem, however [ must thank
Yyou again fer your kindness not only to me but fer all others
that are paroled in your care. I witnessed the way you treat
them. I believe 2 Father could not treat his son much better
then you do to the poor unfortunate men who are paroled in
your custody, keep up your good work.
Tean assure you if ever God helps me to be a prosperous man
Tl cercainly will help the Prison association with everything
in my power. Hoping this few lines will find you and yours
in the best of health and spirits and wishing you success in all
your undertaking, T am, as ever,
faithfully yours
(Signed) A. B.
P.S, My best wishes to Warden Homer.
J. K., paroled from Sing Sing. Secured work on Long
Island, ‘where he lived with his parents. He secured his
absolute discharge after reporting faithfully for a year. The
following is a letter received from him:
June 18, 1914
Mr A. L. Bohn,
Dear Sir
T thought it is my duty to drop you a few lines to let you know,
that I thank you wery so much, for your kind favorite, Which
‘you have show toward me. While I was on my Parole, And
hope, the rest of the young man. - Will come out and face the
World like J did. Work and homest is the Best thing in the
World. for any man, the old story is this. It aim what 1
used to be Te what I'am today. And I Can said for myself
I feel like a difference man today.
T Remain Your eruly,
(Signed) J. K.
‘Tue Reuter Work of tar Assoctarion 33
C.D, paroled from Great Meadow. Immediately started
in the theatrical business for himself, che work he had followed
previous to his imprisonment. He is now traveling around
the country with his own company, with which he is making
a success. ‘This man finally received his absolute release, and
the following is a letter received from him in reply eo my
letter informing him of his absolute discharge:
Dear Sie: October 28, 1914,
Tam in receipe of yours of the 26th with the good news of
my discharge.
‘When the papers arrive, will you please forward same to me
care of this office?
Permie me further to thank you for the uniform kindnest
and many favors T have received at your hands during the past
year.
Just as soon as there is a lull in the rush T am in the midse
of, I will give myself the pleasure and express my feclings to
you in person.
Sincerely,
(Signed) C. D.
M. N., paroled from Auburn. This man had a previous
record of nine convictions. While on parole to this
Association he was faithful in reporting and worked steadily
at manual labor. His last position was thar of taking the part
of a Zulu in a moving picture play.
X. Y., paroled from Sing Sing, and secured position as
traveling salesman for a reputable concern. His work took
him all over the United States. His record during his parole
was good and on receiving his discharge we received the
following letter from him. ‘This man has earned as high as
$140 a month
My dear Friend:
Your letter with enclosure receive his noon for which you
know Tam very thankful. Te has been a hard battle but it
hhas been a successful one. According to the condition through-
out the U.S. Tam very fortunate to be in this position working
for... . » Some day I shall return to N.Y. and start
Tur Prison Association or New York
all over again and be more successful than I was on my last
Feriod there. For there is nothing like being on the level
Jhnd you are in a position to know that, I am very thankful
for all that you have done in my behalf, and I remain,
‘Your friend
xy.
P. F paroled from Great Meadow. We secured a position
for him as. a machinist with 2 reputable concern, where he
remained until he secured his absolute release. He then went
fo his home in Maine, and is now working on his father's
farm. This man's employer stated that he was one of the
best workers we have ever sent him, and he corresponds
regularly with him.
R. S., paroled from Sing Sing, went to work for a large con
struction company in Brooklyn. He finally rose to the position
of foreman and in that position has put several of our men
fn good positions. He made good and has now received his
absolute discharge, The following is a letter received from
hhim after his discharge from parole
Yours at hand and I was very glad to hear from you, and I
am glad to get my discharge, and 1 do not know how to thank
youfor helping me out, and I will always think of you. «
(Signed) R. 8.
E, F,, a negro, paroled from Great Meadow. Went to work
as a longshoreman. His one desire was to get an education.
He worked steadily and saved money enough to go to “* Booker
Washingzon’s School.” ‘The enclosed letter was received from
him shortly before his absolute release
Mr, Bohn, dear Sir Brooklyn, Dee. 20, 1913,
L thought I'd drop you a few Tines concerning my going away
to school. You know I were speaking to you about ie when you
were over here last. My foot is getting on nicely now, so 1
should like to be ready to stare about the first of the year.
Booker Washington's school is where T shold like to goin
Alabama Please look out for me; tur me
loose as soon as you can, I'm writing to the school for the
particulars.
(Signed) E. F.
‘Tue Ruiter Work or THE Association 35
‘The Parole Agent has attended ten meetings of the Parole
Board at Sing Sing Prison, one at Aubum, one at Clinton and
cight at Great Meadow. He has also made frequent visits to
the Tombs, Raymond Street Jail, Brooklyn, Blackwell's
‘Mand Penitensaty and Blackwell’ Island Workhouse.
is mornings are usually caken up in interviewing men who
call athe olice Tor asttanee, advice or to repre The
afternoon is occupied in visiting paroled men, and making
investigations. It is his policy to keep in personal contact
as much as possible with the men on parole to this Associa-
tion, and he has visited them at their homes, and when
feasible, at their place of business on an average of once a
month. ‘These visits cover New York City, Brooklyn, Long
Island, Yonkers, Hoboken, and several other parts of New
Jersey.
He has secured 24 permanent and 20 temporary positions for
patoled men, and has assisted a number of others in helping
them secure employment for themselves,
In spite of the belief of the Association that its own work is
31, 1913, 805 inmates. In other words, there were under
tbs supervision of tice parle afters of the sefermanotat ia
1914, 1668 inmates. For a portion of the year only two parole
agents were available How inadoqusts his foros ie. erat
wich their best possible efforts, is shown by the generall
Ceol Wiantarl thor share lhould Gs one gui oss
to every 75 inmate
Moreover, activities of our own parole agent for State prisons
show how intricate and how importance is che work of the parole
oficer. That so numerically inadequate a staff has been con-
tinued is nor due to the unwillingness of the Board of Reforma-
matory Managers to provide more parole officers, but eo their
inability to secure a proper appropriation from the State.
36 ‘Tur Prison Association or New York
In 1910, the then Superintendent of Reformatories, Joseph
$200 a year for the reformatory training of an inmate at Elmira
and Napanoch, and a scant few dollars in the supervision of his
parole period, which so frequently is even more crucial than
understand that the parole period is a vitally important part
State must provide an adequate corps of parole officers, an
adequate period of parole, and must give adequate attention
© the return to prison of flagrant violators of parole. ‘There
tnust be no toleration of a condition which enables any te
Teased inmate to say that the parole system of the State is a
farce.
‘At present the reformatories of Elmira and Napanoch ean
count upon the paid services of three parole officers in New
York city and one officer in Buffalo. Outside of these large
cities, inmates are paroled to chiefs of police and to other
persons who accept the trust voluntarily and without compens:~
Gon. The State prisons parole to organizations and indi-
Viduals who serve without compensation. Each prison has
fone parole officer, whose time is mainly occupied in the in-
Vestigation of offers of employment and in the return of ‘those
inmates who violate cheir parole. Nothing much more inade-
quate as a comprehensive parole system could be imagined
"And yet there is intense dissatisfaction in the prisons among
the inmates because of apparent inequalities of sentence
and particularly because second or third offenders commiteed
to State prison not infrequently receive sentences which, with
commutation for good time, result in a briefer period of impris-
fonment than in the case of many first offenders who, convicted
of similar crimes, serve longer terms before arriving at the
‘Tar Retinr Work or tHe Assoctation 37
expiration of their minimum sentence. There was, therefore,
during 1913 2 strong movement which rook form in a legis-
lative bill providing for an indeterminate sentence for prac
tically all prisoners committed to the State prisons. In
to15 this agitation, which resulted unsuccessfully in 1914,
will again find expression in a more rational bill which will
ably be agreed to and advocated by the leading prison
reform organizations of the State. Inevitably, if this bill
becomes 2 law, a much larger number of prisoners will soon be
placed on parole, and a system of supervision at present so
seriously inadequate will be absolutely insufficient to bear
the increased burden. Consequently, the parole system of the
State prisons must be thoroughly reorganized. ‘There must be
an adequate corps of parole officers, probably no less than
12 in number, and there must be an adequate clerical staff
for the Board of Parole.
The Board of Parole itself, which is constituted at present
of the State Superintendent of Prisons and ewo other members,
should undergo at least a partial reorganization. The Super=
intendent of Prisons receives no additional salary for serving
on the parole board. The ¢wo other members receive annual
salaries of $3,600. ‘They give but a portion of their time to
this work. They visit each of the prisons once a month
except in March and August, pass, in relatively few hours,
tupon the cases coming before them, and pass on to the next
Prison
‘The determination of the advisability of paroling an inmate
is one of the most serious duties that any board or court can
have presented to it. The board of parole should be a body,
the members of which should have no other occupation, and
which should be in session to the same degree as are the other
higher courts of the State. The salaries of che members of
he board or court of parole should be sufficient to enable the
State to secure the whole time of high-grade men. No mem-
ber of the board or court of parole should be connected with the
Prison Department, but there should be every opportunity
for the representatives of the Prison Department to present
cases of inmates eligible for parole, and to make recommenda-
Such a court of parole should be both judiciat and admin
istrative, judicial in that the members of the court would have
largely to do with the decisions as to the placing of inmates on
38 ‘Tur Prison Assoctation or New York
parole and as to their return if necessary for violation of parole
‘Theit administrative duties should be largely in the establish-
ment of the principles upon which the parole offices for the
State prisons should be conducted. ‘There should be a sec-
retary for the board who should be the executive officer of the
board. He should have as his surbordinates an adequate
corps of parole officers and an adequate clerical staff. The
court of parole should provide for the collection of compr=-
hensive facts and statistics relative to each inmate in State
prisons, upon which a court may base its decision as to the pro-
priety of parole. The court of parole should also cause to
be established a bureau devoted to the collection and filing
of criminal statistics, relating to its own work and field. The
parole officers under this court should be paid reasonable
salaries, ranging from $1,200 to $1,800 a year, and should be
required to give their full time to their work.
Only by the provision for such a parole court and such a,
corps of parole officers can the State hope to supervise properly
the careers of many hundreds of paroled inmates annually
Furthermore, the entire parole system will not unlikely be
brought into discredit and under severe criticism unless the
State acts promptly and adequately in providing for release
and proper supervision of State prisoners eligible for parole.
PROBATION.
‘The Prison Association continues to do its share of the pro-
bation work of the of General Sessions in New York
county. Mr. D. E. Kimball, our probation agent, is the dean
of the probation officers in that court. Unlike the systems ob-
taining in the Courts of Special Sessions and in the Magi
trates Courts of New York eity, where the probation officers
are appointed from eligible lises furnished by the Municipal
Civil Service Commission, the probation officers in the Court
of General Sessions are provided by private charitable organ-
izations, and are responsible in the last analy'sis not to the Court
of General Sessions, but to the organization which maintains
them,
‘This syscem, while possessing certain advantages, has mn
proved satisfactory. The trend throughout the State of New
York is toward the appointment of probation officers from civil
service lists and toward the maintenance of such officers at |
Tas Retier Work or Tar Assoctation 9
public expense. Such officers, moreover, should be directly
and solely responsible to the court. Examinations held for the
position of probation officer, particularly the most recent
examinations held by the Municipal Civil Service Commis-
sion in New York City, have proved that efficient probation
officers may be secured by such methods. In 1911, the Prison
Association presented on page 30 of its annual report a state~
ment whieh it finds no reason t0 change, and which is herewith
quote:
“In the Court of General Sessions there is a numerically
inadequate corps of probation officers. They have far too
many cases, and the cases are distributed unevenly from a
numerical standpoint. ‘There is no chief probation. officer.
‘The probation officers in the Court of General Sessions are
salaried, not by the city, but by private societies, and while
there may be cordiality and even friendship between probation
officers, there is not the responsibility or the co-ordination
of work necessary to make the working out of the probation
system wholly successful, The Prison Association, having
a probation officer in the Court of General Sessions, is never
theless an advocate of the plan of the Seate Probation Commis-
sion, providing for 2 corps of probation officers salaried by the
city’ and a chief probation officer, the force to be adequate,
to be experienced, and to be centralized as to method. In the
opinion of the Prison Association, neither the judges nor the
district attomney’s office will receive the best results from a
probation system until such a corps of probation officers is
established. It is to be hoped chat when such a corps is estab-
lished, the experience and ability of the probation officers now
working in the Court of General Sessions will be taken into
consideration.”
The Association has faichfully cried to perform its duty
through Mr. Kimball, its probation officer in the Court of
General Sessions. In that court, as in the case of the admin-
istration of parole in the city of New York, there are 00 few
probation officers for the number of probationers under super-
vision, Ic should be most clearly understood by all friends
of prison reform and of the best treatment of the delinquent,
that a probation officer is by no means simply an investigator.
The probation officer's duty is but begun when he or she has
gathered the most essential facts. ‘The real probation officer
must be wise and patient, painstaking, stern, sympathetic,
40 Tue Prison Association or New York
long-suffering, diplomatic and courageous. ‘The efficient pro-
bation officer possesses an ability that merits adequate finan-
cial compensation. Too often in the past ie has been assumed
that a probation officer’s duty was a perfunc
of relatively simple conditions. Nothin
from the eruth than this. ‘The judge upon the bench places
the probazioner under the supervision of a probation officer.
Upon the all-round ability of a probation officer may depend
in large measure the success or failure in life of a probationer
Upon the breadth and depth of vision of the probation officer
depends to a considerable extent the degree of increase or de-
crease of crime among those committed to him for supervision
Probation is regarded by the Prison Association as a more
importanc and valuable period in the reformation of offendei
than the period of imprisonment. Probation today is co
ferred upon thousands of delinquents, who before the beginning
of the rwentieth century, of indeed until a few years ago,
would have been sent co’ prison. If persons released from
th a prison career are to be reformed and are to
achiove a proper conception of their own delinquency and their
‘own opportunity, and are not to hold the probation period in
contempt as an easy’ way out of a prison eareer, then the pro-
bation ofticer muse be indeed an efficient, high-grade person.
Ie is for these and other reasons that the Association be-
Tieves in an adequate corps of probation officers for the Court
of General Sessions, chosen by the most efficient methods
possessed by the State, and compensated by salaries which will
enable them to occupy a dignified and relatively care-free
position in the community.
The probation bureau of the Prison Association under Mr.
Kimball does not differ materially in its work from the work
of former years. ‘The following tables give in statistical form
the record of the year:
SrareMEnr oF PRowATION OrFicer From OCTOBER 1, 1913,
10 SEFTEMBER 30, 1914
1914 1913,
Probationers in charge beginning of October 1913... 126 126
New cases received during the yea 1079
Passed from probationary oversight. ses Toy 104.
Great Meadow Prison, End of New Callhoue
Great Meadow Prison, Road Work Gane
‘Tae Revier Work oF THE Association
Time expired
Excused.
Bench warrants
Re-arrested and committed
Transferred.......-... sereee
Removed with permission of Court
In charge end of September, 1914...
‘Number of investigations during year.
‘Money collected from probationers:
Restitution
Family support
Total
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50 ‘Taz Prison Association or New York
‘Average age of persons received on probation during
year.
Average age of probationers discharged during year
Average length of time of reporting, rye
Number of cases on probation October 1, 1913..
Number of cases received on probation during year
Total
‘Number of cases passed from probationary oversight
‘Number of cases remaining on probation October t, 1914
SUMMARY 1902-1914.
Cases investigated, from 902 to 1914 nr
1,980
$7,879 73
264+
Released on probation.
Amount of restitution passed through our hands
Average age of probationer recei
Number Number
of cases received
gated probation
473 7m
497
456
542
Total amount of money received for restitution from
192-1914, sees bees 47.879 73
‘Tu Rever Work oF THe Association st
As with parole, so with probation; the work teems with most
intense human interest. The following instances from Mr.
Kimball's records illustrate in some degree the range of work
‘and of possibilities in our probation service:
A married man of 29, living wich his wife and two children, was
under indictment for grand larceny in the fist degree, having pleaded
uiley co the charge of appropriating the proceeds of a check for six
hundred dollars, the property of a widow whose husband was a
fiend of the defendant.
Tt seems that he sympathized with the woman in her affiction
and assisted her in adjusting the estate of her husband, as she was
without means except the trifle in insurance money. He helped
her in collecting it, and later confessed that he had lost it in gambling
On the face of it one would say that he deserved every day in prison
thae the law could give him.
A very careful investigation as to his reputation and antecedents
was made and it was found that beyond the tendency to gamble,
he had an excellent record. He was a machinist and ventilating
engineer, employed by a large machine company whose officer said
that he was very satisfactory in all respects, “showing care, per-
severance and intelligence in handling and running all oil engines.”
In some of the large hotels where he was employed the managers
said that he was always sober, industrious and honest, and they
went go far as to come to court to intercede in his behall.
Unfortunately, at the time of hie arrest, he had no money and
practically no means of raising any, so the judge committed him
to the Elmira reformatory.
‘After this action a man came into court and made a statement
to the effeet that some years ago this young man had reseued hirn
from drowning. More than that, he did it at the peril of his own life,
and the gentleman felt chat the least he could do would be to try
and show his appreciation. He was a working man himself, his
means were small, but he had heen provident and had about three
hhundred dollars in the savings bank. He offered to turn over to the
‘widow two hundred dollass of this money if the courr permitted,
and to do all he could to help the prisoner to secure work whereby
hie could earn enough to continue €0 pay the widow's loss in instal-
ments, When the widow was called into coure she eaid she was not
seeking satisfaction but wanted her money. The judge took the
‘merciful view of the case and revoked the reformatory sentence and
52 ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
paroled the prisoner in our custody, with orders to make restitution
as suagested.
The young man has worked steadily ever since his release on pro-
bation; the widow has received altogether three hundred and sixty.
five dollars, which she acknowledges is better than the satisfaction
of knowing that the man is in prison.
A man of fifty-one years, a widower and professional accountant,
had been in the employ of «Tange stove manufacturing concern
shi hy for many year.” Afr he wife ad been dead afew yor
eel in love with a very reputable young gol who was younger then
some of his children. Inetead of seting inn manner besting o
man of his years he began to live the life ofa young fellow, sorting
his wild oats, and was soon spending more money on the young worse
than he was earning, There was nothing improper in es secntinny
and no one interested in the case bled hee a all excep for hee
foolishness in receiving the atcentions of a man old enough to be her
father. He took her around to expensive resaurant, theatien
the opera, etc, and helped himself 1o his employers money to the
extent of fifteen hundred dollars.
Hs record for over twenty years was traced, and found to be
excellent. Former employers sad shat he was equalled by fem es
an expert accountant. When he was arraigned before the judge for
sentence, much to my surprge a lester was presented from the som.
plaining. witness urging the maxiinum of leniency. Judge Craln
tas reluctane ro take ch action, because there had been mo est
tution, but he released him on probation, with diver orders co make
restitution to the complaining witness in installmenes and for over
2 year the prisoner made regular payments
‘Then che fim he had robbed made an original prpesi‘on, They
asked him to have his life inaureé, and agreed to pay the promi
He submitted to an examination in the usval way, was accepted and
his life was insused in the sum of five thousand dollars
very succesfal; he did his best but could not make money enough
Then there was another surprise. “The fim, ealisiog the value of
this man’s services to them in the past, cubmitted the proposition
portion of his weekly earings be deducted each week. Te therefore
‘etumned to his old employers, x at work for them today and ging
cellent satisfaction. He has given up the idea of marrying seam
‘Tur Retizr Worx or THE Association 53
A young man of twenty-four who had, to use his own expression,
“played the game at both ends,” was convicted of an attempt to
commie burglary in entering a lofe building on 28th Sereet. Investi=
gation showed that he was influenced by an experienced criminal,
and to use his own expression again, “I was the goat.” When
arraigned before Judge Nott, he pleaded guilty co an attempt to
commit burglary, and an investigation was ordered. It was found
that in order to shield his respectable family he had given an assumed
me. He had held a aumber of very good positions with building
concerns in this cicy, both in the office and on steel construction work,
but he had drifted into bad company, and for some months had been
2 cabaret singer in restaurants of the lower order. As he was a
young man of good appearance and possessed a fair singing voice,
for a time he got along comfortably without much hard work. In
fone of these places he ran across a number of thieves who made
use of ism
He impressed Judge Nott as being penitent, and as no property:
hhad been actualiy lost, the Court concluded to give him another
chance by releasing him on probation, and he was allowed to go,
with orders to make regular reports. Friends secured employment
for him with a building concern, and we were more than pleased to
note that by hard work and considerable natural ability, within the
shore space of one year he had been promoted a number of times,
At present, instead of being a discharged convict, he is foreman
with the building frm and actually employs men instead of being a
dependent. He realizes better than other people his position, and
when he made his last report, he said he would notify me of any
vacancies from time to time, 50 that he might employ ocher young
men who are down-and-out, as he was, through their own careless
xoss rather than from criminal inclination.
A man of thirty, with a wife and ewo children, who had been out
of work for some months, pleaded guilty to an attempt to commit
burglary. He very foolishly tried to enter a storage warehouse by
way of the roof, and because a few wires were in his way, he tried to
pull them off, not knowing thae they led down somewhere to the
Seorage warehouse. Almost anyone would have known that these
were burglar alarm wires, but he did not, and in a few minutes
before he had actually encered ehe building, he was in the hands
of the police,
54 ‘Tur Prison Association or New York
He told a pitiful story of having been in the city only Bve days,
earning a precarious living for himself and family by shoveling snow
carrying in coal and doing such odd jobs as he could obtain. While
hhe was in the Tombs it was necessary to feed his hungry children
and to pay rent on a small apartment for the family
Te was found that he had formerly worked in Trenton as a butcher,
that be had saved a little money and started a small business of
butter and eggs, but he made a failure of ie. ‘Then he tried his hand
as a chaulfeur, but was
leased because of dell business.
‘A man was found who offered to give him work when the Court
would release him on probation, so he was allowed to go on proba-
tion for two and a half years, Has not missed a day from his work
since his release.
A German girl who.had just reached the age of sixteen years, and
q had been in the United States for five weeks, secured a place as a
domestic servant and was attracted by she glitter of a diamond
ring valued at four hundred dollars, which she saw lying on the
dresser in her mistress’ room, Temptation overcame her, she
secreted ie and on a nun
When arrested the gitl acknowledged her guilt and an investigation
revealed the fact that her record in Germany was very good.
hhad in her possession her working book, which was in the pris
form provided by the German government, and bore the official
seals of the Mayor of che town, together with signacures of her former
‘employers, certifying that she had been a faithful servant.
Becoming, convinced that she had yielded to momentary tempta-
tion, and that she was not naturally criminally inclined, E recom-
mended suspension of sentence, and a lidy, a church worker who
cooperates with chis Association, took the gitl in hand and had
her committed to an institution for friendless girle fora year. During
that time she was enabled to go to school every day and to receive
proper training at the hands of good women who interest. them-
selves in such girls,
“No CRIMINAL BY NATURE.”
A man of twenty-seven years was found in the Tombs, complain-
wg bitterly that he had been locked up practically all summer
fon a charge of highway robbery. He was told that because of the
overcrowded condition of the court calendars, due to the usual
summer vacations of the judges, his case would have to take its
Tue Revier Wore oF Tin Association 55
cum, but an effort would be made to have it considered as quickly
te possible. He was called up and told this very simple story.
2A man who makes the charge against me is 2 fellow workman.
We have both been employed by a certain steamship company for
about six years, and each week when we were paid off it was our
umtom to shoot a few games of pool in a West Street saloon. We
sent there one Saturday afternoon, and he challenged me to a game
fora dollar apiece, and a8 was our custom, we stuck the moiey wp
fon a gas fizvure over the billiard table. I won the game, but when
Treached for the two bills hanging on the gas je, be stopped me and
said the bill was a ten-dollar bill, chought he was just trying to
fet the money away from me and resisted the attempt to secure it
We became engaged in a fierce fight, 2 policeman was called in
and he charged me with robbery; said I stole his money.”
‘When the case came up in court the story of the prisoner was
corroborated by the complaining witness. T went to a telephone,
rang up the office of the steamship company, verified the story of
the prisoner and he was released on a suspended sentence, the
pinion of the Court being that he had already suffered enough
It should be remembered that probation is not a substitute
for imprisonment, but that iis a suspension of impconment
during good behavior. ‘The purpose of probation is not to
shaker eke commission of crime. more easy” by laxity of treat.
ment of the offender. Probation is a system which should
ie the same time discipline and improve the conduct of the
delinquent. without the necessity of imprisonment. Un-
questionably it is easier to pass months and years under pro-
bation than it is within the prison walls. What the period
of probation may lack in rigor, it should possess in carefully
systematized supervision and in a constant method of treatment
which will in a very large proportion of cases result in the per-
manent redlamation of the offender, Unless, probation suc-
ceeds in reclaiming more than the prison or the reformatory,
SCimuse ulsimately become discredited. The test of probs
tion will be largely by ies results. ‘The best results can be
obtained only by the achievement of a good probation system
Which, as we have before outlined, must possess the following
essentials:
1. A wise judge, discriminating in his choice of probationers.
2, An adequate and experienced corps of probation officers,
preferably chosen from civil service lists
36 ‘Tue Prison Assoctation or New York
43. Systematic supervision and assistance of probationers.
4 An adequate period of probation.
5. Regular reports to the judges as to the conduct and other
circumstances of probationers.
6. No overcrowding of probation officers, through the assign-
ment of too many cases
7. Rigorous prosecutions of delinquent probationers.
* 8 Cordial and considerate appreciation of che difficulties
attending 2 wise administration of the probation system by
judges, by district attorney's office and by the public.
Progress in. probation in New York State during 1914
should be outlined in this connection. Again a striking ine
crease in the use of probation throughout the State is reported
by the State Probation Commission. The total number of
offenders placed on probation during the year ending Septem-
ber, 30, 1914 was 18,549, an increase of 2,405, or 15 per cent.
over the number placed during the before. During 1908, the
first year complete statistics were collected in the State,
8,047 were placed; the number has increased every year since
On December 1, 1914, there remained on probation no less
than 11,232 persons. “These were divided as follows:
Boys under 16 - 24386
Girls under 16. 375
Men 79603
Women. 868
Total 11,232
The greatest increase in probation eases has been among
adult males, In two years the number of children on proba-
tion has increased by 576, while the number of men has in-
creased 1,985.
cis a significant fact, according to the State Probation Com-
mission, that there has been practically mo increase in the pri-
son population of the State during the past six years, in spite
of the increase in population. In the meantime the number
placed on probation has more than doubled. The entire pop-
ulation of prisons, jails, reformatories and institutions for de-
Tinquent children at the end of 1913, was 18,652. The num
ber on probation is now nearly two-thirds of that number.
‘Tar Revizr Work oF tue Associaton 37
‘The State is infinitely the gainer by this substitution of
probation for imprisonment, for it appears to be nothing else
than that. The financial saving is very great. ‘The moral
aving of well administered probation work is far greater.
The causes which have brought about the increasing use
of probation during the past year are the gradual education
of public opinion and the employment of an increasing num-
ber of competent salaried probation officers. Since October
1, 1913, six new salaried positions have been provided in the
consts of various cities in the State, and nine new salaried
county probation officers have been employed in six counties
for the firse time.
Duting the pase year many new volunceer probation officers
have been appointed, but the tendency throughout the State
pee eas pace pbadon mark or cogs of eld eliere
their whole time to the work. Volunteers have been
‘many instances to pave the way for salaried officers.
In larger cities, volunteer officers work in conjunction with and
under the direction of salaried officers
The collection of money by probation officers from non-
supporting husbands for the support of wives or children has
increased from $77,155 in 1913 to $100,378 in 1914. The
collection of fines and restiution money’ on the instalment
plan has totalled $17,345 and £26,041 respectively, each an
increase over any previous year. While not strictly’ a part of
teal probation work it is frequently found of real disciplinary
value, besides being a very real and substantial service to
the community.
In New York City all the probation officers in the Mag-
istrates’ Courts and the Coure of Special Sessions are now sal-
aried by the City and under civil service. The quality of
their work has undoubtedly improved during the past, year.
Many of the officers, especially those in the Children’s Courts,
are high-grade social workers. Admitable records are being
kept and telling results obtained, especially with the families
of delinquent children. In the Magistrates’ Courts of Man-
hattan and the Bronx, probation work has been centralized,
the officers have been taken out of the individual coures and
now work under the immediate direction of the Chief Probation
Officer at 300 Mulberry Street. In this way the officers are
better supervised and have considerably more time for inves-
tigation and home visitation. The number of improper cases
58 Tue Prison Association or New York
for probation has been reduced, as well as the number of
absconders from probation by more care in selection and more
preliminary investigation.
In the Court of General Sessions and in the County Courts
of Kings, Queens and Richmond, che probation work is stil
on a volunteer or privately paid basis. In none of these courts
is the work satisfactory. The number of officers in each is
insufficient. Their coordination and responsibility to the courts
is not what ie should be.
Work in the rural sections of the State has advanced con-
siderably during the past year. More probation officers have
been employed, as above pointed out, and the older officers
have extended their work into the towns and villages. Good
probation work in the rural districts is carried on, especial
in the Counties of Onondaga, Oneida and Dutchess. The up-
seate counties offer one of the most important fields for the
development of probation service
Ina great many instances the salaties of the probation officers
have been increased during the past year. This is an indica
tion of greater public support and appreciation of their ser-
vices. The probation verms are now longer than they once
were, and more thorough supervision, more home visitation
and a prompter returning to court in cases of violation of pro-
bation, have been noticeable throughout the State.
RELIEF WORK WITH FAMILIES.
Several years ago we organized a bureau of the Association
in order especially to help the destitute families of prisoners
who are found by us to be in need because of the absence in
prison of the bread-winner. These families have, in the few
years of the life of our present bureau, appealed to our sym-
pathies almost more than has any other branch of our relief
work. ‘The wives and the little children have time and again
been found ro be in the depths of poverty and despair. We
have been fortunate in having as our relief agent a woman
who is essencially sympathetic and yet essentially. reasonable.
Her work during 1914 is summarised, statistically, in the
following table:
REPORT OF RELIEF WORK WITH FAMILIES, 1914.
Since the last report, in January, 1914, 213 prisoners’ families
were investigated,
Tue Reuier Work of THe Association 59
One hundred and nine of these families received velief covering a
period of from two to twelve months.
Steady employment was secured for thirty prisoners’ wives o
children, by which they became self-supporting,
Forty-eight cases were closed, and the Prison Association is still
cating for thirty-one families in January, 1985,
Twelve prisoners’ wives were cared for during confinement, and
three children received hospital care gratis.
Five prisoners’ wives received legal services free.
Sixty-six eases were referred co other societies on account of long
term sentence, desertion or non-support.
Five families were refused aid on account of misrepresentati
Three families were promised assistance by relatives.
rhe number of prisoners’ families in distress far exceeds our
‘aid them. Therefore, we have tried to hold ourselves
‘within the limit of our resources and to deal as adequately as
possible wich the families in Manhattan and the Bronx who
have been received in our care.
‘As in the previous chapters, so here we present as the best
illustration of our work a number of instances in which Mrs.
Rodgers, our relief agent, has been active.
‘Man was sentenced in May 1914 to « year in the New York
County Penitentiary, charged with carrying a revolver. This was
the man's first offense, Wife and 7 children reside at Street,
jn 5 rooms, rent of which is $15 per month. Half of this rent is
paid by the Prison Association and the other half by the Charity
Organization Society. A position was secured by the Prison Associa-
tion for the oldest girl, aged 16 years, at ——— Department Store,
as stock girl, wages $3.50 per week. The New York Child Labor
Committee is allowing $2 per week to keep a backward child in school.
The wife’s brother is allowing $2 per week to the family for food
This income of $7.50 per week is used for food, for 8 in family.
The Prison Association is still caring for this family and will con-
tinue to do so until the release of the husband, which will be in
March, 1915. Up to date $75 has been expended on this family
Man was arrested on March 25, 1914, on a charge of larceny,
and on April 4th was sentenced to three months in the New York
County Penitentiary. Previous to this, this man had been a steady
worker and his references were all good. His wife and child live
60 ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
at — West — Street, in a four-room apartment, with steam heat
and hot water supply, rent of which is $16 a month. This rent is a
licele high, but as the man had only three months to serve, the
Committee decided to pay this rent, rather than to move the woman
to a cheaper apartment. Rent of $16 each month was paid for
three months, and Mrs. D. secured a few days’ work each week,
as a laundress, earning #5 per week. ‘This money was used for food.
Husband was released on July 4, 1914. Has since secured employ-
ment as an electrician, wages $15 per week. ‘The case was closed
in July, 1914. Forty-eight dollars was expended on this family
by the Prison Association. Family was last heard of the latter part
of August, 1914, when woman stated that husband was working
steadily and they were getting along very nicely.
‘Man was sentenced on May 26, 1914; for a term of two years in
Sing Sing prison, for extortion. Wife and five children reside at
—-——, where they share an cight-room apartment in a little
frame house with her parents, who have four children. The two
families pay jointly twenty-five dollars per month rent. Twelve
dollars and a half rent per month is paid for Mrs. B. by the Prison
Association. Four dollars per week is allowed for food by the
United Hebrew Charities; with this, and whatever assistance her
parents are able to give her, the family is managing to get along
very well. Mrs. B. is unable to work on account of this large
family, the youngest of whom is five months old. ‘The Prison
Association is till caring for this family. Up to date $112.50 has
been expended on this family.
‘Man was sentenced on January 3, 1914 to six months in the New
York County Penitentiary, for malicious mischief. This was his
second offense. In 1909 he served two years in State prison for
burglary. Wife and four children reside in four rooms at 9
rent of which is fifteen dollars per month. ‘The home was exception-
ally clean, and wife and children very neat. The wife earned about
six dollars per week at dressmaking; ‘which she did at home, thus
enabling her to care for her children in the meantime. The Prison
Association paid rent of fifteen dollars each month for six months.
‘The husband was released on June 3, 1914, and two weeks later he
secured employment with the ‘Company, at —, New Jersey,
wages fifteen dollars per week. He has worked steadily since that
time, and has received an increase of two dollars a week in his salary.
‘The family was last heard of in December, 1914, when Mrs. C,
Great Meadow Prison, Farm Work
Great Meadow Prison. Baseball Game on Unendlosed Ground,
‘Tar Retier Work oF THE Association 6
stated thae her hushand was working steadily and staying at home
evenings with his litele family. She is quite sure that he intends
to lead an honest life in the furure. Ninety dollars was expended
‘on this family by the Prison Association. ‘The case was closed in
July, 1914,
‘Man was arrested, and’ on October 2, 1913, was sentenced to
Elmira Reformatory, charged with pawning stolen goods. This
was his first offense. His wife and one child lived at
She had recently been operated on at the Woman's Hospital, for
internal trouble. She looked pale and delicate, and was sent by
the Prison Association to a convalescent home for two weeks. She
was then sent to Sea Breeze for two weeks, On her return, the Prison
Association gave three dollars per week room rent for herself and
child, and her aunt, who lived in the same house, supplied her with
meals, Mrs. L. not being strong enough to work. ‘The husband
was released on November 16, 1914, and has been working steadily
ever since. They have furnished a nice little home, and family is
now self-supporting. Ninety-six dollars was expended by the
Prison Association on this family. Case was closed carly in Decem-
ber, 1914.
Man was arrested in May, 1914, on a charge of petit larceny,
and on June 23, 1914, was sentenced to one year in the New York
County Penitentiary. The wife, ewo children, and her aged father,
reside in chree roonis on ————— Street, rent of which is eleven
dollars. At the time of husband’s arrest, Mrs. M. had no one to
assist her, and in desperation applied to have her children commiteed.
Mr. Bauer referred the woman to the Prison Astociation. Full
rent was paid each month, until a position was secured for Mrs. M.
with the Company, wages $7.50 per week. ‘The
Prison Association is now paying hall rent and Mrs is paying
the other half, or $1.25 a week. The other $6.25 per week is used
for food. Family is getting along very nicely now. Up to date,
sevency-cight dollars has been expended on this family. ‘The Prison
Association is still earing for this family.
We do not believe that the family of a prisoner should be
dire sufferers because of the sins of the father and bread-winner.
We do believe that it is far better to aim to hold the family
together and to keep it upon a reasonable basis of existence
than to allow ie co become broken up and disintegrated.
62 Tur Prison Assocation or New York
Therefore, we have aimed to deal as liberally as possible with
the families, and we have felt it ro be much better to restore
to the outcoming prisoner his family in decent condition and
to demand of him by appeal and by direce supervision that he
maintain his family. properly from then on.
As usual, and with the same pleasure as in former years, we
have been able through the generosity of a number of our
friends to provide Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and
presents at Christmas time for our families.
At Thanksgiving, 42 families received Thanksgiving baskets,
each basket containing:
ro lb. turkey
Tbs. sugar
4b. coffee
1 pkg. tea
1 qt. potatoes 6 apples
$1.00 cash
can phim padding
1 can peas
Ae Christmas, 54 families received a Chrisemas basket, each
basket containing
10 1b. urkey 4 loaves bread
3 Ibs. sirloin of beef 2 Ibs. sugar
3 ats. potatoes 2b. tea
2 gts. turnips 4b. coffee
2.qts. parsnips 1 box cocoa
1 ge. apples $1.00 cash
‘One hundred and forty-eight children received Christmas stockings,
each stocking containing:
Boys Girls Babies
1 ball 1 book 1 soft ball
1 bag marbles I pr. woolen gloves 1 rattle
woolen cap 1 picture book
x gospel (Se. John) x gospel (St. John) x woolen cap
1 pr. skates I pr. skates 1 pe. woolen mittens
1 box of candy 1 doll 1 toy
1 pr. stockings 1 box of candy 1 baby doll
1 game 1 pr. stockings 1 pr. stockings
Underwear Underwear Underwear
1 pr. woolen gloves Hair ribbon
‘Tue Reuter Work oF THE Assoctation 63
During the past year our Relief Bureau has advised and
assisted twenty-one discharged or paroled women prisoners.
ven of the above number were worthy of assistance.
‘The other nine cases were mostly intoxication cases, and
the women were sent to the St. Barnabas Home, where they
remained only one night, when they went out, and their present
‘whereabouts are unknown.
The Association has written co Mr. Charles F. Rattigan,
Warden of Auburn Prison, Miss Moore of Bedford Reformatory,
Miss Curtin of the Western Home of Refuge for Women, and
to Miss Harris, Superintendent of the Workhouse, advising
them that we are willing and glad to undertake the supervi-
and care of female paroled and discharged prisoners.
the Women’s Relief Committee of the Association meets
monthly during the year, except in the summer, to discuss and
decide how best to help the families of men who are now
in prison. At very frequent intervals, the Chairman, Mr.
Alexander M. Hadden and our Family Relief Visitor, Mrs.
Rodgers, confer on the details of individual instances of
need. During 1914 we have investigated and helped twice
as many families as during the previous year. Although this
branch of our work has developed modestly and within the
limits of our income, for various causes we have expended for
family relief more than $3,000 during the year. We give
advice, encouragemerts, work, clothing, rent, cash, medical
and legal help, as the need may require. Some families are
referred to us by other societies and some make personal ap-
plication. Our fundamental aim is to give that most necessary
help which enables the family to keep together. The Women’s
Relief Committee meets frequently most pathetic instances of
need, and the Commitee bespeaks in chis annnal report that
support which it feels sure would be generously given if the
need could be intimately known by the publ
During the past year also the problem has come still more
strongly before us as to a more adequate method on our part
of helping women who have been recently released from prison
or other correctional institution. After several conferences
held at the Prison Association offices, a plan has had its resule
in a small house which has been opened at 70 Horatio St., and
is known not by any special name, bue by the number and
street. Here approximately 12 women who have lately come
from the workhouse and the penitentiary can be housed at a
64 ‘Tae Prison Association of New York
There is no other home in New York City which is
The house is a
Personal encourage
doing the same work in this incensive
temporary home and is non-sectarian.
ment is given to the women and they are helped to find work.
Deaconess Virginia Young, who lives directly across the street,
supervises the home with the aid of a house-mother. The
house itself is under the management of acommittee of fourteen,
and is maintained independently, without any supervision by
the Prison Association, but in close affiliation with it. The
financial support for one year has already been received and
promised by personal friends of the Committee, of which Miss
A. G, Carter is Chairman, Miss B. H. Davison Secretary and
Mr. Alexander M. Hadden Treasurer.
Our prison visitor, for whose salary we have been indebted
to Mrs, Dean Sage of Albany, has during the past year
assisted many men, not only by his visits to institutions in
which they have been imprisoned, but also in securing for
‘them employment on their release after application at our
office.
‘A summary of the work of the prison visitor for the fist
eight months of 1914 is typical:
Visits to inseieutions
Interviews a¢ prisons
Interviews at office
Persecution cases investigated
Counsel secured and legal advice obtained
Applications for employment received
Employment secured
Investigations at request of prisoners
Employers visited with'view of finding work
Homes secured for friendless boy prisoners
Released prisoners returned to hemes out of town and State.
Homes visited to secure lodgings for discharged female
prisoners
‘The above does not show results as to the interviews at prisons
watters have been done for these men
A great many of the office visits are
but a great many detait
which cannot be classified.
‘Tue Rutter Work or tHe Association 65
also a result. The men call for a friendly chat or advice and some
far velief,
In abbreviated form we print summaries of a few of the
many special instances of assistance and advice given by the
prison visitor during the year
A. B. Discharged from penitentiary, no home or money. Se
cured transportation for bim to his home ia Eastem Long Toland.
C.D. Started institutional life in juvenile asylum, has been in
reforrmatory, penitentiary, State prison, Naval prison at Pores
mouth, N. H., petroleum camp in Florida, in all about fifteen years,
imprisonment; is 27 years old now. On his discharge from the
penitentiary, we secured him employment and loaned him money
to maintain him until he could get on his feet. He has recurned
amount of loan, and has been working steadily since January 7,
i914. His salary has been increased and he is now earning fourteen
dollars weekly; has not tasted liquor since his release, keeps good
hours and is saving money.
E. F. Jn penitentiary, served wo terms, family living in
Brooktyn disowned him. He begged me to see hem so that he
could go there when released. Visited mother who has now for=
given him and has taken him home.
G. 11. Tn penitentiary. Secured his back sal ry and arranged
with employers to take him back in their service when discharged.
J. Sentenced to indeterminate term of two to four years
at Blackwel’s “sland penicentiary by Judge Fawcett, allowed £0
eimain six months after minimum had expired. Helped to secure
discharge.
KL. Elmira and penitentiary. After his discharge from latter
secured him temporary home at Cheystie Street House while com-
‘municating with his people in Boston from whom he had not heard
in five years, Brought about reconciliation and provided him
with passage home. Letters from him show chat he is doing well
M. N. Ludlow street jail, debt victim, Secured counsel for
him and brought about his release. He had been confined several
months. Also gave his family relief.
©. P. Stranger in city released from penitentiary without a
penny. Provided for him while communicating with his friends
Up the State, where he was ultimately sent,
QR. Stopped persecution by former partner, who had him
5
66 ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
sent to Elmira and was trying to secure money from him, claiming
bur'ness debts; arrested twice.
S.T. Arrested om complaint of wife because he was temporarily
‘out of work. Secured a position for him and brought aboue «
reconciliation.
UV. State prison,
previous record.
W. X. Served sentence for forgery. Secured him place as sales.
man with his old employer. fs doing well
Y, Z. Boy 17 who committed theft. Have been in correspond
ence with him sin e his enlistment in Navy. He also calls on me
when he is on furlough. He is doing very well and hopes soon to
secure appointment to Annapolis,
‘A.C. Secured counsel for this man, thereby obtaining his
acquittal on charge of thelt. He had been arrested four times on
same kind of charge and it was an apparent case of persecution
Family was cated for by Association while he was confin
‘A.D. Now confined in prison.
nent people in the State, asserting his innocence to them. The
case attracted the attention of governors, judges and many men
in public life. His story was so plausible chat he was universally
believed. A thorough investigation covering da
made. The district attorney of Kings County
fn information given by me, made an investigation costing several
hundred dollars. My investigations brought me in contact with
many of the lowest characters and I finally gained enough informe
tion to satisfy me that the claim of innocence was unfounded. He
hhad based his hope on the death of several of che witnesses who
had appeared against him. While no good was done the man, his
practice of annoying so many people has been stopped.
Stopped persecution by police because of
He had interested many” prom
JAIL LIBRARIES,
In 1913, through the very painstaking and efficient work of
Miss E. H. Davison, libraries of from 25 to so new books were
placed in 2 number of the county jails of the State. Many
of the jails visiced by our inspectors had been found deplorably
lacking in reading material. Following the poliey of the Prison
Association, we had advocated the establishment of a separate
Jail Library Commictce in this case, because of the additional
interest which bade fair to be aroused in the very helpful
‘moment.
‘Twe Reuier Wonk or THe Association 7
During the pase year the membership of the Jail Library
Committee has been increased and the scope of the work ex.
vended. Under the leadership of Miss EH. Davizon, the
work has promesed vey atsfaconly, and iti eran cae
the value Of censored reading matter, especially for persons
neareated cam not be oveneaimated. In the absence of
sufficient employment, she reading of books by prisonets re:
tards the Serious possiblity of mental deterioration, "Comm
nications from sheriffs ate. to the effect that the libraries
fame co the jails are "big help” toward promoding good
discipline
‘Ae the beginning of the year, the sherif ofeach jail in which
a library had been installed signed a pledge in which he agreed
to encourage the frequent use of the books and to see that they
wee props care fo.
From March t9r5 10 November 1913, eighteen jails were
supplied with Kravis, averaging, Afty books v0 a Kbrary and
mmaking a otal of 869 books, "Since April, 1914, eighteen
Additional jails have been supplied with Rbravies: with & total
Of 807 books
The braves donated in xox4 were installed inthe following
county DONATED BY
Mr. C. Beverly Davidson, Jr.
+-Mr. and Mrs. Wm, W. Phillips
: Mrs. Geo. Bliss
Yates. Be Mrs. E. S. Auchineloss, Jr.
Greene Wm. Fahnestock
Wayne D. Coddingeon
Otsego Geo. F. Bliss.
Warren Geo. D. Cheney, Jr.
Oneario tee C CA. and AM, T,
Niagara sete Mrs, C.F. Dieterich
Chemung. Mrs. John French
Essex... teccute-Prof. and Mrs, H, M. Howe
Delaware. ‘Mrs. 8. P. Bayne
Chautauqua
Columbia
Orleans
Herkimer... 1.
Catearaugus.
Ulster.
Oswego
Rensselaer. .
*Mrs. H. Livingston
+-Miss L. P. Bayne
Miss E. K. Lamont
‘Mrs. Fred Corse
6s ‘Tne Prison Association of New York
‘Members of the Committee have also rendered good service
in arranging with various clubs throughout the city to give
up at the end of each month their old magazines and other
reading matter. These have been called for by the Depart
ment of Correction, and have been distributed £0 the various
institutions throughout the city. A large number of books
were contributed to the library of the Women’s Prison at
Auburn by a member of the Committee. Through a meniber
of the Committee, a set of the Enclyclopaedia Britannica
was added to the library at Sing Sing Prison. This was very
much needed.
‘At che time of inspection of each jail, where there is a library
installed, the inspector examines the books and confers with
the sherilf’ and prisoners relative to their use and value. Sub-
sequent t0 this, a report is sent to the donor of the books and
also to the secretary of the Committee. Recently, new books
have been given by donors eo rake the place of the books de-
stroyed or lost in the respective libraries, since the time of
inseallation.
‘THE FINANCIAL YEAR,
‘The Association can be fairly well satisfied with the financial
year of 1913-1914. Practically all the charitable societies
were seriously affected by the general “‘hard times” of the
fiscal year, a condition exceedingly intensified by the ourbreak
of the European war in August, 1914.
Nevercheless, the income of the Association for the year
ending September 30, 1914 was $26,989 as compared with
$26,270 for the previous fiscal year. Our budget, however,
estimated early in the fiscal year of 1913-1914, was based on
1 reasonable increase in the contributions for the year, and otr
expenditures for the year were planned on that basis. A
deficit, therefore, of approximately $1,000 faced us at the end
‘af September, 1914, not a serious showing in the year of special
financial depression.
During the year we have been fortunate in several bequests,
which, while modest, nevertheless testify to the increasing
interest and the establishment of @ permanent. fund of the
Association.
Mrs. John Innes Kane of 1 West 4ath Street, established
in January, 1914, a fund of $5,090 in memory of her husband,
John Innes Kane, whose interest in prison reform was well
‘Tar Reuter Work oF THe Association 69
town. Mrs. Kane outlined the purpose of the git at fol
“The income of this fund I desire to have used primaril
for the development of sane public opinion regarding prison
reform, particularly in connection with the betterment of
prison conditions. I wish, however, that the Trustees of the
Prison Association should feel that they may at any time use
the interest of this fund for any purpose that secms to them of
the greatest importance in the Association’s field of activity.”
In addition, the Association received during the year wich
gratitude a legacy of $2500 from Mrs. Julia Billings as a
memorial fund, and from the Estate of Nathan Hermann 2
legacy of $1,000, The three legacies mentioned above have
been added ro the pettnanent fund of the Association, of which
The growth of the Endow
been very satisfactory during
nt Fund of the Association has
i five years ending September
30,1914. At the end of 1909 the Endowment Fund amounted
to 89,108 and at the end of the fiscal year ending September 30,
to1g) the Endowment Funds amounted to $83,198.23
CHAPTER THREE.
PROGRESS IN NEW YORK STATE IN 1914,
‘THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, NEW YORK CITY.
HE year 1914 has been for the State of New York an
| exceptional period in prison reform. On January 1,
‘Miss Katharine Bement Davis took office, having been
appointed by Mayor Mitchel as Commissioner of Correction of
New York City, She was the first woman to be appointed to
the chief executive position of a department of the City govern:
ment and she came into office especially well qualified to reor-
ganize and develop the Department of Correction. From 1901
to 1913, inclusive, she was Superintendent of the New York
State Reformatory for Women at Bedford, 2 modern cottage-
system institution. Perhaps more than in the case of any
other American correctional institution for women she has
developed varied occupations, both indoor and outdoor, for
women prisoners. She has also recently secured the coopera-
tion of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., in the establishment of
a Bureau of Social Hygiene at the State Reformatory for
Women, the special function of which is to study intensively
both the physical and mental conditions of women prisoners,
for the purpose of determining the most efficient treatment of
women convicted of crime.
‘The Department of Correction of New York City has long
needed a firm and comprehensive plan for its improvement and
development. ‘The deplorable conditions in this important
branch of the City government have become a byword. The
administration of Commissioner Patrick A. Whitney, from
1910 to 1914, brought many important changes, chief among
which was the development of plans to establish in Orang:
County, N. Y., the New York City Reformatory for Misde
meanants to replace the present institution located on Hart’
Island. Under Commissioner Whitney’s administration, an ex
cellent tract of farming land, consisting of some 600 acres, was
purchased approximately at New Hampton, halfway between
the towns of Middletown and Goshen. Architects’ plans for
rp
New Hampton Farms, Moving In,
Procress in New York Stare in 1914 at
a combination congregate and cottage system for this reforma-
tory were prepared by Charles B. Meyers, were adopted by
Commissioner Whitney, and have with modifications been
adopted by Commissioner Davis. Commissioner Whieney’s
administration was characterized by sympathy and sincerity
and an increasing conviction of the value of most modern and
systematic treatment of the inmates in his Department.
Miss Davis almost at once appointed Burdette G. Lewis as
Deputy Commissioner of Correction. Mr. Lewis had been
for several years closely connected with the City government,
first as secretary to Mr. John Purroy Mitchel, while president
of the Board of Aldermen, and later as chief examiner of the
Board of Aldermen. Both Miss Davis and Mr. Lewis have
had a wide general training, Miss Davis holding the degree of
Ph. D., from the University of Chicago, and Mr. Lewis a
collegiate degree from Cornell University
The advent of Miss Davis and her deputy, was enthusi-
astically greeted by all who desired to secure the elimi
of political influence from the Department of Correction
and a competent and far-sighted administration of the Depart-
ment.
THE NEW HAMPTON FARMS.
During the year 1914 several important developments
slong institutional lines within the Deparrment have occurred.
In March, Miss Davis, unwilling to wait for the completion
of institutional buildings at the City Reformatory site at
New Hampton, transferred to that site from the City Reforma-
tory at Hare’s Island 25 young men, inmates of that institu
tion. Through private subscription, funds had been raised
to provide for the employment of a farm superintendent,
Mr. Robert Rosenbluth, a young man who had rendered
excellent service in the Forestry Department of New York
State, with the Conservation Commission, and had with
success been supervising groups of inmates from Clinton
prison, working for weeks in che woods in the neighborhood
of that prison and sleeping in camps.
Commissioner Davis’ experiment in building an institution
“from the first board up ” has been an interesting feature of
the year. At New Hampton the inmates constructed at
once a “bunk house” with accommodations for 50 inmates.
No walls surrounded the farm. Every opportunity was present
oa ‘Tue Prison Assoctarion or New Yore
for escape. The inmates themselves were young men whose
qualities of obedience and loyalty were still largely to be
developed. The Department of Correction borrowed from
other City departments wagons, horses, cattle and farm
implements. Under serious but expected difficulties, many
acres of the run-down farm were made ready and planted
During the summer the number of inmates was increased
from 25 to 50. Mr. Rosenbluth was assisted by several
eomperent farm instructors who had farm experience and an
agricultural school record. The results of the first year are
briefly stated in the reports of che inspectors of the Prison
Association to be found on pages 456-469 of Part II of the
‘Annual Report
‘The above experiment is more radical than appears on the
surface, because it has meant the abrupt and complete severing
from their ordinary environment of a half hundred young
delinquent citizens of New York. It is an effort to provide
for them better health, adequate work, varied occupations,
valuable manual and mental training in practical labor, and
a developing sense of loyalty and self-respect which shall
ultimately render the paroled inmate from “ New Hampton
Farms ” a good citizen, a wage earner and a man competent
to support himself with honesty
| In ror4, there was reapproptiated to the Department of
ICorrection the sum of $400,000 for construction and equip-
ment of the New York City Reformarory for Misdemeanants
at New Hampton Farms. The architectural problems have
em facing the Department has been to. secure,
on the one hand, the necessary custodial and disciplinary
features and on the other hand to give wide latitude to such
an honor system as would naturally develop.
MEDICAL SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION.
‘That the medical service of the Department of Correction
in this city is far behind the times, that the physical facilities
in the way of hospital accommodations, examining rooms,
ete, are deplorably inadequate, that the organization of the
medical staf is inefficient, and che number of officers too
small, were some of the general conclusions arrived at by an
investigation by Phitip Klein, Assistant Secretary of the Prison
Procress 1x New York Stare in 1914 B
Association. The report of the investigation was submitted
by the Association to Commissioner Davis on December, 1914.
His report showed that the actual amount of medical work
done in the Department, though far below what it ought
to be, amounts t0 the running of a hospital with capacity for
250 patients, and of dispensaries treating some 600 patients
daily; but whereas an ordinary hospital or dispensary is run
in one place, with proper accommodations, che work in the
Deparemenc of Correction is done in more than a dozen
different places, with sadly inadequate accommodations.
In describing the medical work at the different institutions
the report made numerous revelations of poor, unorganized,
inefficient, uncontrolled and unsupervised work. Each prison
does its work in its own way, and there is no one responsible
for their adequate inspection
‘The. purposes of the medical service in the prisons are set
forth to be
First: Eficient treatment of disease in the same sense that
any treatment would be given to any persons on the outside.
‘Second: Correctional treatment, that is, medical service of
a kind designed to eliminate mental and physical debilities
that may be regarded as contributory causes to crime, or as
hindrances to the rehabilitation of a prisoner on hig release
from che prison,
Third: The utilization of the abundant medical, surgical
and psychiatric material presented in penal institutes for
scientific study in criminology, and in the various branches of.
medical science.
There is a daily average of §,000 prisoners in these prisons,
and more than 110,000 admissions to the various prisons
during the year. By accepted standards, the report says, all
admissions ought to be thoroughly examined, yet practically
nothing of this kind is being done now.
Magistrates are often unable to make the proper disposition
of cases because of medieal advice, and the lives of many
prisoners are in danger for the lack of proper medical attention
at the proper time.
‘The sanitary supervision of the prisons, which ought to be
the duty of the physician, is largely neglected because of the
lack of standards and of central control. Physicians have no
7 ‘Tus Prison Association or New York
incentive for their work, and the medical possibilities are
neglected for lack of organization or of cooperation of the
medical profession.
The report outlines a complete plan for the improvement
and organization of the medical service in the Department,
at the comparatively very small cost in additional salaries of
some $20,000, and the gradual perfection of the hospital
accommodations.
The principal specific recommendations made in the report
are the following:
1, The control of all medical service throughout the Depart-
ment should be centralized for administration and supervision
so as to make possible all other recommendations to follow.
2. As the central controlling and supervising authority,
there should be appointed a general medical superintendent,
responsible for all medical service of the Department. He should
be a well-salaried officer of high standing.
3. All physicians, nurses, apothecaries, and others performing
work in connection with the medical service, should be responsible
to the general medical officer, in all matters, except that the
power of discipline should be further exercised by the Com-
missioner.
4. The general medical officer should establish, carry out and
supervise standards of treatment for the various types of ail-
ments, standards of record keeping, standards of general
sanitary supervision co be exercised hy the physicians in their
respective institutions,
5. The general medical officer should establish such cor-
relation of prison routine with the medical service as will enable
the prison wardens and the medical staff to join hands in the
physical rehabilitation of the prisoner.
6. A plan of examination or admission should be installed
by which each inmate shall receive complete physical examina-
tion at the institution of his firse admission. ‘This examina-
tion constitutes the basis of further medical treatment while an
inmate of che Department of Correction.
7. To make possible the development of the medical service
for the greatest henefit to the prisoners and to medical science,
the staff should be so organized in grades of service as
to provide an incentive to medical officers to make penological
medical service their specialty, and to seek promotion within
New Hampton Farins, The Dinner Hour.
‘New Hampton Farms. Inmate Baseball Team,
Prooress Iv New York Stare an 1914 75
the system of medical service existing in the Department. For
this purpose the plan is here proposed of establishing grades
classified in accordance with the varying character of the work
in the different institutions of the Department, with titles
and salaries varying accordingly
8. The medical staff should hold frequent meetings to discuss
their work and offer suggestions.
9. The cooperation of the medical profession of the City of
New York should be (and ean be) enlisted in providing a satis.
factory advisory, visiting and consulting staff,
10, The medical board of the Workhouse as an executive
should be abolished, and the assistance of outside physicians
be procured, as suggested in the preceding recommendations.
All prison duties of that board should be taken over by the general
medical superintendent.
‘A sufficient number of nurses should be provided, of
proper calibre and at proper salaries, for all institutions where
they are needed.
412, The principle of the central hospital for the Depare-
ment should be accepted, and changes in the plant made, with
a view co che gradual attainment of such 2 central hospital.
13. Such central hospital should be located, preferably,
on Blackwell's Island, where it may remain as a hospical even
after the removal of the Workhouse and Penitentiary from the
Island.
14. As steps to this centralization, there should be developed:
(a) Hare's Island as a tuberculosis center and “dope”
(b) A hospital ward in connection with the Tombs.
15. A prison ward should be provided in some hospital in
Brooklyn to serve the same purpose for the City Prison, Brook-
lym, as the prison ward in Bellevue Hospital serves for Man-
hattan and The Bronx.
16, The present hospital accommodations should be improved
ae che Workhouse.
17. A new hospital should’ be built at the Penitentiary on
Blackwell's Island.
18. The top floor of the Tombs should be transformed into
a hospital ward.
19. The Department should acquire the exclusive use of an
ambulance built especially in reference to the peculiar needs
of the Department.
6 ‘Tae Parson Association of New York
NEW YORK cITY’s NEW PRISONS.
When the present plans have been cartied out, New York
City will have two of the most modern prison buildings in
the world for the detention of prisoners, namely, the Women's
Prison and the Essex Market Court and Prison. The chief
importance of this fact, from the standpoint of prison arch
tecture in America, lies in the fact that the two prisons ate
to be buile with a recognition that the “ outside cell " is the
oper way of housing prisoners
, re to be constructed by the City authorities
control of building operations within the
Ciey, but will be in charge, so far as their prison quarters are
concemed, of the Deparement of Correction. All plans
respecting the prison departments of the building are being
made in accordance with plans of the Department,
Tus Women’s Prison (Griffin & Wynkoop, No. 30 Church
Street, New York, Architects) is to be located in West, 3oth
Street, Manhattan, on a plot 100 feet by 100 feet. The build
ing is'to include the_magistrate’s court for hearing cases of
women exclusively. The firse four floors are devoted to the
court and accessory rooms, such as rooms for the clerk of
the court, district attorney, probation officers, finger-print
‘On the fifeh floor of the building are placed the quarters
for the adminiscrative officers of the prison, the apartments
of the superintendent and assistant superintendence, both of
whom will be women, and rooms offering facilities for visitors
to inmates. The visiting booth on the fifth floor is to be of
the double-screen style.
On two of the floors devoted to the coure, there are temporary
detention cells for the confinement of prisoners during court
action.
From the sixth to the fourteenth floors the building concains
cells in ewo large groups, one group for the detention of
prisoners under investigation or held as witnesses, and the
other for prisoners regularly detained in the court for trial.
The building as a whole has three entrances, through ane
of which the prison van enters to deliver prisoners to the
temporary detention celis until such time as complaints are
entered against them and the court is ready to take up their
eases. Another entrance is for the public, and leads to the
Procress iN New York State IN 1914 7
courtroom and the other public rooms connected with the
court, while the third entrance gives access to the judges’
rooms, and for probationers making reports.
‘As indicated above, there are three distinct sets of cells:
(a) Those for temporary detention of women in the course of
court action; (b) for che non-penal detention of women await-
ing investigation, or held as witnesses, and (c) the prison
quarters.
(a) Temporary detention cells These will serve for the
separate detention of individual prisoners during the time they
are waiting to appear before the court. Their stay in these
cells will vary from a period of a few minutes to several
hhours at the most. The requirements for these cells are,
therefore, not the same as for regular cells. There are 38
such cells, of which rr are “outside cells” and 27 “ inside
cells.” Thirty-three of the cells are 10 feet by 6 fect by 5 feet
8 inches; five of the cells are larger, being 6 feet 6 inches by
11 feet by 8 feet in the case of four cells, and 7 feet by 10 feet
hes by 8 feet in the case of one cell.
‘There is a toilet and washscand of vitreous material, and
there will probably be 2 bench in each cell. The plumbing
is enclosed in a utility duct, 3 feet 6 inches by 8 inches, and may
be reached through 2 removable steel panel in the cell
The cell walls are of steel, the floors concrete, with an
admixture of cement hardener at the surface to produce a
smooth impervious surface
(b) Detention cells—Four floors or tiers, each containing
24 cells, and part of one floor containing 12 cells, are devoted
to the detention quarters, making a total of 108 cells. ‘The
cell walls and floor are of concrete, except the front wall facing
the entrance corridor, which is of steel. ‘The door in this wall
is 2 feet by 6 feet, solid, with the exception of a small mesh-
protected opening for observation. A toilet and washbasin
of vitreous material, with push-button flush, is in each cell,
and the phimbing is contained in a vertical duct, accessible
through a panel in the corridor. There will, of course, be 2
bed and other utensils.
All the cells are “‘ outside” cells. They are 6 feet 14 inches
by rx feer 3} inches by 9 feet.
All of the tiers, or floors, are of practically the same design,
as represented in the plan herewith reproduced. Eighteen
of the cells of each tier open into a court of “ U” shape, facing
the street; four face the street and two eells face the side courts
7B ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
Each floor consists of two units of 12 cells, each accessible from
the corridor, and so arranged that each can be made a group
for classification and segregation from all other groups. Each
such group has a dining-room of its own, and an open air
loggia serves two groups alternately for exercise.
(c) Prison cells-—‘There are six tiers or floors of prison
cells, rotaling 144 cells, constructed on precisely the same
plan as the detention cell tiers, the only difference being the
form of door, which will consist completely of bars, instead of
being solid with only an observation opening, as in the case
of the detention cells.
Electric lights are to be placed in all but the temporary
detention cells, The outside windows are 2 feet 4 inches by
5 feet, and it is intended to allow them to be opened both by
the hinged and by the “ up-and-down method.” All windows
are to be barred, and, in addition, on two tiers there will be a
wire mesh 10 inches from the window.
The topmost, or sixteenth floor, is to contain the kitchen
and employees’ dining-room, etc. and a hospital with a
capacity of seven in the ward and one in the contagious or
maternity room.
The most remarkable features of this building are undoubr-
edly, first, the splendid arrangement of the court and tem-
porary detention cells, and of the separate entrances to insure
complete separation of the prisoners and court offenders,
and, secondly, the general introduction of the outside-cell
system, which is to obtain in all of the 252 regular cells, and in
11 of the temporary detention cells. ‘The style of architecture,
as seen from the accompanying illustration, is in no way
unfavorably affected by the outside-cell construction, but, if
anything, rather favorably.
Essex Market Courriouse anp Jan (Alfred Hopkins,
Architect, 101 Park Avenue). ‘This building, to be located at
the corner of Second Avenue and: Second Street, is to house
the Third District Magistrates’ Court and several other courts
on the lower floors, and the prison quarters and administrative
offices on the six upper floors. The plans prepared by Mr.
Hopkins were selected from a total of ten plans in a regular
competition, chiefly on the basis of the “ outside cell ” feature.
There are to be five tiers of cells, four to be devoted to the
district prison, and the fifth, or top tier, to be devoted to the
New York County Jail for civil prisoners.
(aos
“Ai HOA, MON ‘to
Prooress in New Yor State 1N 1914 9
‘The typical floor plan as shown contains 31 outside cells
and 21 inside cells, ‘The exercising space is to be located on
he roof. Meals are to be taken in a dining-room located on
one of the prison floors. All outside cells are along the inner
court and the lighting court on the side. The cells facing
the street on Second Street, and on Second Avenue, are con
structed on the “ inside ” plan, but face large, well-constructed
windows, As to the outside cell proper, in which our chief
interest lies, each cell is to contain 2 toilet and washbasin of
vitreous material, the plumbing for which is contained in a ver-
tical duct, 30 inches by 24 inches, accessible from the corridors
through a removable steel plate. ‘The toilet is to be behind
this duce, so as to be practically invisible from the corridor
Gee plan). As an additional provision for privacy, a sheet of
metal extending from a little below the seat upward for a
few feet is to be attached. A wide wooden cover comes down
on the toilet and serves as a seat at other times. In front of
this seat is to be located a moveable shelf which can be used
asa table. ‘The enclosure, which conceals the plumbing pipes,
will also be used as a vent-duct and ventilator. Both toilet
and wash basin will be flushed by a push-burton flush, ‘The
interior of the cell will be of whive enamel.
‘The size of the cell is 5 feet by 10 feet by 8 feet in the clear,
with a door of the usual size, chat has an opening through which
things may be passed. ‘The outside window has some fearures
copied from European prison plans. The cells are operated
with safety locking-device, which will enable all the doors to
be opened at once or any one door separately. The cell walls
are to be of steel, the corners rounded. ‘The floor will be
concrete, sloping somewhat toward the corridor. The window
ventilation is to be in control of the prisoner, but he will be
able to open it a limired distance only, The window is so
i can be opened for cleaning purposes as far as
desired, while it can be so locked that the prisoner cannot
open it except for a determined distance. There is to be an
Jectrie light in each cell.
A survey of the first year of the new administration in the
Department of Correction shows rather remarkable progress,
most of which is direcly attributable to the activities of the
new commissioner, while other developments that had origi-
nated with the previous administration, were encouraged and
furthered during the past year. As indicative of the scientific
80 Tue Prison Association of New York
methods that were likely to be followed, should be cited the
series of studies undertaken for the purpose of obtaining facts
that would enable the department to adopt a definite working
program. In these studies the force of the department and
the forces of other departments, municipal and private organi-
zations, codperated. The most important studies have been
the following:
1. The City Prison, Manhattan.
2, The women’s departments of institutions.
3. The dietaries and food supply system.
4 The sanitary conditions in respect to food supply and storage.
5. The heating, lighting and ventilating plants of 2 number of
the institutions.
6. The steamboat service.
7. The entire medical service of the department.
8. The efficiency and rating system for employees.
The above studies were an important addition to the studies
that had been undertaken during the previous administration
by the office of the Commissioner of Accounts, and resulting
in a series of improvements to be mentioned below:
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE YEAR.
1. Records.— OF all the functions of the Department per-
haps its system of records was most unsatisfactory. The
investigations by the office of the Commissioner of Accounts
resulting in the introduction of a vastly improved system,
while undertaken in a previous administration, have eventuated
during the past year, and for that reason may justly be con-
sidered one of the accomplishments of 1914. By means of
duplicate sheets, upon which admissions and discharges are
recorded at each institution, and also at the central office,
a working record of every inmate is available both at the
prison where he is confined and at the central office. The
information from these sheets is transferred to cards, one
card for each individual remaining at the institution where
he is confined and following him from institution to institu-
tion if transferred, while the other card remains on perma-
nent file at the central registrar's office. It has been possible
on this basis to make the central office a bureau of informa-
tion, and to simplify the pass system for the 600 or 700
visitors daily seeking their friends at the various prisons.
Prooress 1x New York State 1 1914 at
Ie will also be possible, within 2 year or two, on the basis of
this system, and especially with the aid of the codperation in
“finger-ptint ” control between the magistrates’ courts and
the workhouse, to present to the public really accurate sta-
tistics in respect to prisoners in the department. The present
statistics, as they appear in the department reports or in the
State Prison Commission reports, are seriously unreliable.
‘The control of the employees’ time sheets and payrolls has
also been perfected by the Commissioner of Accounts’ office.
‘The system of requisitions for the daily food supply has been
changed, so that it is now handted from the registrar's office.
When these requisitions came from the individual institutions,
an over-estimating of several hundred inmates per day was
not unusual. The saving, therefore, is great, since estimates
for too inmates a day call for sixteen dollars. The cost
accounting system for the penitentiary industries, which was
introduced by the department through its own initiative,
has removed one of the worst features in the management of
ictary of the department has been com-
ganized. Copies of the dictary will be found
Usewhere in this report (pp. 466-469). a
3. Drug crusade—The most conspicuous activity of the
Department has been the consistent effort to stamp out the
use of drugs in the institutions. A considerable amount of
detective work, as well as the ordinary inspections, have
emphasized the need of radical remedies. Some of these have
been accomplished through legislative measures, but most
fective have been the administrative methods, such as
prohibiting the bringing in of food from the outside to city and
district prisons; the introduction of caterers with exclusive
rights at the City Prison, Manhattan, City Prison, Brooklyn,
and Jefferson Market Prison; the segregation of “* dope”
fiends within the various institutions, notably the city prisons,
and in the workhouse hospital.
‘4. Miscellaneous. The women serving sentence at the
Penitentiary have been transferred to the City Prison, Queens,
thus considerably improving the living conditions for, these
nmates, as well as the discipline of the Penitentiary. Sewing
instructors were supplied for the women, both at the
Prison, Queens, and at the Workhouse, thus partly at least
alleviating the idleness of the women ‘at those institutions.
6
82 ‘Tur Prison Association or New York
Further progress is shown by the following items: A woman
physician, co make initial examinations of women at the
Workhouse; a woman superintendent, for the female side of
the Workhouse to make possible some form of classification
and segregation by the constant attention to chose matters;
the extension of the use of Hart’s Island as a refuge for tube
cular inmates; the cooperation of the Health Department
in making Wasserman tests and complement fixation tests of
every person admitted to the Workhouse; the repeal of the
law forbidding the deparument to erect any more buildings
on Blackwell's Island; the extension of accommodations on
Hart’s Island and on Riker’s Island. These have all con:
tributed to improve certain of the more serious conditions that
have been existing in the deparement for a long time. ‘The
much criticised “stripes ” for men and “ticking ” for women
also begun to disappear, gray cloth and gingham taking
their places
‘Much of this work was carried on with the aid of private
funds, in order to employ the people necessary for carrying
out these improvements. ‘The work was made much moze
difficult on account of the constant increase of the census of
the department. On September 30, 1913, it was 4,562.
The budget estimate for 1914 was made on a basis, therefore,
of a daily average of 4,500, both in respect to food and to
employees. By January, 1914, however, the date when the
new budget took effect, the average daily’ census had gone up
to 4,853. _ In February it was 5,096.
ie was 5,711, an increase of 13149,
end of the budgetary year, which corresponds to the calendar
year, the average daily census had risen to 6,260. Much
emergency shifting of food supplies and emergency requests
for additional employees were necessary, and the gener:
disciplinary and administrative problems were made te-
mendously dificult. In February 1913, the daily census
has reached the 7,200 mark.
‘A number of accomplishments are to be credited to the year
1914, although the corresponding appropriations are available
from January 1, 1915, only. ‘The establishment of regular
positions, in instances where during the past year private
funds had been called into aid, assured the permanency of
many of the improvements. For example, the woman
physician, the woman superintendent av the workhouse, the
Procress 1s New York Stare In 1914 83
farm superintendent, and farm instructors at New Hampton
Farms, the dietitian, general inspector, and some additional
trade instructors were given a place in the budget. Several
additional physicians, 2 number of additional nurses and
additional keepers and matrons were included in the appro-
priations for 191s. Money was granted also for the erection
of a disciplinary building on Riker’s Island
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE,
Untoward financial conditions in the City government
have hampered appropriations, yet the Department has planned
with great care for a number of further improvements, which
are 90 definitely and insistently requested that they may be
arded as far more serious than simply the expression
esires or even of plans, and they may be locked forward
as probable accomplishments of the next few years. Thus,
the establishment of a hospital on the top floor of the Tombs,
the building of a visiting booth and the reconstruction of the
receiving department at the same prison, have been definitely
planned for.
For the first time in the history of the Department a com-
plece and derailed plan has been made for all expenditures
requiring corporate stock, that is, improvements which require
che expenditare of money that can, aecording to law, not be
gcanced as regular appropriations in the annual budget. Expen-
diures totalling $1,803,284.85 are thus planned for, as fol-
lows:
t. The building, equipment, and gradual development of the
New Hampton Farms, to take the place of the present City Reforma
tory for Misdemeanants on Hart's Island.
2. The erection of a men’s workhouse on Riker's Island, and the
transformation of that island into a city farm of eventually upwards
of 4oo acres of cultivable land.
3. The erection of an industrial penitentiary on Hart's Island.
4. The improvement of the city prisons of Manhattan, Brooklyn
and Queens.
5. The establishment of a farm colony for women,
Towards this total there have already been reappropriated
$425,000 for the New Hampton Farms. The sums necessary for
each year have been 0 calculated as to call for appropriations per
annum as follows:
8 ‘Tue Patsox Association or New York
1955 452,950 00
1916 487444 95
1917 557,889 90
1918 fesse 185,600 00
1919 170,000 co
THE STATE PRISONS.
‘The most significant event in 1914 in. the administration
of the State prisons has been the appointment of Thomas
Mote Osborne to the wardenship of Sing Sing prison
‘Mr. Osbome is a resident of Auburn, N.Y. The appoine
ment in 1913 by Governor Sulzer of Charles F. Rateigan as
warden of Auburn prison gave Mr. Osborne, who is an intimate
friend of Warden Rattigan, a special opportunity to study
Auburn prison at close range. Governor Sulzer also appointed,
in 1913, Mr. Osborne chairman of a commission to investi-
gate prison conditions and to recommend changes. Mr.
Osborne is, further, a vice-president of the Prison Association,
chairman of the National Committee on Prison Labor, and
‘was for many years the president of the George Junior Republic.
After emerging from a week's self-imprisonment at Auburn
Prison in the autumn of 1913, the details of which are graphi-
cally described in a book by Mr. Osborne, entitled “ Within
Prison Walls,” Mr. Osborne delivered lectures throughout
the State on prison reform, and particularly on possible reform
in Auburn prison,
‘At Auburn Prison there has been developing, mainly through
his influence, a modified form of self-government among the
prisoners by means of an organization called the Mutual
Welfare League. For the first time, in the wall-enclosed
prison at Auburn, inmates were granted the freedom of the
yards for somewhat over an hour 2 day, at the elose of the
afternoon. Gradually the number of officers required to guard
the prisoners was reduced, officers were superseded by repre-
sentatives of the prisoners when companies of inmates were
moved to the shops or mess hall, many increased privileges
were granted co the inmates in return for promises faithfully
kept of better discipline and greater loyalty, and the minor
matters of discipline in the prison were gradually transferred
to_a committee of the Marual Welfare League.
The example of Aubum Prison has proved contagious both
at Sing Sing and at Clinton Prisons. On June 29th, Warden
Prooress iv New York STATE IN 1914 85
McCormick, then recently appointed by Governor Glynn,
gave to the Sing Sing prisoners, for the first time in the history
of the institution, yard privileges similar to those granted at
Auburn. ‘The deportment of the inmates has been exception~
ally. good, t Auburn, athleties have been a popular form
of recreation. The enormous significance of daily recreation,
which releases pent-up energy and enables inmates to see
life in a more reasonable perspective, has been especially
marked in the reduction of several forms of vice.
At Clinton Prison also, commonly known as the “ third-
term prison,” yard privileges were granted to the inmates by
Warden Trombly on Saturdays during the fall of 1914. There
Iso, athletic sports were allowed. A selection was made at
Clinzon of those prisoners who might with safety be crusted
in the Clinton Prison yard, which is not so safely enclosed as
the yards of the other ewo prisons. Considerable contribu-
tions in the form of athletic equipment and prizes were made
to the several prisons by Mr. R. M. Hurd, 2 member of the
Executive Committee of the Prison Association.
Lave in October, t914, Thomas J. McCormick was removed
from che wardenship of Sing Sing’ prison by the State Super-
intendent of Prisons, because of unwarranted favoritism
shown to a prisoner at Sing Sing. The Prison Association
became especially active in urging before the Superintendent
of Prisons and the Governor the appointment of a competent
warden, An open letter to the New York City newspapers,
signed by the General Secretary of the Prison Association,
read as follows:
What constitutes a competent warden?—"" A competent warden
must be an efficient manager. He has a comprehensive system
of industries to supervise, producing several hundred thousand
dollars worth of commodities each year. A competent warden
must be a good psychologist. ‘The very lives of from 1,000 to
1,500 men are influenced, and often dominated, by him. The
competent warden must be a good social worker. He must
understand considerable about the eauses of poverty and crime
and their remedies.
“The competent warden must be a good director. He must
be a good disciplinarian. Such a man will know how to reward
as well as to discipline. The competent warden must be a good
financial manager. Large sums of money are entrusted to him.
‘Tue Paisox Association or New York
He must ran his prison economically, but must not stint when
it is necessary co be liberal. The competent warden in most
modern prisons must know considerable about agriculture
about forestry, about dairying.
“The competent warden must have considerable knowledge
of architecture. He must be a builder, a sanitarian. He
must be ingenious in devising modem methods of housing
inmates, He must know how to use inmate Tabor with profit
to the Seaze and with profit to the prisoners. The competent
warden in a dozen different ways not yet mentioned must be
efficient.
"The task and opporeunity of a real warden is one of the
greatest that can be offered to a man, What, therefore, should
be his qualifications before being appoint 10 we take for
president of a college or principal of a high school a man of no
previous experience in education? Do we select as superin=
tendent of a hospital a man knowing nothing of disease? Do
we place at the head of a great commercial enterprise a man who
hhas never studied busi
“Two men, well equipped by experience in social work,
training in insticutional management, thoroughly modern in
their viewpoint, have already seated their willingness and
desire to become warden of Sing Sing prison. ‘Theic names
hhave been presented to the appointive authorities. Who will
be the next warden of Sing Sing prison?”
The Prison Association emphatically recommended the
appointment of Mr. ‘Thomas Mort Osborne or Mr. Charles
H, Johnson to the wardenship. Mr. Johnson has held for
approximately fifteen years important positions in social work
in this State, He was at one time Secretary of the Committee
of the Charity Organization Society on the Prevention of
Tuberculosis. He has been in tum the superintendent of
St. Christopher's Home, the Albany Orphan Asylum and the
Leake and Watts Orphan Asylum. He has been honored by
the Governor of the Stare of New York and by the Mayor of
Albany by appointments on civic bodies.
Mr. Osborne was appointed warden of Sing Sing prison on
November 2oth. His first act was to associate with him, as
is deputy warden and colleague, Mr. Johnson. ‘The appoint
ment of a man like Mr. Osborne to the wardenship of a Seate
prison is without precedent in this State. His single-hearted
Procress 1x New York Srare an 1914 87
devotion to prison reform is attested by the fact that he
has left his home and his natural interests at Auburn to assume
what has frequently been called the ‘' worst job in the State.”
That he has immediately recognized the importance of sup-
plementing his own remarkable ability by the well-tested
administrative experience of Mr. Johnson is a further signifi-
cant action. In short, Mr. Osbore’s acceptance of the
wardenship of Sing Sing prison has made it impossible in the
future for appointive authorities’ to excuse any mediocre
appointment on the ground that first-grade men cannot be
found for the position of prison warden.
The appointment itself became immediately one of national
significance. Editorial comment throughout the country on
Mr. Osborne’s action was most favorable, and the lesson
of the abrupt and complete separation of the administration
of @ prison from any political influences or intrigues was so
marked as to be the dominant note of American editorial
comment.
SING SING MUST Go.
For many years the Association has sought the abolition of
Sing Sing. In 1905, the then chief executive of the Association,
Dr. Samuel J. Barrows, was appointed a member of a com-
mission to investigate the conditions of Auburn and Sing Sing
prisons and to report upon the advisability of establishing new
prisons in their places. Later Dr. Barrows became a member
of the Commission on New Prisons, which was established
in 1906 by the Legislature to build a prison to replace Sing
Sing. ‘The very unsatisfactory history of the several efforts
to secure a site and to build a prison thereon have been a
subject in previous reports of this Association. ‘The aban-
donment of the Wingdale site for the proposed State prison
in 1912 checked any construction for several years to come.
Meanwhile the Prison Association, giving special attention
to the development of prison farms and the honor system,
foresaw the probabilities of a radical change in the principles
of prison construction, and became in 1913 the exponent of
2 new type of State prison, to be built not in one great steel
or stone mass wich high stone walls, but according to a group
system of buildings, economically constructed and with a mini-
mum of steel bars.” Outside cells or rooms should replace the
traditional cell. construction, Interior cellblocks should be
done away with. The classification of inmates by means of
88 ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
separate groups of buildings would make possible progressive
stages in the treatment of the prisoner. While providing
for a custodial division with perfectly secure and well-guarded
buildings for prisoners who must necessarily be under discipline
or severe restraint, the Association in 1913. proclaimed its
belief in the possibility of housing a fairly large majority of
prisoners in simple and economical buildings with 2 mini-
mum of bolts and bars, walls and other unnecessary restraint,
Therefore, in 1944, the Prison Association, while continuing
to focus its searchlight upon the disgraceful physical con-
ditions of Sing Sing prison, urged before the Legislature and
the public the creation of a prison farm with one thousand
acres or more.
Despite the most vigorous publicity in legislative campaigns
for years waged by the Prison Association, i¢ was impossible
to get out of the committee a bill providing for the appro-
priation of $50,000 with which to undertake the purchase of
a portion of the necessary acreage for a new prison. The
Association, not discouraged by the defeat in 1914, and indeed
encouraged that there had been no success in a counter-
movement to rebuild Sing Sing, intends to conduct in 1915
an even stronger campaign for the abolition of the notorious
prison on the Hudson
‘The basis of our campaign for a farm industrial State prison
was presented to Governor Glynn in an open letter, which
we here reprint.
November 1, 1913.
His Excellency
Governor Martin H. Glynn,
Executive Chamber,
Albany, N. Y.
Dear Sir:
‘The Prison Association of New-York at a meeting of its Board
of Managers on May 16, 1913, passed the following resolu:
“ Resolved, That it is the sense of the Executive Committee
of the Prison Association that it is undesirable to rehabilitate
Sing Sing prison or to rebuild it on its present site, and that any
measures that may be undertaken for the relief of conditions
existing there should be of a temporary character only.””
Sing Sing Prison,
Sing Sing Prison. The Lowest Tier, Cellblock Wests
Procress in New York STATE iN 1914 89
I beg to submie herewith a brief embodying reasons leading
the Executive Committee of the Prison Association to the above
conclusion.
In recent weeks the question has again arisen whether the
State might not with justice to the prisoner, to the public and
to itself, rebuild che cellblock 2t Sing Sing. “The accompanying
brief presents what I believe to be conclusive arguments why the
rebuilding of the cellblock at Sing Sing would be a most serious
injustice to the prisoners, to the public, and in the end an
extravagance, from an official standpoint, to the State.
‘Yours very truly,
(0. F. LEWIS,
General Secretary.
1. Thesis.—The rebuilding of the cellblock at Sing Sing,
or a decision to continue Sing Sing as one of the State prisons
of New York, is based upon false economy and is in the highest
degree unwise from the standpoint of modern penology.
2. History of the movements for the abolition of Sing Sing— By
chapter 718 of the Laws of 1995, a State Prison Improvement
Commission was established to inquire as to the structural and
sanitary condition of the buildings at Sing Sing and Auburn
prigons and as to the advisability and cost of reconstructing
and modernizing such buildings. The Commission also was
to consider the advisability and cost of providing two new
prison plants on new sites in the places of Sing Sing and Auburn
respectively, and the advisability of providing one additional
new prison for 2400 prisoners, and the estimated sums that
could be realized from the sale of Auburn and Sing Sing prisons.
This Commission recommended the ultimate abandonment
of both Sing Sing and Auburn and their sale, and the construc
tion of nev prisons upon new sites.
It is hardly necessary to state that the reports of the State
"ison Commission and the Prison Association of New York
for years have condemned the physical conditions of Sing Sing
prison and to a lesser degree those of Auburn. The State of
New York in 1906 appointed a Commission on New Prisons.
Uleimately a location at Bear Mouneain on the Hudson was
selected for the new prison to take the place of Sing Sing. As
the Commission was about to advertise for bids, the Palisades
Park project intervened. In r910, the Legislature accepted
the park offered by Mrs. Harriman and tured over to the
‘Tue Prison Association or New Yors,
Palisades Park Commission the proposed Bear Mountain site
and directed the Commission on New Prisons to select a new
site. A new site near Wingdale, County of Dutchess, was
selected. In 19r2 this site was abandoned, because of ies
alleged unfitness as a sive for a Seate prison,
Since then the matter has Iain relatively dormant, The fact
is, however, that at no time since 1906, when the State deter.
mined to build a new prison to take the place of Sing Sing, has
the State given up this plan. The plan has been postponed,
first, by the giving up of tke Bear Mountain site, and secondiy,
by the abandonmene of che Wingdale site. ‘The Seate stands
committed to the building of a new State prison to replace
Sing Sing and on a new site, A Commission on New Prisons
is legally established for this specific purpose.
Meanwhile the State, under the direction of the State Super-
intendent of Prisons, has under construction the Great Meadow
Prison. This prison when completed will contain 1200 cells,
but will hardly mote than enable the housing of the surplus
over the capacity of the present State prisons, giving one cell
to cach prisoner. Bue the problem of Sing Sing would still
remain untouched.
3. Developments in penolagy since 1906.—The last seven
years have been in the matter of State prison reform possibly
the most important years in generations of all
hhas been the nation-wide development of the priso
movement. Such x movemenc to put State prisons upon a
wide acreage and to develop the so-called honor system must
because of its nation-wide development, be founded upon
fundamental principles. ‘The following paragraphs state, fr
something of the extent of the movement, and, secondly, the
reasons underlying the movement.
(@) The following States among others have recently planned
or developed their State prisons upon wide acreage or are making
‘extensive campaigns for farm prisons
‘Massachusetts plans a farm prison to replace the Charlestown
Massachusetts State prison
Has established a prison camp for tuberculous prisoners.
wundred actes for tramps and
‘New York's latest State prison, Great Meadow, on 1,000 acres,
Has purchased land for State Industrial Farm Colony, over
800 acres.
Procrsss wv New York State in 191g x
New York City has purchased over 600 acres for City Reforma-
tory for Misdemeanants,
ine 068 iy is poethnpel ageececosnen So bbclnon
committed from New York
Board of Seate Reformacory for Misdemeananes plans farm
Neo Jersey bas purchased approximately 1,000 acres for
prison farm to replace State prison (congregate structure similar
+o Sing Sing) at Trenton.
Pennsyleania has purchased approximately $,000 acres for
Central Prison of Pennsylvania, to replace Eastern Penitentiary
and Western Penitentiary, both congregate institutions om
restricted area.
‘Maryland citizens are urging prison farm to replace Maryland
State Penitentiary at Baltimore (congregate institution).
District of Columbia, House of Correction for the District
built on approximately 1,000 acres at Occoquan, Virginia.
‘Ohio. This Stace voted to abandon the Seate Penitentiary
at Columbus (congregate institucion) and has appointed 2
Commission to secure a farm site with wide acreage and to
build a modern farm prison.
Indiana. State Prison Board planning to lease between
00 and 1,000 acres adjoining the present State Prison in
Michigan City.
State Reformatory probably to be abandoned within a few
years and to be supplanted by a farm reformatory.
Lilinois to build State Prison on wide acreage.
State Prison already sending out convicts to work in a camp
miles from the prison.
Minnesota bas recently built a State Prison on wide
acreage.
Colorado is working hundreds of prisoners taken from the
State Penitentiary on road camps.
Oregon, similar work to that in Colorado.
Washington, similar work to that of Colorado and Oregon.
‘The southern states in general have been working their
prisoners cither through contract labor in mines or on the roads
for on plantations. Other western states are also feeling the
prison farm movement.
In short, wherever new prisons are being contemplated, the
first consideration is the importance of building the prisons
upon wide acreage.
‘Tue Prison Association or New Yorx
(B) Reasons governing the prison farm monement.
(a) Heatth, “There is consensus of opinion that the outdoor
life for prisoners, particularly in agricultural pursuits, is heatehy,
Health is the firse requirement in the reformative development
of a prisoner. The Seate of New York at Great Meadow
prison furnishes the most conclusive proof of the change under
favorable conditions resulting from the transfer of prisoners
from Sing Sing to Great Meadow.
(2) Habits and the honor system. ~ Sing Sing has been notorious
as a center of unnatural vice. Confinement in cells for more
than half the day, restricted exercise, a monotonous environ-
‘ment, lack of diversified occupations, and the general hopeless-
ness of prison atmosphere, have contributed to the indeseribable
conditions often prevailing at Sing Sing and at other prisons
‘on the congregate plan, This condition has existed, not only
when two men have been confined in a cell but also where a
large portion of 2 man’s daily life is spent in a cell,
At Great Meadow prison the inmates are locked in their cells
practically only during sleeping hours. The keepers of that
prison report a remarkable freedom from unnatural vice.
Warden Codding of the Kansas State Penitentiary reported
that 90 per cent of this evil was eliminated soon after his utiliza-
tion of a prison farm for his State prisoners
More important even than the development of any one good
habit is che general development of the honor system. No
subject has been more extensively discussed at che annual
‘meetings of the American Prison Association than the excellent
results of the honor system, whether on the roads in Colorado,
in building prison structares at Guelph, Ontario, or in the farm
work at Great Meadow, N. Y. The honor system is the
greatest message yet of the twentieth century in prison reform,
‘The honor system has developed only as the individual has
hhad the chance to develop under the conditions approaching
Such conditions do not exist at Sing Sing, but can
exist in prisons on wide acreage. The honor system is the key
note of che success of Great Meadow Prison. ‘The honor
system is the best approach that the prisoner can make to
normal life which he muse enter on release from prison. It is
the necessary period preceding the patole period. The objection
that the men treated under che honor system at Great Meadow
are picked men, representing the eream of the prison population,
does not hold, because the honor system is never a pure honor
freedorn.
Proorsss in New York Srare mx 1914 93
system for the whole population of the prison. Supervision
still remains, bue is in the form of guards instead of walls and is
0 graduated chat it progresses from a period of strict supervision
to one of practically, though not absolutely, unrestriceed
freedom. ‘The introduction of the honor system is not incon-
siscent with complete supervision where desirable.
3. Classification.— Another fundamental principle of newer
prison and reformatory methods is classification. This means
that so far as possible prisoners requiring like treat-
ment shall he classified and dealt with in reasonably
small groups. Formerly, every prisoner was dealt with in
practically the same way. In those days the great cellblocks
like thae of Sing Sing for 1,200 men were built. To rebuild
the cellblock for 1,200 men at Sing Sing is to defeat one of the
greatest principles of present-day prison reform, namely
adequate classification, The newest prisons are so construct
ing their buildings that there will be the chance to separate
prisoners into groups. The newest prison, ro take the place
of Sing Sing, should be constructed in this manner.
cis not sufficient to cay that by a proper distribution between
the four prisons adequate classification can be produced. Any
modern prison warden will testify as to the impossibility of
such a very limited classification. One of the most serious
difficulties that Elmira Reformacory now faces is the impos-
sibilicy of classifying ies prisoners according to the best principles
of reformatory treatment. The reconstruction of the cell
block in Sing Sing on the present site would make facilities for
classification very difficult if not impossible.
4 Diversifed occupations-—In a prison on wide acreage
there can be most varied and extensive agricultural and industrial
occupations. None of the industries now existing at Sing Sing
need to be abandoned in a new prison, whereas all the neces
sary agricultural industries can be added, which cannot be the
ease at Sin; It is not possible to utilize the restricted
acreage at Sing Sing outside the prison for the varied occupa-
tions on the honor system. The State Commission of Prisons
says that the farming work, which is now exceedingly slight,
could be but slightly increased. Only about fourteen acres
are now under cultivation, There is an abandoned stone
quarry at Sing Sing. This represents the limit of outside
Pursuits.
‘On the other hand, a prison on wide acreage would admit
‘Tue Prison Association or New York
of all-the-year-round outdoor work, employing more men in
summer on the land and more men in winter at the industries.
With a Seace market, estimated in ite possibilities as between
482,000,000 and $20,000,000, a State prison having both agri
cultural and industrial occupations could be kept at the maxi-
‘mum of its eficiency. Such a prison also would give far wider
‘opportunity for employment for prisoners who for various
reasons could nor be engaged in the shops, or, vice versa, on the
land.
5. Discipline Discipline at Sing Sing Prison has been
notably dificult, culminating in the mutiny of last summer.
Difficulties of discipline are conditioned not by any one element,
such as the old cellblock, but by 2 combination of elements
Te cannot be in any way expected that the substitution of a new
cellblock will completely eliminate the serious conditions in
respect to discipline which have prevailed at Sing Sing. Discipli
nary difficulties, on the other hand, at Great Meadow Priso
are practically nonexistent. No use is made of dark c
and, to a considerable degree, the prisoners on the honor system
discipline each other, not physically but by persuasion and
example. Wardens report in general that disciplinary eroubles
disappear in large measure as prisons can develop the honor
system and have the healthy outdoor and varied occupations
of a farm industrial prison.
6. Attitude of the Ssaze.— The attitude of the public of this
State was never more clearly shown than last summer when the
press was practically unanimous in urging the abolition of Sing
Sing and the substitution therefor of a farm industrial prison
fon wide acreage. Sing Sing has long been notorious, justly
for unjustly. There comes a time when the public in general
demand that 2 change be made. Such a time has come in
connection with Sing Sing.
Furthermore, the actitude of a very large number of people
living in Ossining and adjoining towns is strongly adverse 0
the retention of the prison at its present site
7. The expense— This item has been deferred until lace in
the argument, because, while the expense of a new prison is not
inconsiderable, the State of New York has not hesitated in
its treatment, for instance, of the insane of of its poor to incur
reasonable expenses for the proper treatment of its wards.
‘The argument for the retention of Sing Sing is based almost
solely on the question of expense. It was, however, estimated
Procrsss 1N New York Szare in 1914 95
by the State Architect over 2 year ago that to build 2 new
cellblock in Sing Sing would cost over $1,000,000. _In the opinion
of the Board of Managers of the -Prison Association, such an
investment of 2 million dollars would be a matter of most
serious regret, within five years, to the State of New York.
Te has been argued that a new State prison would cose from
three to four million dollars. Such estimates are, without
doubt, wide of the mark. Prison administration during the
lase few years has shown that many prisoners can be placed on
honor and can be housed in buildings of very moderate cost.
Ic is a very serious question why a new Seate prison built upon
the group system and housing one thousand men could not be
buile for, at the most, 2 million and a half dollars, If chat is
too low an estimate and $2,000,000 were assumed as the neces
sary cost, the figures could be very likely kepe within that esti-
mate by the utilization in large measure of prison labor in the
construction of che cell buildings and of the other necessary
buildings. That prison labor in this State can be used cheaply
and with good effect is shown in the construction of Napanoch
Reformatory, where all buildings of a nearly complete reforma-
tory institution have been buile by prison labor at a cost esti-
mated by the Superintendent of the Napanoch Reformatory
at about two-thirds of what the cost would have been if built
by contract.
‘Moreover, this expense for 2 new prison could be reduced
by the sale of the site at Sing Sing and of the forty or more
acres not occupied by the prison buildings. If the site is an
advantageous one for the prison from the standpoint of freight
and transportation, it is of equal value for private ownership,
and the land is also all the more valuable. Arguments are
made that Sing Sing is near New York City, and that the cost
of transportation for relatives and friends to visit prisoners
would be greater if the prisoners were further away from New
‘York. This is quite true, bue members of a family who really
care for their imprisoned relatives would naturally desire to have
their relatives living under the most healthy and advantageous
conditions in preparation for their life outside prison walls.
Freight rates, to be sure, might be a little cheaper, but such
considerations have not prevented the score of States mentioned
under subjece number 3 from planning to place their new
prisons where the greatest advantage will accrue to the prisoner,
and consequently, ultimately to the State.
=
96 ‘Tar Prison Assoctation or New York
Arguments in favor of che farm prison might be continued
and reinforced with many specific citations. ‘The undersigned
believes, however, that the foregoing brief, containing a number
‘of the most fundamental arguments, will convince His Excel.
ency the Governor of this State, that the question of the
abolition of Sing Sing should be most seriously considered,
and that under no circumstances should the mere ground of
expense and the apparent saving of a sum of money to the State
be regarded as a determining factor.
‘The people of this State and the press of this State have spoks
in no uncertain terms their desire and belief that Sing Sin
should cease co be and that a new prison on wide acreage should
be built. In chis macver I am convinced that the leading
wardens and the leading criminologists of this country will
agree.
0. F. LEWIS,
General Secretary,
Prison Association of New York,
During the year 1914 the Association has developed still
further a plan for a State prison constructed on the so-called
progressive system along the lines in general of the outline
tentatively presented in. the report of the Association for
1913. We reprint, therefore, pages 93 to 96 of our last annual
report.
A Proposed New State Prison for New York.
The State of New York has been committed to the erection
of a new Seate prison in place of Sing Sing. We submit here
with the suggestion of a plan of construction of the proposed
prison which will meet the special problems of a State prison
‘that adds to the modern prison the successful results of the
adminiscrative experience gained from juvenile institutions.
In short, the plan proposed seems to combine the best
features of the so-called congregate system with the best features
of the so-called cottage system ot group system,
The *Ley-out.”—In describing the proposed prison ie will be
assumed that the plan is before us and che description will
Present the institution as though already: existing,
‘The farm industrial prison occupies an acreage of approxi
mately 1,500 acres. The prison is not constructed all in one
place; instead, there ate four groups of buildings as follows:
Procress ix New York STATE IN 1914
(a) The Custodial Group.
(b) The Stockade” Group
(c) The Intermediate Group
(@) ‘The Honor Group
‘The fundamental purpose of the farm industrial prison now
being described is to furnish all possible chance to each prisoner
to become an honest, earnest, self-supporting citizen upon his
release, Assuming that the main purpose of imprisonment is
the protection of society, both during the imprisonment and
the subsequent release and discharge of the prisoner, this
farm industrial prison aims co furnish all necessary epportuni-
ties for advancement from group to group, a privilege which
‘must be earned by the prisoner himself. Therefore a descrip~
tion of the groups and their functions now Fallows:
Custodial Grow
‘This group contains, among other buildings, the following:
1, Administration building
2, Reception and observation building
. Disciplinary building
4. Shops
5. Chapel, assembly and school building
"- Dining-rooms and kitchen
Power-plane and laundry
These buildings are grouped around a hollow square and in
their cam are all surrounded by a high prison wall,
‘The administration building serves the purpose indicated
by its name. The reception and observation building receives
all prisoners, holds them for study and observation, and what
might be called their punitive period. ‘This may last weeks
for even months. The construction is the so-called outside
cell or room construction, Escape is prevented through the
use of tool-proof steel and by the outer wall surrounding the
buildings in this group. ‘The disciplinary building serves as
a prison building for those prisoners of normal mind who refuse
to respond to the system of the farm industrial prison. Te is
‘essentially the disciplinary cencer of the institution. Te is also
built on the outside cell plan.
‘Many of the shops, forming at least one side of the hollow
7
‘Tue Prison Association or New York
square and occupying such other space elsewhere as is neces-
sary, are included in the Custodial Group, because many of the
prisoners under discipline are given hard labor in the shops,
The other buildings in this group explain their purpose suf-
ficiently.
“* Stockade Group.”
These and the two succeeding groups are features which
differentiate the proposed State prison from existing prisons
The three groups now to be described represent stages in the
progress of the normal prisoner toward liberty.
After having served a proper time and with good behavior
in the Custodial Group, the prisoner is promoted to the Stockade
Group. Here he lives in a dormitory or in a cellblock, the latter,
however, having outside cells. The stockade is only a high i
fence, high enough to prevent his ready escape. There is
abundant opportunity within the stockade to exercise and to fi
play. The buildings in the stockade group are built of brick j
or conerete or possibly of wood. They are relatively inexpensive, jf
‘as are the buildings in the other groups. The Intermediate
Group and the Honor Group have been built by the prisoners j
themselves with little, if any, outside assistance.
The men in the Stockade Group are not yet long enough in
prison or well enough known to the officials to be trusted to
any considerable degree. Consequently, although they go to
the shops and also to the varied occupations of the farm, they
go under a considerable guard. In the Stockade Group there
are no distinct punishments except deprivations of privileges.
‘The reward in the Stockade Group will come ultimately through
promotion to the Intermediate Group. If a Stockade Group
inmate proves his inability to respond properly to the privileges ff
of the group, he is demoted to the disciplinary building of the
Custodial Group, but with the privileges of earning his way
out into the Stockade Group again.
The Intermediate Group.
This group has no stockade. It consists of one or more
groups of farm buildings and fies more than a mile from the
Custodial Group. The men here live a semi-family life. ‘They
are engaged both in industrial and agriculeural pursuits. They
need relatively litele guarding. The guards are especially
picked for their personality and ability to get along with their
pitti BES
Privat
REL Ped yy’
Tria P Uae
Procress 1s New York State in 191g 99
fellow men. The buildings are simple, economically furnished
and are the product in very large measure of the men them-
selves. Ic is a matter of pride to the men to construct better
conveniences for themselves.
The Honor Group,
Here a picked group of men, who have been especially trust-
worthy and deserving, live under circumstances often as satis-
factory as they have enjoyed on the “ outside,” except that they
are under regular but light supervision. ‘These men are already
‘occupying a position of distinction among the other prisoners.
Frequently they are called upon to direct certain of the prison’s
activities. They are allowed a considerable variety of privileges,
can frequently communicate with the outside world and are
even sent away from the prison on errands of trust. ‘They
are responsible for not a little of the routine work of the prison,
particularly in the shipping of articles to ather institutions.
‘And so the plan might be amplified. Its claim to feasi-
bility is based on the proven face that the Great Meadow State
prison, having only a part of the advantages that the proposed
prison enjoys, has already achieved some of these results. The
derails nacurally must be worked out.
Undoubted advantages are the following: Economy, extended
classification, health, development of honor, normal and varied
‘occupations, prison system based on privileges and depriva-
tions instead of punishments, logical development toward a
normal life outside, introduction of varied agricultural
pursuits
Economy.— One of the strongest arguments against State
prisons as heretofore constructed has been their enormous
cost. The proposed State prison at Wingdale would ultimately
hhave cost $3,000,000. ‘The State prison as outlined in the
above plan ought to be buile complete for not more than half
that sum. This saving would be largely in the nature of the
buildings constructed. Six years ago a plan of this sore would
have been almost impossible to justify, because itis only recently
that the surprising results of the honor system have been made
manifest.
Te would probably be possible to lodge, as time goes on i
2 prison sentence, the majority of prisoners in relatively inex-
pensive structures under close supervision, bue also under
{ledges that they would not attempt to escape. Indeed, from
‘Tue Prison Association of New York.
Comstock, State prisoners have been sent practically without
guards to cultivate farms at Valatie and at Wingdale
Conclusion. Arguments in favor of a farm industrial prison
might be continued at great length. ‘The chief claim of such 3
prison, aside from the factors above mentioned, would be
that it would give to the warden of the prison an exceptional
range of opportunity to deal with che individual prisoner
His system would run the gamut from the strictest disciplinary
custodial care to the broadest possible development of the
honor system.
FARM PRISONS AND FARM COLONIES.
‘The “ back-to-the-land ” movement in prison reform,
which the fundamental principle is that every correctional
institution should have plenty of acreage upon which, not
only to “grow crops,” but to “ grow men,” has made marked
headway in this State during 1914, although neither Sing
Sing nor any of the several correctional institutions already
established by law have materially progressed toward a modem
farm industrial institution, except Great Meadow Prison
Great Meadow Prison, located several miles south of Whitehall
in Washington County, N. Y., has continued to ateract wide
attention under the wardenship of William J. Homer. This
prison has been so thoroughly described in previous reports
of the Prison Association that it is sufficient to state at this
time simply that Great Meadow prison consists of about
1,000 acres of land, on which very varied farming operations
are conducted, and of a collection of prison buildings partially
completed. The structural equipment and plans for Great
Meadow prison present nothing radically different from the
newest prisons of other S A huge cellblock, to contain
1,200 cells, of which Goo are already completed and in use,
will be the central architectural feature. One small building
has served for several years as the adminiseration build
kitchen, mess hall, chapel, ete., During the year the second
half of the cellblock has been in process of construction and
a building containing the dining-room, kitchen and laundry
are_nearing completion,
‘The feature of Great Meadow that has attracted wide-
spread attention throughout the country is the method pur-
sued at that institution, rather than the structural equipment
for the extent of land,
‘There are no surrounding walls. A
Procaess in New York Sate in 191g 108
stockade some 12 feet in height shuts off immediate egress
fom the small yard berween the two already completed
huildings. A large majority of the inmates have occupations
thily away from the prison. Some erews have even worked
Sn the water supply, several miles away from the. prison,
thd during 1914 several road camps have been maintained
by the prison, one, for instance, at Warrensburg in Warren
County, and one in the northern part of Essex County, in
the mountains.
{in short, Great Meadow Prison has served @ national pur-
pose in evidencing the extreme lengths to which prisoners
fray be trusted outside of a prison enclosure. There have
been since the advent of Warden Homer in 1912 only seven
complete escapes from the prison, although on any day it
jus been possible for a large proportion of the prisoners to
tun asray. Nowhere in che East has better proof been pre-
tented of the possibility of holding prisoners by something
Stoager than prison walls and prison bars. Nevertheless,
© the enthusiastic champion of a more modern, more humane
freatment of prisoners must not be misled by the often amazing
results obtained by “taking chances” with a prison popula-
tion, While ie is overwhelmingly true that both at Auburn
tnd at Great Meadow Prisons, with exceptional chances to
tseape, the prisoners nevertheless take practically no advantage
GF the opportunity, it is also true that the average prisoner
balances his problem, debating the “pros and cons,” and
decides that it is better to keep his word than to
break it.
In other words, the prisoner recognizes a combination of
motives inhibiting him from attempting an escape. He has
heen deale wich “on the level” by the warden, and his. sense
af justice is appealed co; he has received greater privileges,
tne of them being the very chance to escape, and with greater
privileges the poignancy of his physical discomfort in prison
K lessened and a slightly decreased motive for escape is given.
‘The variety of his life is increased; he is out in the air, in the
canlight, in the field, doing healthful and not too arduous
work. He is associating with in a normal relation
ship, nota. sordid, mechanical, factory relationship. He
comes in touch with nature; he is interested in the animals,
‘The variety of his impressions increases
His mind is not so frequently
feacis te con,
the variety of his thoughts.
102 Tue Prison Association or New York
forced in upon itself. He finds that the world in which he
works is the world outside, although he is prevented from
working in it with entire liberty or beyond a certain boundary;
and further than that — and the most important of reasons
apart from the pledge he has given—he knows that if he
attempts to escape, the chances are very great that he will be
recaptured, and that if he is recaptured, his stay in prison
will be considerably Jengthened, and that he will forego the
privileges which he is at the time enjoying. In short, all
the above elements, and many more, are to be taken into
consideration in a proper estimation of the honor system and
its significance.
ROAD WORK BY STATE PRISONS.
During 1914 the State prisons have gone into road work to
a greater extent than ever before. Each of the four State
prisons had anywhere from one to ten road camps operating
at some time during the season. Undoubtedly this amount
of activity is to be attributed to the close cooperation between
the State Highway Commissioner, John G. Carlisle, and the 4
State Superintendent of Prisons, John B. Riley. | Superin-
tendent Riley's interest in road work has not only made
possible the extension of that work during the past season, but
has given such occupations a status and prominence which
assures future extension.
‘Almost every form of highway work has been carried on by
the State prisons on every kind of road under the most varied
conditions, ranging from the most unskilled labor to practi
cally an expert knowledge of road work. In the three State
prisons, Great Meadow, Auburn and Clinton, a total of
twenty road gangs worked in twenty-four different localities.
‘The average duration of the road gangs has been 82 days, |
each gang comprising an average of 17 to 36 men, There |
was a constant flux of prisoners to and from the gangs, in J
order to give as large a number of prisoners as possible the
opportunity for such occupation. A total of 624 prisoners
from these three State prisons have enjoyed the opportunity
of road labor. In all cases there was one prison official in
charge of the gang, assisted, with a few exceptions, by one or
two local watchmen employed for that purpose.
While the information as to the mileage of roads affected
by prison labor is not completely available, the three prisons
REDUCTION
RATIO
CHANGE(S)
WITHIN:
TITLE
Process 1x New York STATE IN 1914 103
referred to have covered probably over fifty miles during
the season. Altogether, only five prisoners escaped, of whom
cone was returned, while the others are, at the writing of this
report, still at large.
In most cases the towns or other communities for whom
s0ad work was done by the prisoners furnished to such prison-
ers sleeping quarters if necessary, also sugar, milk, butter,
exus, tobacco, vegetables, and in some cases tools and machin
ery.” There seems to have been no definite arrangement
made, other than on the one hand the request by the town or
other local authorities for labor, and_on the other hand the
prisoners by the nearest prison. In one case only
ector from the Highway Department make more
or less regular visits to the road camp, and on one stretch of
road, prisoners were returned daily to the prison instead of
being camped outside. The road work done by Sing Sing
prisoners is for many reasons not fairly comparable with that
of che other prisons. Only one camp was sent out from that
prison, averaging about 45. The coral number of prisoners
sent out to the camp was 79. The work was carried on_on
a stretch of road approximately four miles long. The
details may be found in, the inspection report in Part Two.’
Four prison officials were on constant duty in addition to
three highway officials and approximately twelve day laborers,
Practically every expense was covered by the highway depart-
ment, and during the season extending from July to November
approximately one-half mile of road was brought to the point
where macadam can be applied, Ir was not a movable camp
in che sense thae the other State prison camps were. It was
very much more of a unit than any other road work done
by State prisons
The accompanying chart gives most of the important infor-
mation concerning the work at the various road camps of the
State prisons. For many columns it was im
the figures, because of the Tack of complete
the subject, yer a fairly definive picture may be gained from
that table of the State prison road-work of the year.
‘The information for Sing Sing is not entered into the grand
total, because the conditions of work and the nature of the
organization of that road camp were entitely different from
other prisons.
‘Tue Prison Association or New Yor
104
A brief statement concerning each prison will suffice to sum
up the work.
"Auburn Prison.— Auburn Prison was allowed $12,500 as
its share of the appropriation of $50,000 made by the Legis.
ature for the purpose of working prisoners on the roads. The
work was done in the towns indicated on the chart. Two of
these agreed to furnish the money for team hire; for the others
the prison furnished the same.
All the towns are situated in Cayuga county. Living
quarters, a certain amount of milk and butter each day, and
all the robacco were furnished by the towns.
The roads for improvement were selected by the towns, and
they were generally those which the towns with their own labor
could not have afforded to repair. Great satisfaction was
expressed by the town superintendents of highways with the
work of the prisoners. In fact, it was stated that the prisoners
showed greater interest, and’ accomplished more, than the
average outside laborer engaged in that class of work. Some
of the men had but a short time to serve, so that a large number
‘of men were able to benefit by the work.
One difficulty’ was che distance of the roads from the camp-
house, which in some cases necessitated an cight-mile walk
from place to place.
Most towns had their own road-making machinery, where
such machinery was necessary, but the buik of the work was
done by pick and shovel. Where gravel roads were built
the gravel had to be hauled for a considerable distance.
‘The warden states that the character of the meals was
entirely in the discretion of the cook. The prison sent out
fresh meat, corned beef, pork, or fish, wherever ordered by
the officers of the comp. ‘This was part of the regular prison
supply, which was supplemented in camp by chicken and other
food stuffs obtained from townspeople. A quart of milk per
man per day was also given
Great Meadow Prison.— All the road work of the road camps
from Great Meadow Prison has been practically the repairing
of existing highways, with the exception of only one mile of
new road built at Keeseville. ‘The arrangement made with
each town in which the men worked was that the town officials
would furnish to the men sleeping quarters in either tents or
permanene buildings, and the butter, eggs, and milk that the
men should require. All other articles of maintenance were
Procress iv New York Srare in 1914 105
supplied by the prison. No definite arrangements for road
work in 1915 have been made. No aid of any kind has been
received from the State Highway Department, except inspec-
tion by an engineer for a short time on the road at Fort Ann.
All three classes of roads, namely, State, county and town,
were included under this repair work. “They were usually
gravel roads, but about two miles of stone road were con-
structed along the shore of Saratoga Lake
Clinton Priton— Very diversified and difficult road work
was successfully accomplished by the various camps of th
prison. The repore of Mr. H. O. Schermerhorn, Division
Engineer, concerning this work, states that most of it consisted
of grading, widening and shaping of roads, often with road
machines. Ditches were deepened and culverts provided for
drainage; often hills were cut down. Mr. Schermerhorn
states that the work was performed in workmanlike manner
and that its quality compared favorably with similar work done
by free labor. ‘The men were quartered either in tents or in
vacant cabins, along the roads, The discipline was excellent
and the attitude of the residents in che vicinity friendly and
interested. On the whole, the Highway Department seemed
very well pleased with the results,
‘A careful tabulation was made of the most important
aspects of this road work by the Highway Department. Tt
is noteworthy that the highest cost per mile on any road
was $1,700; the lowest, $206, while the average seems to be
well below $500.
Ungualified suecess may therefore be the verdict of the
road work at Great Meadow, Clinton and Auburn prisons.
Sing Sing Prison.— A full statement of the Sing Sing road
work has been given in the inspection of road camps in Part
Two! of this report.
On account of the extraordinary expenditures with which
the highway department was burdened on this road, as com-
pared with the expendicures by other than the prison depart-
ment in other road work, there has resulted a difference of
opinion as to the profitable nature of highway work of this
particular kind and under these extraordinary conditions.
The comments of Division Engineer Wait, are, however, partly.
discounted by the satisfaction reported by David S. Shaw,
the engineer who had direct charge of the work, and by the
Page 216
106 Tue Prison Association or New Yor
face that, if what appeared to have been the chief causes of
disturbances are eliminated, prison labor proper om that road
will have shown itself to be as desirable as, if not more
desirable than, such labor on other roads from other prisons.
The final report on this work issued to late for inclusion here,
indicates a financial loss from the work for the Highway
Deparment, But, considering the corresponding saving for
the Prison Department, it is clear chat under these most
untoward conditions the Seate has profited.
The consensus of opinion even in reference <o this, the least
successful, of the road work undertakings is decidedly favor-
able if not enthusiastic for such occupation by State prisoners.
A PLAN TO EMPLOY ALL SENTENCED PRISONERS INTHE COUNTY
IAILS OF NEW YORK STATE
‘That our county jails are the worst feature of our cor
rectional system has long been known and deplored. The fact,
alone, that the county jail houses persons awaiting court
aetion, as well as convicted prisoners, makes the county jail
a very difficult problem. A score of other facts render the
county jail a schoo! of crime, a breeder of vice, and an agenc
completely defeating its own purpose. Beyond a doubt,
however, the very worst of its features is the practically ec
plete idleness to which all jail prisoners are doomed. One
would suppose that the labor ro which these men aze sentenced
idered a punishment, and so_the Jaw intends;
ce at jails that it is regarded rather
al fibye of the prisoner disintegrates,
his physical vigor vanishes, his industrial efficiency disappears
in the enforced idleness, This has become a truism. Sheriffs,
penologists of this and foreign lands, judges, laymen, all have
declared that the chief remedy’ for the county jail problem is
labor; labor for all the inmates, particularly’ for convicted
men; labor for the whole day; real labor, profitable both co
the community and to the prisoners.
During the last two years of regular inspection of county
jails, the Prison Association of New York has come to feel
more and more strongly that some plan must be worked out
for supplying such labor to these jails, in order not only to
comply with the law, which wisely provides for the sentence
of prisoners to ‘hard labor,” but, also, and chiefly, to secure
the discontinuance of the present moraily destructive idleness
in the jails.
Prooress in New York Stave 1x 1914 107
Four types of labor have been suggested. Each has been
tried at some time, or at some place. They are: Road work,
stone breaking, farming and industries,
(a) Industrial occupation requires little discussion. It
has been tried, so far as we know, only in the Rensselaer
(Troy) County Jail. Here ten looms have been set up for
the manufacture of blankets and towelings. We know what
a tremendous difficulty is encountered in the disposition of
the products, even of our State penal institutions, and of the
New York City institutions, with their more elaborate orga
tions and wider markets, For more than a year the finances
of the industries at this jail stand somewhat as follows:
‘There are ven looms, costing #85 each, making a total of
$850. Two instructors are employed at $75 per month,
making $1,800 per year. (These instructors are also used,
ie is said, as process servers.) The toral.product for the last
year was approximately 300 yards of toweling and 300 blankets,
at 154 cents per yard for toweling, and an average of 83.25
per blanket (stated to be the selling price). ‘This means an
ouput of 81,021.50 from the raw material
Tn other words the approximate figures give:
Cost of production *
Looms; 10 per cent deterioration
Employees
material (cont not obtained)
Palue of products
300 ya. toweling at 15} cents...--.+ $46 50
300 blankets at $3.25 975
$1,021 50
‘The total sales for the period were 40 blankets and 100
yards of toweling, or a cotal of $145.50.
But the objection is not only that the financial starement
shows practically a total loss, but that the number of prisoners
1
employed is very small — from two to five persons in all.
The labor is not educative, has little or no value as training
for the queside, the material produced is not of high quality,
and there is a requitement of some initial skill on the part
of the prisoners employed.
* Valeo labor, Heh, ete, a0 counted
108 Tue Prison Association or New York
(b) Farming as a part of the county jail routine has not
been extensively tried in this State. It is a very commendable
method of employment, and can be made financially profitable
tothe county. Work of this nacure is most beneficial mentally
and physically to the prisoners. The logical criticism of
this plan is that it provides only seasonal work, and that
during the winter months, when the jail population is highest,
it is of little or no avail. ‘This criticism ts valid only from
dpoint of keeping the inmates employed, but not
y from the financial side. If properly conducted,
the farm can be made to be self-supporting during the season,
To establish employment for the whole year, St. Lawrence
County maintains in conjunction with its farm a stone-breaking
industry. This county jail farm is perhaps the criterion for
the State. It consists of 60 acres, about one mile from the
jail, and was purchased for $2,400. Much convict labor was
utilized to improve’ the condition of the land. With the aid
of one civilian laborer, a large barn was built at a saving of
about $600 for the county, Considering the value of the
farm products for two years, the improvement of the land
and the construction work, the farm has practically paid for
itself. Furthermore, the per capita weekly cost of maintenance
has been reduced each year since the farm was established,
while the jail population has noticeably decreased
Summary
Per capita cost per week in 1913... . $46
Per capita cost per week in 1914 si s 127
Including salaries of staff in 1913 . = 307
Including salaries of staff in 1914. ...0..0..0200. 0008 271
Since 1907, Tioga County prisoners have been employed on
the county poorhouse farm. Aside from actual farming, much
construction work has been done, such as building a pump-
house, silo and foundation for barn. An average of eight or
nine prisoners have been thus employed for more than seven
months a year. During the other months, stone-breaking is
substituted.
In Nassau County, real estate operators have given per-
mission to the jail authorities to use land adjacent to the jai
for farming. At first only a small piece was cultivated, and
in reality amounted only to a small garden. Recently,
Idleneés in Albany County Penitentiary,
Road Work by Clinton Prison Inmates.
PRooress 1N New York STATE IN 191¢ 109
many acres were added, so that now a fairly good-sized tract
is available for cultivation,
The authorities of Suffolk County contemplate the pur-
chase of a goo-acre farm.
Oswego County has a farm of approximately 94 acres
adjacent to the jail. Unfortunately, this has not been satis-
factorily developed, despite the splendid facilities available
This is due, not to the quality of the farm land, but rather to
fhe system of management. Instead of having the farm
under che supervision of the sheriff, a superintendent was
appointed, and the frequent misunderstandings as to authority,
and the lack of cooperation, practically defeated the purpose
of the project, both for the county and for the rebabilitation
of the prisonets,
(©) Many counties are employing theit prisoners at the
monotonous, unattractive and non-educative cask of stone-
breaking. In the following counties, this is done extensively:
Ontario, Niagara, Tioga, Orange, St. Lawrence and Chemung.
Occasionally, in Yates, Nassau and Broome.
‘The advantage of stone-breaking is, that the prisoners can
be employed throughout the year. ‘The work calls for
unskilled Tabor, and little supervision is necessary, except in
cases where the stoneshed is at some distance from the jail.
Here again, as in the case of the industries in Rensselaer
County, the disposition of the product has proved, perhaps,
the greatest difficulty. County highway officials do not
always feel disposed co purchase the stone from the jail. Tf
this sale could be relied upon, much of the stone could be
used, On stormy days and during the winter, as a sub-
stitute for farm work, St. Lawrence and Tioga counties work
the prisoners at stone-breaking. Roughly constructed sheds
protect the men from the weather.
‘The objections to stone-cracking by hand are principally
the following: First, it is slow, difficule labor, at which
prisoners can easily shirk their task; secondly, the amount of
stone that can be broken by band is comparatively very small,
and therefore no large market can be sought for it; thirdly,
as a business proposition ic is 2 complete failure.
As to the financial aspect, the experiences of Ontario and
Steuben counties are instructive. In Ontario County stone
is bought at $1.10 per ton and sold at $1.15. During the year,
110 Tat Prison Assoctation of New York
from January 1, 1913, to November 1, 1913, there were sold
Geog tons.” This cose the county $oyor1%y and it was sold
for $700.57, or at an apparent profit of $30.45, making no
allowance for the loss of stone in breaking. But the real
cost and selling figures are different when we include the
salaries of the guards, the value of the prisoners’ labor and
the cost of maintenance. For the whole period of January 1,
1913, to November 1, 1914, a total of 21 months, there were
sold ‘951.16 tons at S1.15 a ton, making $1,093.84. ‘The
cost of this stone at $1.10 per ton was $1,056.28, or an apparent
profit of $37.56. Taking a truer approximation of the cost
rice, we find the following:
956.165 ton of stone at $1.10 per ton
Edlay of guarde 31 months at 8600 per ann
Value of priv labor of a daly average of 18 peionere
(as per record of th ed value of 75
cents per day for : ae
Cost of maintenance of same, averaging a rate of se
$1.20. per weak (a0 per auchorieae.fguee), Cor
at mouths sty13s
$1,056 28
Tol 10.65
Lem incre onsale of 966165 tons of stone at But5. 15098
Or a coral loss of,
In Steuben County the figures are even simpler. For the
fiscal year ending October 31, 1914, there were expended on
stonebreaking the following sums
Salary of two guards ee $1,272 00
Purchase of ston, 147 loads at 4o cents 58 80
Rent of scone yard z 550 00
Heating stove and wood 19 25
1,400
This is almost 50 per cent of the amount expended for
supplies and maintenance during the same year. This stone
when broken made 176.4 loads of stone, which was sold at
6o cents a load, amounting to a total of $185.84, reducing the
loss from $1,400.05 to $1,294.21, except that the village co
Procress 1x New York Stare in 1914 ur
which the stone was sold has refused to pay the bill, thus
making the total loss $1,400.05,
In Onondaga County, the convicted jail pt
to the county penitentiary. Here there is available work on
Diarge farm, in a stone quarry and on the highways. The
highway work is carried on in conjunction with the quarry.
‘The stone-crushing work here is of an entirely different char-
acter and the finances incomparably better.
(d) Higltoay work has the sanction of successful experience,
both in this and in other States, so far as large prisons and
penitentiaries are concerned. In our own State prisons, exten-
Eve road work has been carried on, as described elsewhere in
this report.
‘Of the county penitentiaries in this State, Onondaga County
is the only one engaged in highway work.
The improved highways are of invaluable assistance to
the local inhabitants. ‘There is little danger of conflice wich
free labor, beeause in the districts where the work is in progress,
laborers are not always available. Local teamsters, “who
would probably be idle, are often employed to assist in the
work.
‘In other States road gangs have been at work, both under
the honor system,” and under strict supervision,
The value of the prisoners’ labor as compared with average
free labor is estimated to be in some places as low as, but not
lower than, two-thirds efficiency. In one State, Washington,
the estimate is one-third more than free labor.” In our own
State, che best known experiment with prison labor on high-
ways, in Onondaga County, places the efficiency at two-
thirds. In practically all instances of the utilization of conviet
labor for this purpose, the results have been satisfactory, both
from the standpoint of the highway authorities and’ from
‘that of prison officials. The system is commended in reports
of the Prison Commission, Superintendent of Prisons, and
Commissioner of Highways of this State, The study by Mr.
Wilmot shows that in this respect the experience is practically
universal.
‘Proposed plan.—In proposing our present plan for the
employment of county jail and penitentiary prisoners, the
—Tsydney Wilmot: Employment of convict labor on road construction in Western
seates Bio, Acad: Bol, Se Jan. "¥4
112 Taz Prison Association or New York
matters of chief importance are, that the labor be sufficient,
that it be out-door, and that it represent the greatest possible
utility for the community, as well as for the individual prisoner
All purely technical labor that represents merely an expendi-
ture of energy, without corresponding creation of utilities,
must of course be condemned at the very first. We must
include under this heading all such labor the products of which
cannot be satisfactorily disposed of, and that do not satis-
factorily keep prisoners busy, as, for example, the weaving
industry at the Rensselaer County: Jail. Not much beter is
the stone-breaking by hand at jails where the demand. for
stone, or for the kind of stone furnished by the jail, is small
‘The experience of Orange, Steuben, Ontario and other couneies
show this form of labor to be’ ineflicient and fnancially
disastrous.
If, however, stone-crushing on a larger scale can be brought
into correlation with road work, we have a diferent situation,
In Western States, such as Washington and Oregon, and in
Onondaga County of our own State, stone-crushing has heen
carried on, either as preparatory to road work ot simuleaneously
with it. There is apparently no reason why this experience
also should not give us valuable suggestions. However, it
must be admitted and emphasized that we must not carry
too far the analogy of successful experiences elsewhere, In
all successful instances hitherto considered, the number of
prisoners available was large, and the insticutions whose
inmates were thus utilized were more ot less definitely organized
for industrial activities. There were, in every case, a few
definite roads upon which the labor was concentrated, and not
more than two or three sets of authorities were called upon
to cooperate. It was a comparatively simple affair. for
example, at Camp McCormick, the Sing Sing road camp.
Here the Highway Department had the disposition, by special
legislation, of some $200,000, to build a State road between
Palenville and Tannersville, for a distance of 4} miles. Ordi-
narily, the contract for this work would be advertised, an
award made, and the contractor would forchwith establish
a road camp at a convenient location along the road, bring on
his laborers and begin to work. Instead of having an outside
contractor, in this case the Highway Commissioner” acts in
that capacity. He establishes his road camp and gathers
all necessary paraphernalia. Only, instead of obtaining his
Prooress 1x New York State N 1914113
aborers in the open market, the Commissioner, by virtue of
Section 179 of Chapter 60 of the Laws of 1914, obtains them on
application to. the State Superintendent of Prisons.
nstead of paying them individually as laborers, the Highway
Commissioner provides their maintenance, i. ¢., food, lodging,
exe, and pays the salary of the guards. Thus, according
the sum total of the expenditure for maintenance and
guarding paid by the Commission is equal to, exceeds, or is
Jess than it would otherwise be necessary to pay for laborers,
the financial side of the operation will come out even, or show
loss or profit. This is on the assumption of equal efficiency
of free and convict labor. Such equality was said to exist
at Camp McCormick in the judgment of the engineer in charge,
an employee of the Highway Department. For a difference in
efficiency, corresponding allowances would have to be made.
Whatever expenditure is made by the Highway Department
in maintaining and guarding its prisoner-laborers is a cor
responding saving for the Prison Department, instead of
an absolute expenditure. And this would be the case evei
where. Even if the amount expended by highway authorities
in maintaining and guarding the prisoners is more than it would
cost to pay the wages of the free laborers, a real loss does not
begin uneil this excess includes the sum of such wages, plus
what would be the cost of maintenance of the prisoners at
the prison. And even then, the moral, physical and industrial
benefit to the prisoners and community might counterbalance
the loss. This would be true of State prisons, county peni-
entiaries and county jails alike.
“Sue we have wandered somewhat from the point, ‘The
characteristic features of our county jail problem are that,
first, the units are small. That is, the average number of
ble isnot comparable so State, prisons or
jenitentiaries. Secondly, provision must be made not only
for the months during which road work or farm cultivation is
feasible, but also for the four to six winter months, during which
no other form of occupation is available for them. Thirdly,
one has co deal with as many authortics as there are counties
in the State, of sixty-thtee, and perhaps as many as there are
fon ee os trues Gd se ae
plan to be feasible must be general enough to apply to all
counties with their divergent authorities, and flexible enough
‘Tue Prison Association or New York.
ang
to be adapted to the varying units. We shall have to differ-
entiate between the possibilities of the various counties, depend-
ing upon local conditions and determining the feasibility of
farm labor, road work, stone-crushing, ete
Let us consider road work first. What kind of road work
State is available? In brief, we have construction,
maintenance and repair of roads; we have Stace, county and
town highways and county roads to deal with. Our Seate
highway system is to all intents and purposes complete.
Except in speciat cases, on special appropriations, such high=
ways, built exclusively on Stare moneys, are no longer con-
structed. County highways, buile at the joint expense
of State and county, are still being builr, but, while representing
perhaps the most important. stretches of roads in the State,
nen compared with the mileage of
The construction of both these classes of
highways, Stare and county, represent isolated jobs — now
in one part of the State, now in another. They require the
concentrated labor of large groups of men, much larger than
the county jails of any county (not considering, of course,
New York County) could ever supply. These are the ideal
classes of road work for State prison inmates, and it is toward
this kind of road work that the cfforts of the State prison
authorities are directed
There remain to be considered, in the matter of construc-
tion, the town highways and county roads. Both of these
represent, in a sense, county units, the units analogous co
jail units. County roads are practically town highways,
dat the expense of the county, and
accepted by the State for maintenance on ascertaining that
they are of a satisfactory standard. They concern us, ther
fore, as possibilicies only in the construction of county roads by
the use of county jail prisoners,
Now, as to town highways. These are handled by the
towns.” Each town is required by law (Section go, Highway
Law) to raise a certain minimum for the repair and improve-
ment of town highways. ‘The State, in accordance with another
section (Section 94) of the same law, contributes not less than
50 per cent., nor more than 100 per cent., of the amount raised
by the town. The sums thus available for the towns in the
various counties are scen in the accompanying tables. Ic is
seen that the expenditure per mile on the town highways in
Prooress IN
New York Stare 1N 1914
Couney
‘Albany
Catearaugis.
Cayuga.--..-|
Chautauqua
Chemung
Chenango.
Clinton.
Colusnbia
Cortland
Dewar...
Dutchess
Essex
Franklin
Fuleon
Genesee
Greene
Hamilton
Herkimer
Jefferson
Lewis
Livingston
Madison
Monroe
Nassau
Niagara |
Oneida
Onondaga.
Oneario.
Orange
Orleans.
Oswego.
Orsego
Montgomery.)
Toral
ighteay
1,098
1,894
1437
1,978
1,490
1,950
State and
Repair of
machinery
ton
$65,074 23
110,507 39
60,538 82
107434 4
82,778 98
102,128 47
42,055.33
78.682 57
617522 95
74,861 27
59,831 87
120,930 09
127,410 43
165,475 28
88193 25
34,407 10
69,687 20
85,408 89
350143 44
83,388 17
113,939 7
i770 9%
81986 43
85,880 15
127,519 38
48.213 39
145,525 66
70,503 90
117,619 74
109,224 38
100,399 51
126,326 16
33.165 48
86,800 90
116 Tue Prison Association or New York
County
Putnam
Rensselaer
Rockland.
St. Lawrence
Sullivan
Tioga
Tompkins.
Ulster,
Warren
Washington
Wayne.
Westchester, |
Wyoming.
1913 is $68.90,
or Stare road,
therefore, that
In fact, on State and cout
of approved high
Aiest, | Satsget
iehrty
mlenge
54.32
137.62 |
38.85
176.87
139.13
as against $10,000-4
Towa
higheey
lenge
23,548 99
36,499 72
30,644 87
39,224 93
147,924 62
400,203 co
7) sonar 5s
1,005.2 54,295 52
eor8 | Sr'ese Sg
1,668.14 | 106,426 56
916.75] 50.834 35
1456.73 | 70,877 70
1,298.49 | 110,66 35
893.09 337,950 71
1,019.33] “615439 94
745.02] 39,902 38
814,000 per mile of county
From the figures alone, one could easity judge,
the work done on
these roads is not similar,
inty highways it means construction
rgrade toad; on town highways it means
practically nothing more than shepin
Perhaps the application of gravel, stone, ditching, eae ead
Eros name of est
Nov, while it is true thae
important, itis also true that unless the town Kighne
tributed, they would be of very much less vale 7% SOP
ine, ditching, ete., unskille
county highway’ comme
the latter are the most
Proonuss 1s New York Save yw 1grg 117
The town highways therefore
(4) represent. the amount of work needed most in the high-
way line, (b) with comparatively the smallest capital available,
(©) requiring more unskilled labor, often for very expensive
grading, and (d) are present in large mileage in all pares of the
Seate. ‘The money available for town highways is comparatively
50 litele that any aid in making it go further would naturally
be hailed with joy.
In support of the feasibility of thus employing county
prisoners on improvement of town highways, we shall quote
the experience of three. counties, Onondaga, Schenectady
and Franklin. ‘The first deserves our attention chielly because
‘of the extent and success of the work performed on town
highways transformed into county roads; the Iaceer because
the prisoners employed were inmates of the county jail (as
distinguished from the penitentiary).
The first bit of soad work undertaken by the Onondaga
penitentiary was done out of necessity.* A stretch of road
over which supplies for the penitentiary were generally taken
was being improved by the town authorities; to expedite
the work, Superintendent Markell of the penitentiary joined
forces with the town in repairing the road. This was in 1909.
This improvement “consisted of heavy work whereby a steep
grade of about 15 per cent was reduced to an 11 per cent
grade, to. permit the laying of waterbound macadam, and
upon another section the natural grading and shaping ‘work
was performed to facilitate the laying of waterbound
macadam for a distance of 3,000 feet.” There was
no definite arrangement or contract entered into. Prisoners
and free laborers worked side by sides and the town was
relieved of at least so per cent of the natural expense of
improving that section of the road. ‘The prisoners were housed
at the institution, ‘The town men were in charge of the work,
bue the plans had been drawn by the Highway Department.
Some work was also done in 1911; but it was not until
1g12 that it was undertaken on a large seale. For 168 working
*Fegok E.Vogardur; Proc. Tench Semnannusl Con. State Com. and Co, Supea
of Highways of NY. 8, Feb. torg, Albany
ney Wilmot: Employment tnt labor on rand consruton im Northern
TeaLESE: Bonar: Other items roaring road workin Onondaga Couey obtined
18
‘Tue Prison Association oF New York
days, between May 7 and November 23, 1912, a daily
average of 50.48 inmates worked on the Amboy-Warner town
highway under general supervision of the county superin-
tendent of highways. In this case the arrangements were
considerably different. ‘The county acted practically as con-
tractor, with the county superintendent in charge. ‘The
town paid, and still pays, 25 per cent of the total cost. The
control and discipline remain with the prison guards, who arc
paid by the penitentiary, unlike the arrangemenc at Camp
McCormick. ‘The prisoners are housed in portable camp
buildings, costing originally some 81,500. Supplies and pro-
visions were furnished by the penitentiary. For this, and
additional food and guards supplied by the institution, the
Highway Departmene paid 7 cents per day per prisoner.
‘A total of ten guards, five or six for regular supervision, one
to have charge of the camp, and three for night watch, were
‘on duty, paid by rhe penitentiary. ‘The County Highway
Department furnish
roll erman, ete
a superintendent, a time keeper,
Quoting from Mr. Bogardus:
“The plan of work adopted consisted of grading, draining
and laying standard waterbound macadam, together with
the construction of sluices, railings and other necessary work
ro establish a class of work similar to that of the State plan,
with the exception that the cross-section runs to less width
of macadam and shoulders than that usually adopeed by
the State authorities. ‘The macidam section was nine feet
wide, laid in two courses, five inches loose measurement
bottom, and four inches loose on top course, with shoulders
5H fect wide, making a total width of roadbed of 20 feet.
“The amount of stone material used was a considerable
excess of that required for the above-mentioned depths, which
feature of the work tends to show that a thoronghly permanent
improvement was laid down. ‘The work extended over a
distance of four miles, and the expenditures were as follows:
Supervision $0,527 24
Skilled laborers 1,093 70
Team work. 6,167 87
Allowance for penitentiary labor at 73 cents per
hour : sons 2
CChemng County Ja. Toleness in “The Bic
Psion Pen in Cou
Prooress 1s New Yorx Stats i 1914 319
Supplies. i $1,415 2
Crushed stone.
Freight on stone.
Demurrage.
511 76
Deterioration of 15 per cent -on equipment
valued at 85,500. 835 00
Total $22,965 90
for an average equal cost per mile of $5,741.72.
“The crushed stone used upon the job was furnished by the
use of the penitentiary forces working at the county quarry and
said material had to be shipped over evo lines of railroad, with
fa fixed freight charge per ton of 50 cents, and the amount of
material ig valued in the above statement at 35 cents per tom,
which is 20 cents less than the regular market price
“The facilities of the county quarry had been increased
during the winter of 1912 and 1913 by the installation of a
railroad switch, up-to-date gyratory crushers and quarry
cars, narrow-gauge track, electrical power, motors and other
equipment to establish a complete up-to-date plant, the value
fof which is approximately 850,000. This equipment was
installed as a county expense. ‘The output became available
upon the penitentiary road jobs, also upon county road work
and town road work generally.”
‘That_season’s work, in his opinion, did not result in any
financial gain worth ‘mentioning, chiefly because of great
overhead charges, so thar the financial results of the foliow-
ing seasons were looked forward to as more promising. Some
of the immediate results of another nature were noted by Mr.
Bogardus, and we quote them here:
“The result showed a percentage of increase in [the peniten-
tiary} population from the years 1911 t0 1913, a8 follows:
Evie County, 2504 per cent.
Monroe County, 12ys per cent
Albany County’ insufficient data received
The number confined at Onondaga county penitentiary
January to 1912 460; January 11985, 356; percentage of
An indirect saving of dollars is indicated hy the above
figures.
120 Tur Patson Association or New York
Phe work in 1913 had developed to a considerably higher
degree than that of 1912. ‘The following extract from
Mr. Bogardus’ report for that year shows clearly the finances
involved in the successful road work in that county with prison
labor:
“The number of miles of improvement Taid down in the town
of Van Buren was 115 of ninefoot macadam, and 0.79 of
twelve-foor macadam, or a coral of 1.94 miles; and the number
cof miles of improvement laid down in the town of Dewiee was
2.46 of twelve-foot macadam; or a total for the season of 4.49
miles at a total cost of $33,479.19, oF an average cost per mile
of $7,608.91.
“For the purpose of comparing the cost of the work in 1912
and 1913, assuming that a mile of improvement of macadam
twelve fect wide is equal co one and a third miles of nine-foot
macadam, an equivalent of 5.48 of nine-foot macadam
Thid, the average cost of the same being $6,109.34, while the
cost of che same nine-foor macadam in 1912 was $5,741.72.
“The annexed statement shows in detail the cost of the work
for the year on each section of the improvement as above
outlined. However, no notice is made in this statement of the
salaries of che keepers, or the maintenance of the prisoners
in the camp, all of which expense is met through an outlay from
the penitentiary end of the affair. This phase of the maccer
might be explained farther by scacing that the compensation
of seven and one-half cents per hour * allowed for the prisoners’
services is intended to meet the outlay by the penitentiary
department for the services of the keepers and additional
expenses incurred by reason of maintaining the men outside
of the institution,
Amboy-Memphis road expenditures for that section of improve
‘ment located in the town of Van Buren
Salary
Superintendent 8328 82
Timekeeper...... 87 50
Extra allowance to keepers at §
cents per hour. 167 60
———— 883 9#
*Thia makes Go cents per day per prints working on the road and would ser
to cover all sddiconal expenditures bythe pontentnry for food, saperaon, ete
Skilled laborers
Rellerman
General helper.
‘Common labor
Expenses incidental to perfor-
mance of duty of persons in
charge of work.
‘Team work:
5,552.68 hours at so cents per hour.
Penitentiary labor:
ggg hour st 74 cons per hou.
Paooress wv Niw York Stare tx 1914
$248 04
1205 00
236 00
213 56
$902 66:
2,776 34
2,453, 18
623 22
45,885.27 tons at 35 cents per ton
Freight on same.
Miscellaneous
Total
Dewi
Salary:
Superintendent
Timekeeper
Exera allowance to keepers at §
cents per hour
Skilled laborers:
Rollerman
General helper.
Expenses incidental to _perfor-
mance of duty of persons in
charge of work :
Team work:
13,167.9 hours at so cents per hour:
Penitentiary labor:
149.257 hours at 7} cents per hour
Supplies:
81,359 85
2,272 54
3,632 39
46 2
“sin g78 6 or
$422 28
305 00
Manlius road expenditures for that section of improve
iment located in the town of Dewitt
816 47
6,583 9
3,604 28
1,864 33,
‘Tue Prison Association or New York
Crushed stone:
9,038.65 tons at 35 cents per ton,
Freight on same
Miscellancous.
3,163 52
Total
Dewiti-Manlius road expenditures for that tection of improve
‘ment located in the town of Manlius
‘Teamwork
S145 75
Supplies 36 4:
Summary of expenditures for season's work or scheidsile showing
uilay in all three tons
perincendene
Timekeeper
Keepers
Shilledlabovers
Genera helper
Common laborers
Expese oie dy of pens shag
Team work ‘
Allowance for penitentiary labor a¢
7% cents per hour
Supplies
Crushed stone $4595 37
Freight on sme 8800 8
Miscellaneous
Total
Work on the quarry, which is
ry, which is a counterpart of the ro
work, and especially valuable in that it provides labor duri
the winter months when road work is impossible, was carried
on as shown by the following figures: zs . 7
Prooress iv New Yore STATE 1N 1914 123
Prisoners
Average per day, 157-8
December, 1912
January, 1913
February, 1913, #
March, 1913, *
‘Apsil, 1913. s
May, 1913 s
June, 1913
July, 1913
‘August, 1913,
September, 1913
October, 1913
Ie is unnecessary for our present purposes to go more fully:
into the finances of the quarrying. It is clear from the above
feures and from the enthusiasm with which the Onondaga
County Superintendent of Highways carries on and develops
this work that it must be of value to the county, and there
an be no doubt of the face that it is of immense value to the
prisoners, Most illuminating of all the figures, however, are
probably those for the work of 1914. The figures for seven
Iniles of road, consisting of twelve feet spread in ewo-course
Form to a depth of twelve inches, loose measurement (which
inder the roller action is supposed to pack to eight or nine
inches), with shoulders six to seven feet in wideh for most of
the way, making a total wideh of roadbed of 24 to 26 feet,
totalled ‘to $51,782.65, as per table below
Dewit-Manlius prison road expenditures for that section
‘of improvement located in the towon of Manlius
Salary:
Foreman srr 87
Foreman
Foreman
Extra allowance to keepers at 5 cents per hour:
Expenses incidental to performance of duty of
persons in charge.
Rallermen
Skilled laborers
‘Common labor
‘Team work, 22,833-5 hours at so cents per hour
124 Tar Prison Association of New Yorx
Penitetny Ion, 849179 hours a 7 cent
per hour 15,368 8
‘Crushed stone, 24,944.4 tons at 35 cents per ton. 4
Fright and demurege
Canvivon pipe
Channels
Rental of valle.
Rental of three camp grounds at 35 cach
Raiload switch for unending stone
Supplies:
Gasoline, cil, gravel, sand, sub-base, stone and
‘miscellaneous e 3,140 16
Rights of way. 1,808 00
Toal.
The amount of stone used is good proof of the amount of
macadam work involved. Properly speaking, the total should
not inchide the $1,808 paid for rights-of-way, so thae the
proper total would be $49, 974.65, or a cost per mile of 87,139.23,
in the opinion of Mr. Bogardus, the cost per mile if constructed
by contact would be approximately $10,ee0 for the same
work. In other words, the latest and probably: most highly
systematized and perfected road work of high grade performed
by penitentiary labor has reduced the expenditure by nearly
39 per cent., bringing a gain to the county, on the seven miles,
of about $20,000. Add to this the incalculable advantage
in the matter « reformation and rehabilitation of
cone of the best
»as been done for prison reform in this State
The experience of Schenectady County in employing its
jail prisoners is generally considered to have been a. failure,
ut in the opinion of Mr. Cregies, the present county super.
intendent of highvrays, the flue lay, no in the Jail labor,
but in the political manipulations involved in that experience.
Schenectady County borrowed the idea from Herkimer and
Oneida counties, which in 1896 searted some road work by the
interpretation (at the suggestion of Mr. Walter Cook of
Herkimer County) of road work, as the “manufacture of
Prooress In New York Stave in 1914. 125
In 1903, Schenectidy County entered into contract with the
town of Glenville in that county, by which the county was to
construct one and a half miles of macadam road at $12.50
per mile. No other stipulations were made. The county
bought a stone-crusher, traction engine, roller, dump wagons,
ete. Later on, a mile and a half of 16-foot road was buile
at Scotia; then two miles in the town of Niskayuna at the same
rate but with the stipulation that the town was to dig the
ditches. Later still, a half mile was built at Rotterdam,
another half mile at Crane street, Schenectady, and then, some
distance on Highbridge road. In other words, more than
six miles of road were built by county jail prisoners in
tady County. The gangs averaged about thirty and fluctuated
from fifteeen to sixty. No figures are available for the actual
cost of these roads, though a general impression obtains in the
county superintendent's office that a saving of from $3,000 to
47,000 per mile was made when compared with free labor.
‘The prisoners received better and more frequent meals
while working on the road, but this expense, xs well as the
expense of transportation, was not counted in the cost price
Moreover, there was no definite budget for the construction
of these roads. When the money available gave out, the
Board of Supervisors made additional grants of $3,000 as often
as requested.
The loose finances of the work and the evidence of mis-
management involved soon put an end to the whole system.
Te was, then, nothing relating distinctly to jail labor that
caused the discontinuance of che work, but the loose finances
and management. Mr. Cregier, the present county superin-
tendent of highways of Schenectady County, himself fecls
not at all discouraged. On the contrary, he stares chat he
would be willing to take up again such work at any time
In a similar way, jail labor has been quite recently suc-
cessfully employed’ in Franklin and ‘Tioga counties. In
Franklin County during the summer of 1914 an average of
from five to seven jail inmates were employed during some
forty days on the highways within the corporate limits of
Malone. Unfortunately no account was kept as to the exact
number of prisoners employed and no final accounting made
of the finances involved. Taking, however, an average of
six men per day and placing the value of each man’s work
at $1.00 per day, the county received the value of $240 from
126 Tu Prison Associarton or New York
the labor of these prisoners. Deducting the cost of food and
supervision (although these items would have existed if the
prisoners had been staying at the jail, doing nothing) there
is still a clear profic of Iabor value to the extent of over 8150.
In Tioga County some thirteen prisoners were emplo}
between October 22 and November 9, 1914, building a gravel
road in the village of Appalachin. Tt was the first tial in
that county bur was entirely successful from every standpoine.
In the summer of 1914, the Prison Association set out to
gather wharever information was available that would aid
toward the construction of a working plan for che employ-
ment of the county jail and penitentiary prisoners throughout
the State, Some preliminary inquiries in Nassau and Orange
counties were followed by consultation with the State High-
way Department at Albany, the Department of Agriculture
and with some individual county superintendents of highways,
notably Mr. Harry W. Cregicr of Schenectady County and Mr.
Frank A. Bogardus of Onondaga County, and by a considerable
amount of other research work. As the result of these investi-
gations it became evident that a satisfactory choice or combina
tion of the forms of labor discussed above, namely, farming,
stone-crushing and labor on town highways or county roads,
could be mage in practically every county of the State where
the size of the jail population warrants it. It became evident
that local conditions in che various counties would determine
to a very large extent just what particular form such a plan
should take.
Tt was decided, therefore, that the Assistant Secretaries
start with approximately twenty counties and on the basi
of the information gathered from the sources indicated above.
make a survey of the possibilities for labor in each of the
approximately ewenty counties selected. Labor on the town
highways, or their transformation into county roads, has
presented itself as the form of occupation possessing the
greatest possibilities. Tr was decided, therefore, to emphasize
that form of labor above all others.” In che formulation of
plans, the peculiarities of the highway situation in the State
are of great importance and peculiarly favorable, so that practi=
cally no objection whatsoever has been found to the develop-
ment of town highway work as a nucleus of such plans.
Certain ‘standards are prerequisites. For example, the
very smallest number of prisoners for the average highway
Progress 1N-New York State mw 1914 a7
gang that can be profitably employed is approximately
fifteen. At the beginning of the season there would have to
be added to such a gang the following civilian laborers: One
engineer, pethaps two grading men, and two to four general
utility men, in addition co the town superintendent of high-
ways. When the work is somewhat under way the grading
men and general utility men could be gradually replaced by
prisoners, as such prisoners become more expert at their
work. This minimum standard, a gang of fifteen, has been
adopted by the Association in the formulation of its plans.
For a county jail where the average population serving sentence
js less than fifteen, not counting those required for the domestic
labor, it was thought advisable to emphasize the occupation
of prisoners at farm labor, either on the poor-farm of the county
for on a jail farm to be purchased for that purpose. ‘There is
no reason why a farm could not be run with profit by a jail,
with prisoners performing the labor, when any ordinary farm
is cultivated by its owner, with the assumption that it would
not only support him and his family but also provide a surplus
of savings. The investment in a jail farm should be con-
sidered not as a gross expenditure, but as the same kind of
investment that the farmer makes when he purchases a farm
from which he intends to gain his livelihood. We can see no
reason whatsoever why a jail farm should be a burden rather
shan a source of profit, ‘Therefore, for such jails, where the
number of prisoners serving sentence does not exceed fifteen
on the average, the purchase of a jail farm would solve the
labor problem and considerably reduce by the profitable
cultivation of the farm the per capita maineenance at the jail
cases it would not be difficule to find sufficient work
for the prisoners, even during the winter, on construction and
improvement of buildings and other necessities of the farm,
and particularly in dairying.
For jails of larger average population the farm cannot
provide sufficient labor. For these the combination plan of
the highway work for spring, summer and early fall, and
scone quarrying and crushing during the winter months has
been proposed as already explained. In all cases, whether
farm or road work, the question of housing and transportation,
of prisoners was thought to present some difficulties. There
should, however, be no such difficulties experienced, If the
farm or section of road upon which work is conducted is
128 Tuk Prison Association or New York
within convenient distance of the jail, prisoners can be housed
in the jail and transported back and forth from work. Since
it is assumed that only such prisoners would be placed on
‘either the farms or at road work as can be at_least halfway
trusted, their housing in an ordinary farm building or cem-
porary bunk house wich one night guard for supervision is
perfectly practicable. A movable road camp of the kind
idaga County offers itself as an excellent method
Jn all cases the burden of the expense for the transportation
of prisoners and for their guarding has to be definitely settled
The plan consistent with the general plan proposed is to cause
the towns for which highway work is performed by the jail
prisoners to pay the expense both of transportation and_of
supervision as well as to pay a certain amount in contribution
toward the feeding of the prisoners. This plan has been
adopted and worked our in a number of counties, Where the
jail prisoners are worked on county roads the expense must be
bome directly by the county, but a contribution may be made
by the town whose highway is being transformed into county
roads. This has been the practice in Onondaga County and
was the plan suggesced by Mr. Cregier of Schenectady
County as one generally applicable.
With this general information as a basis, the procedure of
the Prison Association in the individual counties was briefly
as follows:
A regular inspection was made of the county jail. The
extent of idleness was ascertained as closely as. possible in
terms of general condition as well as in regard to the number
affected. In a number of eases, it was, of course, impossible
to get any reliable statement of ehe average number of prisoners
serving sentence in the jail. Whatever was obtainable under
the circumstances was secured. ‘Thereupon a number of
officials or other citizens of the county were interviewed for
the purpose of ascertaining the possibilities for obtaining labor
for the prisoners, in the form of stone-crushing, highway
work or otherwise. Generally. several members of the board
‘sors, the clerk of the board of supervisors, the councy
superintendent of highways, the sheriff, the superintendent
of the poor farm, the town’ superintendent of highways, the
committee on good roads or the committee on jails or on
igs or on sheriffs’ accounts of the board of supervisors,
Road Work by Inmates of Auburn Prison,
Usual Scene in Senecs County Jail at Waterloo
Paocress in New York Stare IN 1914 129
or the county judge, were seen, information obtained and a
tentative plan submitted to them. On return from the tour
‘of inspection the report of the inspection was prepared as
usual, but the recommendations included a definite plan for
the employment of prisoners as conceived for that particular
county on the basis of the information and interviews.
In these reports, after a statement of the general condition
of the jail and of the idleness of the prisoners, the actual
labor conditions at the jail were described. Ie was stated
just what the prisoners were working at and to what advantage.
In some cases this meant an analysis and exposition of the
financially unsatisfactory results of the form of labor in
Phus the weaving industries in Rensselaer County and
Sow wasteful the anemployment of the prisoner is, both from
the standpoint of high per capita for maintenance and from
that of the deterioration of the prisoner's character. Where
counties were under contract with some county. penitentiary,
it was shown how the sums paid to such penitentiary for board
‘were an absolute loss to the county and perhaps of little advan~
tige co the prisoners because of the similar idleness at most
of the penitentiaries. ‘The law was then quoted to show that
the employment of the prisoners was legally provided for, and,
in fact, directed. The following extracts of Section 93 of the
unty Law and of Section 70 of the Highway Law were
quoted
Section 93, County 1:
“The boards of supervisors of the several counties are author-
ized to employ convicts under sentence to confinement in the
county jails, in building and repairing penal institutions of the
county, and in building and repairing che highways of their
respective counties, or in preparing the mat
ways, for sale to and for the use of such cou
villages and cities therein; and co make rules and regulations
for their employment, and the said board of supervisors is
hereby authorized to cause money to be raised by taxation for
the purpose of furnishing materials and carrying this provision
into effect; and the courts of this State are hereby authorized
to sentence convicts committed to detention in the jails to such
hard labor as may be provided by the boards of supervisors.”
‘Tur Prisox Assoctation or New Yor
Section 70, Highway Law
“Application for service of prisoners. After satisfying him-
self that proper quarters can be secured, the town superin-
Sendent may, with the consent of the town board, request the
Supervisor of the town under the provision of section ninety-
Three of the county law, to procure the services of prisoners
Serving sentence in the county jail, for general work upon the
public highways of the town.”
the experience of other counties where che labor problem
Pee eae erne ccensully. solved was cited, and definite
plans for the particular county in question proposed. A
brief example of such a concrete plan, as made for Essex
County, will give an idea of the nature of such plans;
“There are several ways in which the inmates can be employed
in this [Essex] County. T am told that a very shore distance
from the jail there is a Targe quarry and that the privilege of
working it can be obtained at a very nominal charge, or perhaps
Without charge. This quarry contains limestone, which is
Waluable in making good roads. To work the prisoners here
‘would probably necessitate the employment of one additional
Guard and the purchase of some necessary tools. A crusher
Could alvo be set up here in order to carry on the necessary stone-
breaking on a large scale, as is done in Onondaga County. The
prisoners could start in the morning and take their noon meal
Rich them, so that the noon trip buck to the jail could be
dispensed with.
<EThere is pleney of available highway work, for several years,
within a radius of six or eight miles of the jail. In the south-
Western pac, in the town of Lewis, for example, the roads are
Jn bad condition and che crossroads of the town of Elizabeth-
town need to be repaired and widened. ;
“The consensus of opinion of the highway superintendents
throughout the State is that jail labor on the highways sill
hot conflict to the slightest degree with free labor. As a matter
Of fact, the highway needs in the various towns of the county
fre so great that the respective counties of the Stare as a whole
‘would not be able for years to raise sufficient money eo do this
work, if contract labor is wholly to be considered. The vill
Of Elizabethtown (that is, within the corporate limits)
sufficient work in the upkeep of the streets and the cleaning
of ditches.
‘
}
Prooress iy New York STATE IN 1914131
© Inmates of the jail are doing such work within the corporate
limits of the village of Lake George. ‘This scheme has proven
satisfactory and money has been saved for the village
“Another highly desirable plan for the employment of jail
inmates isin connection with 2 jail farm. For the past two years
a farm of this kind has been operated by means of the prisoners
avwrence County, and the result has been very satis.
‘The jail population has been reduced to a noticeable
degree, and the cost of maintenance has also been reduced from
481.46 per capita per week, to 81.27, during the last year. The
value of the produce, together with the amount saved by jail
labor in construction work on the farm, has practically covered
the cose and the maintenance of the farm during the past two
“The farm of Go acres was purchased at about #40 per acre.
“In conjunction with the farm work, stone-breaking is carried
‘on during the late fall and winter. Arrangements are made
with the various town superintendents to purchase this cracked
Section 70 of the Highway Law also makes it possible for the
board of supervisors to enlist the cooperation of town highway
superintendents in employing prisoners on the roads. Ie is
strongly urged that a committee be appointed to consider the
opportunities for employing the prisoners in the county, and to
submit to the board a definite plan of employment which can
be put into effect.”
The success of our activities in bringing about the provision
of labor for all jail prisoners cannot yet be judged. The
number of counties we have reached in such a way is as yet
small and only a start has been made. Tr will be necessary
to follow out and to keep on pushing the plan in each county.
It may take two or three years or even more in some of the
counties to get the plan near execution, It will mean constant,
unrelenting efforts, persuasion and criticism, commendation
and rebuke. There is, however, every cause to be hopeful.
Thus far in most instances there has been at least a sym-
pathetic attitude shown by all concerned. In some cases
immediate action was taken; in others further action
promised. Undoubtedly in some cases there may not be
ardent desire to keep the promise, but with assiduous insis-
tence there should within the next three years be no county
132 Tue Prison Association or New York
left where prisoners may be allowed to spend their days in
idleness. ‘Thus far the plan has been proposed in some
form or other in the following counties and the chances for
success seem promising,
Broome County. Prisoners work on the county grounds
adjacent to the jail, particularly the comfort station. They
also do some stone-breaking. ‘The poor farm is within two
and a half miles of the jail and would offer a good opportunity
for the employment of prisoners. Ie consists of 175 acres,
of which ten are under cultivation. At least ten prisoners
could be regularly employed there. ‘The alternative plan of
employing the prisoners either on the farm or on the highways
‘was proposed with the supplementary plan of stone quarrying
and crushing in the winter. Members of the jail commicece
of the board of supervisors and the county superintendent
of highways were favorable to the plan but no action thus far
has been taken
Chemung County.— Farm work on the poor farm, consisting
of 305 actes, is available in this county. The farm is several
miles from the jail. Ae present only stone-breaking by hand
fon asmall scale is done. The plan praposed was the alternative
of jail Iabor on this farm or the double plan of highway work
and stone quarrying and crushing, The plan was presented
to the board of supervisors verbally as well as in the regular
report. A commistee of the board was appointed to look
into the matter, and it reported favorably on farm labor and
quarrying and crushing stone. A resolution of the board of
supervisors to this effect followed, so that action is expected
by the spring of 1915, A daily’ average of approximately
twenty-five prisoners serving sentence would be available.
‘Clinton County. The average daily population serving
sentence approximates 20, There is no form of employment.
Jail labor can be used in improving some of the bad highway
conditions in Platesburg, and in towns within a radius of
tight or nine miles of the jail, such as Schuyler Falls, Beekman
and Peru. Very near Plattsburg there are some splendid
limestone quarries which can be rented at a nominal charge.
the county can set up a large stonc-crushing plant on one of
these, and, during the winter months, prepare much stone «©
be used on the highways during the spring and summer.
Columbia County.— The plan of highway and quarry work in
combination was offered. No action has thus far been reported.
Progress ix New York Stare IN 1914 i33
Oficals im the county declare chemselvesvilling to try the
plan.
Erie County.— Only grand jury prisoners are detained in the
jail. Since the industries at the penitentiary are not extensive,
a county farm is maintained at Wende, eighteen miles outside
of Buffalo, An average of 75 to 80 men are employed here.
The county officials are secking legislation which will enable
them to employ inmates of the penitentiary on the county and
town highways.
Essex County.— ‘The average daily population serving sen-
tence during the past year was abour twelve. There is no
form of employment. There is a possibility of employing
‘isoners on a limestone quarry a very short distance from the
jail, which can very likely be had for che asking. ‘The prisoners
can also be used on highways of the towns, which need im-
provement within a radius of six or seven miles of the jail,
and for which there will not be sufficient money available for
some time, if outside labor is to be solely relied upon. In
connection’ with the quarry a large stone-crushing plant
can be operated. There is much work on the highways in
Elizabethtown, such as coping the sidewalks, clearing ditches,
digging ditches, etc.
Franklin County. —The average convicted population
throughout the year is about twenty-three. A new jail should
be constructed somewhere on the outskirts of che town of
Malone, and a county. jail farm maintained in conjunction
therewith, The sheriff and other officials are very anxious
to have 2 county farm. Jail labor has been utilized on rown
and village highways. The best outlook for this county is
the establishment of a county farm.
Herkimer County.— The average population is very small,
not sufficient to consider highway work or farming.
Jeferson County.— The average population serving sentence
is “approximately twenty-five. There is no form of employ-
‘ment, although in the past some prisoners have been employed
on the sherif’s own private farm. - It is planned to employ
jail labor on a 32-acre farm maintained in conjunction with
the county tuberculosis hospital. There is available quarry
Tand on the county poothouse property. A railroad. runs
through the property, which will make the transportation of
cracked stone very easy. Some of the near-by towns, such
as Brownsville, Rutland and Pamelia need to have their
134 Tur Prisox Assoctarton or New Yor
highways improved, and constantly complain of finding free
Tabor very scarce. ‘The employment committee appointed by
the board of supervisors is anxious to establish some kind of
employment. The prospects for adequate employment of
jail prisoners are good. arm and highway work were recom-
mended.
Madison County.— Average daily population serving sen-
tence eighteen. Either farming or highway work and stone-
crushing are possibilities. There is a good farm available
adjacent to the jail
Monroe County.— Only grand jury prisoners are detained in
the jail. Convicted prisoners are sent to the penitentiary
‘The idleness in the penitentiary is the chief problem for this
county. Labor unions are very hostile to the employment of
convict labor. There is no quarry available. The proper
material for the manufacture of cement or shale cubes is not
ailable in the county. ‘The county authorities are reluctant
crease the industries, fearing that it will be impossible
to dispose of the product. During the summer months, when
the population is small, farm work is carried on extensively,
and in winter, when the population is high, practically no
work is available, Ie is hoped that the county authorities can
be induced to set up a small road camp on a piece of work a
short distance from the jail this spring.
Monigomery County ‘The possibilities for highway work
in this county are good. A beginning had already been made,
previous to the recommendation by this Association, A
resolution of the board of supervisors granted the use of jail
Tabor on town highways, in accordance with the request made
by the town authorities of Mohawk on che basis of Section 70
of the State Highway Law. The plan to include stone-crush-
ing and to extend highway labor was favorably received by
officials and members of the board of supervisors, but no
definite action has as yet been taken.
Niagara County.— Average population 82, More than 50
per cent of this represents prisoners serving sentence. A
stone quarry is maintained as a means of employing prisoners.
No accounts are kept of the product of the quarry. Stone is
distributed about the county at the direction of the county
supervisors. A new county poor-farm has been purchased.
Many of the officials are considering the advisability of trans-
forming the old county poor farm into a county jail farm.
Procress 1n New York STATE IN 1914135
Ie seems likely that the county officials can be urged to under-
take this.
Oneida County.— Stone breaking has been discontinued at
the Rome jail. The average convicted population at the
Utica jail is approximately 65. Jail labor was used on the
highways in this county, ten years ago. The results were
very unsatisfactory, due probably to mismanagement. The
county has decided to build ies roads, the work to be in charge
of a committee consisting of three members of the highway
commission and two members of the board of supervisors,
town and county to share the expense on a 50 per cent basis, and
the county’s expense not to exceed $2,500. No town can
petition for more than three miles of work in one year. The
Possibility of working the inmates of the jail on the highways
could not be ascertained. Arrangements can possibly be made
if the various town supervisors will consent.
Ontario County.— Flighway labor and machine stonecrushing
were suggested in place of the present occupation at stone-
breaking by hand, but no action has as yet followed.
Orleans County. The average population is not sufficiently
large to consider employment at highway work or farming.
Ossoego County.— The average daily convicted population
is about thirty-five. Labor unions are very hostile to the
employment of jail labor. The best to be hoped for in thi
county is the proper management and further development of
the farm. The farm, operated on a satisfactory basis, should
practically solve the employment problem in this county for
most of the year
‘Renszelacr ounty.— The weaving industry established here
has been shown to be unsatisfactory in the amount of labor it
furnishes, and in its finances. No other labor outside of
domestic work is carried on. Highway work was proposed,
and is favored by both the sheriff and the couney superin-
tendent of highways. Supplemencary stone-quarrying would
probably supply sufficient labor for the daily average of
thirty men serving sentence.
St. Lavorence Cownty— The plan of employing county jail
prisoners in this county involves both 2 6o-acre fatm, and
stonchreaking; besides, considerable repairing and painting
is done about the county buildings by inmates. There is no
change recommended here; the county officals are urged further
to develop the farm. This county is one of the most success-
fal in giving ies jail prisoners employment.
136 Tar Prison Association or New York
Saratoga County.— ‘The average population serving sentence
for the fiscal year of 1913-1914 was twenty-five during the
summer, and forty-five during the winter. The county high-
way superintendent and the sherif® are anxious to have the
prisoners employed, and feel that there is sufficient highway
work available for convict labor. ‘The records of the town of
Ballston Spa show that on August 10, 19r4, 2 resolution was
passed authorizing the town superintendent of highways to
use the convict labor from the Ballston Spa jail has
not been done. Conviets from Great Meadow Prison have
done much work on the highways in Saratoga County. The
results are highly satisfactory. ‘The cost to the town averages
from 11 to 14 cents per day per inmate at work. ‘The State
supplies the guards, teams and supervisors. The town supplies
the houses in which che men live, and also cooking, and heating
equipment. This system is very attractive to the various
towns, in that the cost is small and the work is well done
‘Therefore the authorities are reluctant to experiment with
jail labor. However, there was a promising outlook at the
‘ime of this survey for the employment of the inmates on the
county fair grounds e is considerable leveling and
improving to be done. If the petition to the State prison
officials for the men from Great Meadow Prison is refused this
coming year, there is a possibiliey chat the county officials will
give more atrention to the employment of the jail inmates on
the highways,
Schenectady County. Average population for eleven months
of the past year, 70.2r, Becween 65 and 70 pet cent of this
average number represent male prisoners serving. sentence.
There is no work at present available for the prisoners
plans were submitted to the board of supervisors for considera
tion, one the employment of prisoners on the county roads,
and’ the other the employmene of prisoners on the town
highways. Ie was also suggested that a quarry be purchased
and operated in conjunction with the highway works that is,
during the winter months the stone could be dug out of the
quarry and crushed, and shipped to the different points through-
out the county in the spring. It was further suggested chat
the county authorities provide work for the average of six
to eight women prisoners serving sentence. Work for them,
such as sewing, darning and knitting for the city or county:
hospitals, poothouse, children’s institution, etc, should be
Prooress 1s New York State IN 1914137
provided, Recently it was learned from the members of the
teimployment committee of the county that highway and quarry
plans would not be considered for the present, in view of the
fact that very large number of civilians are unemployed in
the city of Schenectady. ‘The members of the committee
did plan to give over the labor of the prisoners to the owner
of a quarry. It was poineed out that this could not be done,
Decause it violated a section of the State constitution. It is
not likely that any further action on the part of the county
officials will be taken until the spring.
Steuben. County In addition to institutional work, only
stone-crushing is carried on here. ‘The double plan of highway
work and stonequartying and crushing seems most available.
The county superintendent of highways was favorable to the
plan as submitted. The transformation of town highways
Into county roads is the best immediately available form of
highway work. No definite action has as yet been taken,
Tioga County— There has been a good deal done in this
county toward the solution of the labor problem. An average
ff some nine prisoners have been employed on the poor farm
for a number of years past. General cleaning and repairing
work on the roads of the corporate village of Owego, and
some stone crushing by hand in the stone-shed, have’ been
carried on, In the fall, road construction (gravel road) was
begun in the town of Appalachin. This latter form of labor
is perhaps most hopeful. The members of the committee on
buildings of the board of supervisors and officials of the county
favored the extension of that work
Ulster County—In this county the poor farm, situated
at New Paltz, is more than fifteen miles from the jail and
consists of 167 acres, of which 112 are under cultivation. The
employment of prisoners on this farm by housing them on
the farm in a separate building during the farming season is
a practicable plan. Highway work is also practicable, par-
ticularly in transforming town highways into county roads.
The Harley road, two miles long, and Sawkil road, three miles
long, in the vicinity of the City of Kingston, ought to be so
improved in the near future and the prisoners could well be
employed there. The county superintendent of highways
favors this plan
ren County.—The average number of prisoners serving
sentence is about twelve. ‘The town authorities have arranged
138 Tar Pxtsox Assoctarion or New York
with the county authorities to use the jail labor on the village
highways of Lake George. During the summer five or six
men were employed keeping the streevs clean, and in some
sections improving the highways and sidewalks. Tt is planned
to continue work along this line during the winter.
Westchester County — About forty-seven male prisoners, less
than half the daily average, have nothing to do outside of
domestic work. Local conditions are not favorable for the
adoption of any definite labor plan now. The establishment
of a county penitentiary is agitated, and the land for the
purpose has already been purchased.’ ‘The important matter
now is that the new penitentiary be so conceived and so
planned that permanent and plentiful occupation be pro-
vided for the prisoners. There are approximately 120 male
prisoners per day from this county who are held in the New
York county penitentiary. This, together with the forty-
seven at the jail, and with those from adjoining counties,
whose boarding could probably be contracted for, would make
a possible working population of over 200 prisoners
SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR VAGRANTS AND YOUNG
Two farm industrial institutions have been established
recently by the Legislature, the State Industrial Farm Colony
for Tramps and Vagrants, in 1911, and the State Reformatory
for Misdemeanants, in 1912. ‘The Board of Managers of the
State Industrial Farm Colony has purchased 2 fertile tract of
Jand, 821 acres in extent, in the town of Beekman, Dutchess
County. The purpose of the institution is the ‘detention,
humane discipline, instruction and reformation of male adults
committed thereto as tramps or vagrants.
For many years the Prison Commission, the State Board of
Charities and che Prison Association campaigned for a State
farm of this nature. It was estimated by the Staté Board of
Charities that the cost to the taxpayer of the State for tramps
and vagrants amounced annually to at least $2,000,000. It
is fair to assume that from 7,009 to 9,000 different tramps and
vagrants are committed in any one year to correctional
institutions in this State. Their terms age short and they are
sent to institutions like workhouses, county jails and county
penitentiaries that have no facilities for giving them the kind
Of treatment, instruction and discipline likely to restore them
to normal citizenship.
Progress iy New York Stare in 1914 139
When the State Industrial Farm Colony shall have been
established, any county court or magistrate may commit
to the colony any person over the age of 21 who shall be
adjudged a vagrant or tramp, but any person may be paroled
or discharged at any time by the said board of managers,
and shall not in any case be detained longer than two years,
and unless he shall since the age of sixteen have been
previously committed to a penal institution, he shall not be
detained longer than eighteen months. The act. piovides
also for 2 parole system.
‘The State Industrial Farm Colony, known briefly as the
“cramp farm,” has experienced difficulty in getting started.
No appropriations were granted to this institution in 1913 of
1914, except a small appropriation for the necessary expenses
ofthe board of managers. Indeed, in 1913 and 1914 the colony
suffered severe treatment in company with many other chari-
table institutions in the matter of appropriations, in spite
of the fact that when the State Industrial Farm Colony was
being urged, and a bill for its establishment was under dise
cussion, the press of the State was practically unanimous
in hailing its establishment as one of the most progressive
steps that the State of New York could take. The deplorable
condition of tramps and vagrants, both inside and outside our
correctional and charitable institutions in the State, has long
been a disgrace to the State. During 1914, the site of the
colony has been temporarily farmed by the State Hospital
for the Insane located at Poughkeepsie. The board of
managers of the colony have asked for an appropriation in
1915 of $225,000, sufficient to enable them to begin the con-
struction of the necessary buildings and to utilize inmate labor
for that purpose so far as practicable.
Nor has the State Reformatory for Misdemeanants, estab-
lished in 1912, fared any better. Indeed, although the State
Reformatory for Misdemeanants is, “on paper,” over two
vears old, the site for the reformatory has not yet been pur
chased. “This institution is grievously needed. ‘The prison
system in New York State presents a strange paradox. ‘Train
ing schools are provided for delinquent boys and girls under
sixteen years of age. There are reformatories for boys and
men from sixteen to thirty years of age who have been con
vieted of felonies. Reformatories are also available for
sirls from fifteen to thirty years of age. ‘The wayward boy of
140 Tite Prison Association o New York
over sixteen years, however, who has not committed a felony
but who must be sent away for the commission of a minor
rime, is denied all reformatory treatment (except in the
City of New York).
How does the great Seate of New York discharge its duty
to boy minors, between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, who
must receive institueional treatment for the commission of
minor crimes? Te consigns them to peniventiaries and jail.
‘Most of the inmates of the penitentiaries are kept in idleness.
In some of the penitenciaries the cell accommodations are unfit
for human beings. Idleness is a frequent and extremely
dcbilieating and degenerating condition in ovr penitentiaries
and jails. The conditions in county jails are even worse than
at the penitentiaries. Only 2 few jails furnish employment
and that of the most rudimentary kind. Only a few jails have
yards and the inmates of the jails have practically no exercises
in the open during the period of confinement. The jail con-
struction is generally a cage affair, the cells opening into cor-
ridors whore the inmates frequently mingle during the whole
day, playing cards and loafing away their time. While the
county law prevents the mingling of minors and adults in
i is constancly violated, notwithstanding the most strenuous
efforts of che Commission of Prisons. Abominable practices
are reported.”
‘That the State of New York should continue to refuse its
most helpable delinquents (those between the ages of sixteen
and twenty-one), convicted of minor crimes, the best cor
rectional and educational eraining that the State can give, and
that it still condemns them to centers of idleness and degener-
acy, deserves the severest criticism. ‘The heart of any one
grows sick who visits our couney jails and sees young men
under the conditions described above, Not infrequently
the statement is fippantly made by the casual thinker or
reader that prisoners are in these modern days receiving too
much attention and too many benefits. It is easy indeed to
eriticise and joke in a semi-cynical way at the efforts of prison
reformers. Unfortunately, the most effective cure for an
such flippancy is the hardest to apply, viz— the person:
Visit to those institutions which “reformers ” biteerly com-
* Excerpt from address of Prison Commissioner Wade, 1911
Procress in New York Stare iw 19tg 141
plain of, and then by contrast those institutions in which
increased privileges in the direction of a larger humanity
have been granted
Te is difficult, for instance, for any one of 2 humane nature
to stand in a bitterly chilly’ cellhall ae Sing Sing on a raw
winter day and consider with equanimity the thrusts of ill-
informed critics or professional ediorial writers at the alleged
* coddling ” of the convict. It is impossible for our inspectors
of jails to go among the men and boys in an ancient, miserably
lighted jail, inimical ro health and producing hatred of society,
without chafing at the indifference of citizens who, were they
to see in their terribly deplorable reality many still existing
conditions, would rise in their indignation and wonder that
they could have been so blind. Te was a fearful, but perhaps
inevitable, error in the progress of civilization thar walled
the prisons in and excluded the light of public opinion and
Knowledge through the very act of preventing the criminal
from escaping. ‘The treatment of prisoners in the State of
New York continues to be in part contrary to the most funda-
mental dictates of decency.
CLASSIFICATION OF PRISONERS.
It is therefore natural that an important trend in prison
reform in our State has been toward the greater classification
and segregation of delinquents, according to their character-
istics and abilities. Whereas, in the earlier days of the State,
the jail and the prison constituted the correctional system,
there have developed out of the prison the reformatory, the
hospital for insane criminals, the penitentiary, the separate
prison for women, the juvenile reform schools, and other
correctional insticutions. Within the limits of the State
prisons themselves has come an approach to 2 classification,
in that Sing Sing prison receives mainly the frst-termers,
those convicted for the first time of felony, Auburn prison the
so-called second-termers, Clinton prison the so-called third-
termers, and Great Meadow a selected group from other State
prisons who toward the close of their terms seem capable
of a large degree of responsibility and consequently are
employed on the large unconfined acreage of New York's
only farm prison
The State reformatories have developed out of the prisons,
and in their turn have become specialized, there being two
142 Tas Paisox Association oF New Yors
State reformatoties for male felons, two State reformatories
for women (including felons and’ misdemeanants), anda
New York City reformatory for misdemeanants
Early in the century, reform schools for children began
to be established, the first in 1824 in New York city, called the
House of Refuge. To-day the field of child reforma
well specialized. ‘The State maintains the State Agricultural
and Industrial School for Boys at Industry and the Seate
Training School for Girls at Hudson, and is now building the
State Training School for Boys at Yorktown Heights. Several
reform schools under private management exist, such as the
New York Juvenile Asylum at Dobbs Ferry, the Jewish
Protectory at Hawthorne, the Lincoln Agriculcural Sehoal
at Lincolndale, the Catholic Protectory in New York City,
and the Berkshire Induserial Farm at Canaan, as well 2
the House of Refuge on Randall's Island.
Specialization and classification have developed still further,
Icis the accepted principle of the State to segregate in special
institutions those delinquents who will not’ fit into the
“normal” reformatories and prisons. There have been
established, therefore, a State Industrial Farm Colony for
‘Tramps and Vagrants, the land for which has been purchased
a State Reformatory for Misdemeanants, the site of which
has not yer been selected; and by the City of New York a
Farm Colony for the treatment of inebriates and drug addicts,
the site of which is in Orange County. In 191j the Prison
Association helped to secure the passage of a bill providing
for the selection of a site for 1 State custodial institution fg
feeble-minded male delinquents and for the establishment also
of observation centers and laboratories for the detection of
feeble-mindedness. This bill passed both Assembly” and
Senate, but was vetoed by Governor Sulzer.
_ For many years there have been five county penitentiaries
in the State, located, respectively in: New York (Blackwell's
Island), Albany, Jamesville (near Syracuse); Rochester and
Buffalo. These penitentiaries are “halfway institutions”
between the prison and the county jail. They’ receive misde=
meanants and some felons. In some of the penitentiaries a
considerable proportion of the population is composed of
Yagrants. ‘The terms are short, the idleness far too common.
The penitentiaries are managed by the counties in which they
are located and receive from adjoining counties prisoners
Progress in New York Stare iN 1914 143
whose terms are longer than would ordinarily cause their
detention in the county jail. For 2 number of years the
Prison Commission in particular, supported by the Prison
‘Association, has advocated the abolition of these county
penitentiaries and the substitution therefor of State district
workhouses, under the control of the State, to which inmates
now confined in penienciaries and jails, if convicted of crime,
should be sent. The proposed district workhouses would
conduct both agricultural and industrial occupations, would
be on wide acreage, would be economically constructed and
would, to a far greater degree than is at present the case with
the penitentiaries, contribute to their own support.
In each county of the State there is a county jail, in several
counties more than one jail. ‘These jails are considered the
weakest link in the prison system. While the jails in New
York probably rank, jn physical conditions and in their general
upkeep, with any jails in the country, they can nevertheless
not escape in large measure the appellation frequently made,
of “schools of crime.” Tt has been only too conclusively
proved that county management of a correctional institution
is generally not a satisfactory management. ‘The sheriff,
who is the chief executive officer, holds his position for not
over three years, and cannot be his own successor. The
conduct of the jail is only one of his many duties and is often
handed over in large measure to a subordinate. County
officials are seldom, if ever, good penologists. Their knowledge
is of the occasional and undigested order. ‘They aim to keep
taxes down and tend to take advantage of political oppor
tunities for themselves or their friends. Prisoners in county
jails suffer seriously from such conditions, The county jail
has little or no reforming influence, conducts few useful occupa
tions, conducts no schools, has no parole system in connection
with it, and generally turns the prisoner loose worse than when
he went in. Tn the second part of this volume, on pages
268 £0 454, will be found repores of the inspectors of the Prison
Association on their inspections of county jails.
County jails should not be used for the detention of persons
convicted of crime. Such jails should be solely for purposes
of detention prior to or during trial.
Each communicy has its local lockup, or in the case of the
larger communities, its police stations. ‘These lockups even
now are much neglected, although the Prison Commission
144 Tue Prison Association or New York
during the last few years has given special attention to the
lockups, securing much improvement in many of them. By
Chapter 379 of the Laws of 1914, power was given the Prison
Commission ro close up any lockup or police station in the
State in case the conditions of such lockup or police station
render it unfit for che confinement of prisoners. The burden
of proof is therefore on the community to show that the
lockup or police station is in proper condition, Otherwise,
at the expiration of thirty days, unless restrained by court
order, the Prison Commission is empowered to close the
lockup or police station. As a resule of this none too
drastic law, great activity has been shown by: the Prisor
‘ommission in many parts of the State during 1914, com.
munities having thus been forcibly reminded of thet davies
to the prisoners, who, particularly because their stay is generally
short, have heretofore attracted little artention on the part
of the public. :
Ic ean be seen, therefore, that while in the case of the more
serious offenses, the State has already made a fair degree of
classification through the establishment and development
of special institutions, such as reformatories and special
colonies, the proper treatment of misdemeanants is. still
deplorably infrequent.
In all institutions, the feebleminded delinquent offers a
peculiar and complicated problem. Whereas the insane
feebleminded which, however, receive relatively few delin~
quents, and are not intended for that purpose. Moreover,
‘eeblemindedness is an elusive mental condition. Idiots
Pnocress in New York Srate iN 1914. 145
The so-called “ moron" class, in which are grouped those
mentally backward or deficient persons who are more or less
incompetent to maintain themselves in competition with their
fellows without assistance of others, is a large group, and our
correctional institutions are found to be the destination to a
serious degree of such persons. In recent years many: state-
ments, sometimes presenting surprisingly high percentages,
have been given out as to the proportion of mentally defective
persons in correetional institutions,
While statements as to che proportion of feeblemindedness
in correctional institutions are undoubtedly often rendered
unreliable because of the difficulty of definition, and because
of the haste and inadequacy with which some examinations
have undoubtedly been conducted, there is no doubt what-
soever of the presence of a sufficiently large group of mental
defectives to justify special emphasis and cffores for the
establishment of one or more institutions for their adequate
care. The presence of prisoners relatively unimprovable
mentally is not only a criticism of the inability of the State
to segregate properly, but acts as a serious detriment to the
proper adminiscration of the institution itself in which such
prisoners are found,
A commission to investigate the present provision for the
mentally deficient was established by law in 1914, and under
the chairmanship of Hon. Robert W. Hebberd, Secretary of
the State Board of Charities, has conducted investigations
and public hearings at which the Prison Association has been
represented. ‘There are undoubtedly 2s many fecbleminded
persons in New York State as there are insane persons. Except
for the highest grades of the mentally deficient, every feeble-
minded person is said to be a potential criminal. ‘That more
crime is nor traced directly to fecblemindedness is due to the
guardianship exercised over many feebleminded persons by
their friends. That much crime is committed by feeble-
minded persons there is no doubt. That the public is not
more alive to the connection between feeblemindedness and
crime is not surprising, because feeblemindedness is often
only gradually observed. What may seem at first stupidity
or foolishness or ‘lack of brains” is only gradually discovered
to be a constitutional defect.
Feebleminded women of child-bearing age are a very serious
menace to society. The mental deficiency of prostitutes is so
146
‘Tue Prison Association or New York
frequently observable as to be a matter of common knowledge
to social workers and others dealing with delinquents. Mental
deficiency in young people makes them incompetent and
itresponsible, shoresighteda¢ co the future, and quite thor-
oughly incapable of seeing things in their proper perspective
Consequently, for the reduction of crime in this Seatey and
for the much more efficient administration of our existing
correctional institutions, the State_must establish custodial
instieutions for mentally defective delinquents. In the absence
of such institutions, a law passed in 1914 and embodied in
Chapter 361 provides a more satisfactory method of committing
to an existing institution not only feebleminded delinquents,
bur also feebleminded persons prone to delinquency. This
act has for several reasons been utilized too sparingly, but
will prove valuable, especially after proper institutions for the
mentally defective delinquent have been established.
‘A sane public opinion is the basis for 2 sane democracy.
There will be no sane prison reform in general until there is
a sane understanding by our people of prison conditions and
of the principles and methods char must be used to protect
society and to reform the criminal. ‘Therefore it is of the
highest importance that the “public,” which in all social
reforms is named as the especial body to be “educated,”
should have an intelligent knowledge of the peculiar and com-
plicated problems involved in a rational treatment of the
delinquent. The Prison Association exists partly for that
purpose.
Such information, to be generally disseminated and to be
powerful in moulding public opinion, must be neither “ dry-
asdust” nor" yellow.” Ie is true beyond argument that the
picturesque and the novel attracts attention, and, therefore,
Proper efforts to present the more conspicuous and interest
ing sides of prison reform are legitimate, if thereby the per
spective of the Too often in the past,
prison reform has suffered from the belief on the part of the
social reformers that severity of presentation and absence
of color are always essential in the presentation of truth,
In recent years, much of this feeling has disappeared. With
no less tendency to be accurate, many of the chief participants
in prison reform have adopted for presentation and propa-
Prooxess is New York Stare iN 1914 147
ganda_many of the legitimate lines of “human i
that focus in. prisons and other correctional. institutions.
Furthermore, it has happened that in 1914, in New York
State, several appointments of conspicuous fitness have been
tade under circumstances of general interest.
The accession of Miss Davis co the Commissionership of
the Department of Correction in New York City attracted
national attention, partly because of Miss Davis's excellent
teputation as the Superintendent of the New York State
Reformatory for Women at Bedford, and partly because for
the first time a woman commissioner had been appointed as
the executive head of a grcat city department.
During the year many other events within our State con-
tinued to furnish excellent material for newspapers and for
the more sober periodicals. Mr. Osborne’s experience as a
voluntary prisoner in 1913 ac Auburn prison was followed by
the development of the Mutual Welfare League at Auburn
throughoue the year. Great Meadow prison extended its
agricultural and road work. Sing Sing prison in June gave to
its prisoners the daily privilege of the yard for a portion of
the afternoon. In November, Mr. Osborne was appointed
Warden of Sing Sing prison. Clinton prison also gave yard
privileges.
During 1914, also, within our own State, the Commission
on Prison Reform, appointed by Governor Sulzer in 1913,
‘ontinued its investigations and rendered a report which was
widely noticed in the press. A series of conferences, held by
the Women's Department of the National Civic Federation
(New York and New Jersey district) at Carnegie Hall and
Hotel Astor, brought Governor Glynn as the presiding officer
and resulted in the formation of a Joint Committee on Prison
Reform which published che proceedings of the conferences
and during the summer and fall of 1914 planned an extensive
Correctional exhibit, which was, however, abandoned for the
winter of 1914 and 1915, because of the influence of the
European war upon charitable contributions. Nevertheless,
a series of important conferences is being developed by the
Joine Committee on Prison Reform which will be held in
Yatious important cities of the State. OF special significance
and value has been the very active participation, through the
Women's Department of the National Civic Federation, of
energetic women in the educational and legislative branches of
148 Tae Pruson Association oF New York
prison reform in our State. The Prison Association has
gladly and confidently cooperated in this movement, which
bids fair during 1915 to develop even more important
functions,
During che year also the National Committee on Prison
Labor, with headquarters in New York, bas held frequent
public meetings and has given special atention to newspaper
publicity regarding prison labor.
‘The development of prison reform has, however, by no means
been confined co the State of New York. Indeed, many
important developments have occurred elsewhere. Warden
J.T. Gilmour has brought much nearer to completion the
Central Farm Prison at Guelph, Ontario. Chairman Frank
H. Randall of the Prison Commission of Massachusetts, who
in 1913 was called by Governor Foss from Minnesota to be
the execurive head of the Massachusetts prison system, urged
the passage of a large number of important measures of leg
lation which, though failing of passage, nevertheless gave
rise to extended discussion in the newspapers of the Bay State.
In New Jersey, a modified system of self-government has been
introduced at ‘the State Reformatory, and there have been
important developments in road work and at the State prison
farm. Pennsylvania has seen the beginning of the construc-
tion of the new Central Penitentiary ae Bellefonte on a bounti-
fal site of 3,000 acres. The workhouse farm at Occoquan of
the District of Columbia has made important progress toward
self-support. Many humane innovations at the Maryland
State penitentiary have seriously reduced the surplus. from
prison Tabor which the State has in previous veats enjoyed,
bur the innovations have gratified the citizens of Mary
and.
Indeed, it would be possible to cite practically every State
in the Union as developing more intelligent methods of dealing
with prisoners, This was strikingly manifested at che annual
meeting of the American Prison Association at St. Paul in
October when prison officials and prison wardens vied with
each other in their eagerness to state their latest efforts and
experiments in more liberal and humane methods of treat-
ment. It is not stretching the truth ro say that_ probably
the most interesting and picturesque phase of social reform
in 1914, relating to the remedial treatment of the wards of
the State, has been that of prison reform
Prion Farsi, Guelph, One. The Front ofthe Prison,
Wacken JT. Gilmour Telling of His Building Operation.
Proorsss iv New York State IN 191g 149
THE PRESSING NEEDS OF THE STATE'S INSTITUTIONS
Practically without exception, the State's charitable and
correctional institutions are suffering from grievously inade-
quate appropriztions. ‘The State, having undertaken to
establish or maintain necessary institutions for the dependent,
defective and delinquent wards of the State, has in recent
years refused to make necessary appropriations for their
construction or continuance. ‘The income of the State in
recent years has been far less than the most necessary demands
upon its treasury. In consequence its institutions have
grievously suffered. Overcrowding, neglected repairs, build
ings planned bue not built, necessary positions not filled or
not created —these are some of the most frequent com-
plaints from the institutions.
‘The State must face the problem of how to raise the neces-
sary funds for the completion of existing institutions and for
the establishment of institutions quite as necessary. One or
more bond issues, to provide the needed funds, seems the only
solution, and the Constitutional Convention of 1915 must
face this problem. Furchermore, the supervision and control
of the Seate’s charitable and correctional institutions demand
revision. Nearly a score of boards, commissions and organiza~
tions now have some form of supervisory or administrative
control of the Seate’s institutions. A considerable portion of
the clerical and administrative force of our prisons, reforma-
tories, asylums and hospitals are frequently engaged in giving
or compiling information for the supervisory and administrative
bodies of the State. ‘The Seate system should be simplified,
and, when necessary, strengthened. It would be unwise for
the Prison Association to single out among the great needs
of our institutions any special features, yet it should be
emphasized that the State must nor turn back from its deliber-
ately assumed position of guaranteeing the establishment of
specialized modern institutions for male juvenile delinquents
(the State Training School for Boys at Yorktown Heights);
the young misdemeanant (The State Reformatory for Mis-
demeanants); and the tramp and vagrant (The State Industrial
Farm Colony for Tramps and Vagrants)
Furthermore, while the State has made remarkable provision
for its insane, its provision for the feebleminded, especially
the defective delinquent, is wretchedly inadequate and the
State owes, as almost a fist duty to itself and to its citizens,
the establishment of a State asylum for the defective delinquent.
TREASURER'S REPORT
SCHEDULE,
Srarement or Assets ay Linnie at Date of Serremava
30, 1914.
Cask: ASSETS,
Mechanics and Metals National Bank
Treasurer's Fund $1,280 59
Samuel M. Jackson Library Income
Fund, 105 94
——— $1,386 53
Due Union Trust Company (Asst
Sec, Fund). $29 64
Due U. 8. Trust Company (Endow-
ment Funds) 10 00
Due U. §. Trust Company (Kane
Fund).
Bank of the Metropolis:
General Secretary's Fund
Russell Sage Foundation,
Petty Cash
General Secretary's Fund
Sundry debrors (cash items)
General Secretary's Fund $116 73
‘Treasurer’s Fund 176
United States Trust Company:
Julia Billings Fund.
Endowment Fund,
John Innes Kane Memorial Fund
= 2,813 05
New York Life Incwrance and Trast
Company
Reserve Fund 2,965 50
‘Treasuner’s Reronr
Union Trust Company:
Assistant Secretaries’ Fund, $833.73
Mary H. Brush Fund 375 ©
Toral cash
Investments (at cost):
Endowment Fund
John Innes Kane Memoi
Mary H. Brush Fund
Samuel M. Jackson L
Real Estate (at cost
House and lot, 135 East 1th street.
Due from reformatories
New York State:
Elmira #75
Napanoch 25
Interest accrued:
Investments. $1,395 07
Bank balances 67 96
Prepaid Expense:
Insurance premiums 155 25
Railroad mileage books 16 64
Total assets.
Special donations
Expenses, due or accrued
Capital:
Endowment Fund 870,031 24
Jobn Innes Kane Memorial Fund, 5,000 00
Mary H. Brush Fund. 3,000 00
Reserve Fund. 21965 50
$1,208 73
$8,735 st
79,827 50
22,500 00
17t 80
$112,797 93
$1,997 93
1,323 9F
152 Tue Prison Association or New York
$2,300 00
2,500 00
863 34
Jolia Billings Fund,
‘Samuel M. Jackson Library Fund.
Assistant Secretaries? Fund.
Samuel M, Jackson Library Income
Fund
Russell Sage Foundation.
16219
au
887,024 38
Capital account 2,540 7
‘Total liabilities
SCHEDULE,
$109, 566 09
$112,797 93
Recetrrs ano Exrexpirunes rox Tue Year Enpine Seeremner
30, 1915.
Balance, September 30, 1913:
United States Trust Co.
New York Life Ins. & Trust Co
Union Trust Co
Mechanies & Metals National Bank.
Petey cash
Sundry debtors (cash items)
Bank of the Metropolis.
$3,280 97
2,987 78
2,109 57
1,810 95
Donations:
General
John Innes Kane Me-
morial Fund.
Assistant Secretary's Fund,
Special relief
Endowment Fund
Julia Billings Fund
General Relief
$18,081 42
$4000 90
3,509 00
2,761 00
2,560 00
1457 65
———— 834,300 07
Interest
Investments.
Bank balances
$3,350 42
16 71
—— 3773
$10,525 8
‘Treasurer's Rerort
Reformatories:
New York State, Elmira
Napanoch :
$900 00
300 60
ae $1,200 00
Mary H. Brash Fund:
Paid om account of Maffoe mortgage.
Refunds
Fands held in scust
125 00
825
400
EXPENDITURES.
Special donations
Exchange on cheques
Funds held in trust,
General secretary's bureau:
$10,933 7
1,236 70
4,216 02
sts 41
287 83
209 57
207 93
160 64,
150 09
134 75
113 69
104 66
78
94 64
Salaries
Postage
Printing and stationery.
Transportation, hotels and carfares.
Telegrams, telephone and messengers.
Office supplies.
Furniture and fixtures
Sundry payments
Inspections and investigations
Relief.
Library
Sing Sing work
‘Annual reports:
Newspapers and periodicals
Conferences, membership and organi-
Photos and films (mainly half-tones
for appeals)
Prison Sunday
Express and cartage,
Publicity.
$39,114 45
$1,996 13
154
Assistant secretaries’ bureau:
Salaries
Transportation, hotels and carfares
‘urniture and fieures.
Printing and stationery.
Sundries
House:
Salaries.
Repairs
Insurance
uel
Supplies
Li
Parole bureau:
Salt
‘Transportation, agents’ expenses and
ccarfares
Loans.
Relief
Sundries
Probation bureaw:
Salaries
Transportation, agents’ expenses and
carfares
Relief.
Sundries.
Relief bureau
Food
Rent, board and lodgings
Salaries
Sundries
‘Transportation and carfares,
Moving and storage.
Labor for and by applicant
Clothing ‘
Tur Prison Association or New York
$3,544 33
S72 $7
135 73,
21 65
4,285 75
1,294 28
3.138 4
30932 2
‘Treasurer's Revonr
Insestments:
Invested in period, per Schedule“ C"
John Innes Kane Memorial Fund.
Endowment Fund.
Mary H. Brush Fund.
$4,987 50
3,947 50
250 00
$9,185 00
$40,904 75
Balance, September 30, 1974
New York Life Ins. & Trust Co.
United Seates Trust Co.
Mechanics & Metals Nat. Bank
Union Trust Co.
Perey cash
Sundry debtors (cash items)
Bank of the Metropolis,
2,965
283
$49,640 26
SCHEDULE “Cc”
Inyestuenrs ar Dare oF SEPTEMBER 30, 1914.
Rare Inger Valeation
Oe Fey
CRI. & P. Railway
3C. & N, W. Railway.
1M. Se, P. & 8, 8. M. (Ace
quired April 1, 1914)
4 Jan. & July.
4 May & Nov.
$4,825 75
4,943 75
4 Jan. & July. 947 50
Bonds and mortgages
—— — 42 May & Noy.
4} May & Nov.
4b Apr. & Oct
§. Jan. & July
42,000 00
3,000 60
69,715 00
Tneerest
served,
850 60
83 33
10.66
787 50
225 00
45.00
37 50
$1,238 33
‘Tue Prison Association or New Yore
MARY Hl BRUSIC FUND.
Bonds and mortgages:
i 5 June & Dec. $2,375 00
— 5 Jan. &July. 250 00
EAMUBL M: JACKSON LIBRARY FUND.
Bond and mortgage
42 Apt. & Oct... 2,500 60
JOHN INNES KANE FUND.
Bonds:
1 Union Pac. R. R. (8500)
(acquired April, 1914) 4 Jan. & July. 487 50
Bond and morgage:
—— 5 Jan & July, 450000 56 25
879,827 50 $1,395 07
SCHEDULE "D™
Conpitios oF tue Various Fonps ar SEPTEMBER 30, 1914.
Balance at credit of fund, September 30, 1913
Received from donors
Interest received from United States Trust Company.
869,031 34
870,048 25
1701
Interest transferred to treasurer's fund
Balance, September 50, 1914:
On deposit in United States Trust
Company
On deposit in Mechanics and Metals
‘National Bank.
Invested per Schedule “C
8306 24
69,715 00
——— $70,031 14
‘Treasurer’s Revort
JOHN INNES KANE MEMORIAL FUND.
Received from donor.
Interest received from United States Trust Company,
Interest transferred to ereasuret’s fund
Balance, September 30, 1914:
Invested, per Schedule "C
STATEMENT OF THR MARY H. BRUSH FUND.
Balance at credie of fund, September 30, 1913.
Interest received from Union Trust Company.
Inrerest transferred to treasurer's fund
Balance, September 50, 1914:
On deposit in Union Trust Company
Invested per Schedule “
$375 00
2,625 00
Balance at eredit of fund, September 30, 191
Interest received from New York Life Insurance and
Truse Company
Interest transferred to treasurer's fund
Balance, September 30, 1914, om deposit in New York
Life Insurance and Trust Compan
JULIA BILLINGS FUND.
Received from donor
Balance, September 30, 19142
On deposit in United Seares Trust Company.
84 80
$2,965
“4
"7
$3,009 97
447
$2,965
158 THE Prison Associarton or New Yore
STATEMENT OF THE SAMURL M, JACKSON LIBRARY FUND.
Balance, September 50, 1913 $2,500
Balance, September 50, 191
Invested, per Schedule “
$2,500 09
Balance, September 30, 1913 1,597
Received from donors 35500 00
Interest received from Union Trust Company. ‘ sist
2149 09
Expenditures. 45285 75
Balance, September 30, 1914:
(On deposit in Union Trust Company $833 73
On deposit in Mechanics and Metals
‘Nation! Bank. 29 61
Balance, September 30, 1914
8863 34
INTEREST RECEIVED FROM INVESTMENT OF THE SAMUEL M. JACKSON
LIBRARY FUND.
Interest received from investment of the Samuel ML
Jackson Library Fund Bros 94
Interest receivable from above investment due October
1 1914. : 56 25
Balance, September 30, 1914:
On deposit in Mechanics and Metals
National Bank B105 94
Receivable 56 25
———_ sig
Treasurer's Revont
Balance at credit of fund September 30, 1913. gan
Expendicures NIL
Balance, September 30, 1914, on deposit in Bank of the
Metropolis fu i
We hereby certify that we have examined the books, accounts
and vouchers of the Prison Association of New York for the year
ending September 30, 1914, and that the above statement is corrrect.
‘Towxsenp anp Dix,
Auditors,
LIFE. PATRONS,
By Contains of $500 ae Mere at On
Baty, Mer Hen Phipps, Henry.
res a
Soe Will B
Sein Frm Lye,
Thorne, Samuel
Tis
Mest Hemy Be Worle, Mr Anna
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS.
By Conbutons of $100 at Oe Tine
ww.
nena
Astor Mes, Ava Willing,
Astor, Mes, John Jacob
Tate, Alecia
tite rar
ening, Miss Annie B.
{Stony Arthur
nson, Gilbert He
Johnson, Fass W,
iW
TEanpen, Woodbury G.
Lawrence, Mire Satue
Olgphant Raber AL
Otkoen Waar Core,
Perkins, Georee
Roper Ha. Tit.
"Timad Church,
es Dest
Sa8s Mee" Rose.
Shteedec, Ms. Herbert
“houses.
Scovile, Mie Grace.
Sate
Sean ill D,
Srey Bu
Selina, ivr Chatonee R.
Stok
VanGierbig, Mrs. B
16
162 Tate Prison Assoctattox or New Yore ‘Lire Members
Yan nse, , iia, Her B oul Me. Feder
Reale # Win, Stes HS, Fis la Wane W
Wong Foe Wan es Es, Boson
See James R
Steward abn
ina
Heraahn Circ Ker & Co, Tibonke, Mts Gavi.
Wate Riel
LIFE. MEMBERS.
eine F S Nocden Wate,
By Cenmibutions of $50 st One Time Reot, Charles T. eters.
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AZ Healy A. Augustus
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Ta Blemory of A. fenekens Ne Albert
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CONTRIBUTORS’ LIST.
Contributions preceded hy name only are for the General Funds
for general purposes. Other contributions are designated as follows:
G.R., General Reliet (used only for elie); §. R.y Special Reliet
donations for specially “esignated instances of need); A. Avi
ant Secretaries’ Fund (for salaries and incidental expenses); S.
Other Special Funds; 8. S., Sing Sing Fund (campaign of publicity
for abolition of She ‘Sing Prison).
Apfel, Philips & Co.....- GR. $1 90
Arkay Rubber Co be
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AAcerbares Mis
‘Rttrbute, Miss Mary
lots Charts
ees, Charles ©
Aegina Ma Che
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Auchinbt Ns Bde &
‘Abcisclane, Mire Edgar &
ie
‘Aubin, Ng Hag.
‘ugh, Join hee
i Mrs Rha
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‘Alexandre: Mes J Joreph
AUPSaing Chaeth of Has:
‘inom, NY
Alles, Geore Marsha
‘Albay “Sa Geo
8
Babcock, Edward Wilco
Babcock, Mire flengy B
Bachmann, Mire,
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Bi, Gio
Bicon Miss Hizabeth fi: G,
Sassy Mee Free Mas
‘ee Gee
Bio, Me Gene by:
Bailey, Josey a a
BESESSESSES 88 RGBLSESRRESSRSRRRERBIEES
Aathony Se
&
Bair, Joba .
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Grae F
Banks Lepox
Baptist Church of Water
Bea NY
Barbet, Nr Howard
Barber, Mise Tustine V-
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facnum, Mes, W.
Barre, Leon
Beckhard, Magen
Reddall Edvard F
Bese Mex G1
Gorden
Balle,
Belle Win F
Belingor, William W
Conrriaurors’ List
Bian
Belen, Mi
Bingham, Mire: George F
Bingham; Thcodore &
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166 Tue Prison Association or New York Contrisurors’ List
Chislm, George F. sas
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Hard, Anson W Hata Ee
denberay Thos E $
Mee Thomas
Geay, Joh Clinton
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172 Tue Prison Assocration oF New York Conrrisutors’ List 173
a ‘Kart, Miss Edythe C. GR. sy 00 Lawrence, Miss KL GR ete sorcis, Sherman. cy diy Mn Lise GR. 85 00
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= are 200 Mies Sate R ‘eo
374 Tue Prisow Association or New York Conrarsurors’ List
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Robert, Ch H
Reber, G, Theodore 8
Roberts, Joho ie
Roberta, Mea: Maia od
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Rebinson, Ei 8
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saul, Charles it
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ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS.
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Contrtsutors’
List 185
DONATIONS OF CLOTHING, READING MATTER AND OTHER
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HELPFUL ARTICLES,
Miles’ Mee A
Mirch Ne Clarence
Madse Mer Mis 1 Borsa
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Meat, Mie, Le
Nedilewary Gui
Wageoner, 1H,
Webs Geog: 5.
Wott i
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS.
AN ACT to incorporate The Prison Association of New York. Passed
“May 9, 1846, by a tworthitds vote. (As subsequently amended.)
The People of the St
of New York, represented in Senate and
Assembly, do enact as falc:
§ 4. All such persons as are now and hereafter shall become
members to the said association pursuant co the constitution thereof,
shall and are hereby constituted a bedy corporate by the name of
‘The Prison Association of New York, and by thae name have the
powers that by the third title, of the cighteenth chapter, of the
first part of the Revised Statutes, are declared to belong to every
corporation, and shall be capable of purchasing, holding and com
veying any estate, real or personal, for the use of said corporation,
I never exceed the yearly value of
jose than those
provided that such real estare
ten thousand dollars, nor be applied to any other pi
for which the corporation is formed.
{§2, The estate and concerns of said corporation shall be managed
and conducted by its executive committee, in conformity to the
constitution af the said corporation; and the following articles
ssociation shall continue £0
that now farm the constitution of che
be the fundamental luvs and constitution thereof, subject to altera-
tions in the mode therein prescribed.
The objects of the association shall be:
1. The amelioration of the condition of prisoners, whether
detained for trial, or finally convicted, or as witnesses.
2, The improvement of prison discipline and the govenment of
prisons, whether for cities, counties or states
3. The support and encouragement of reformed convicts after
their discharge, by affording them the means of obtaining an honest
Livelihood, and suseaining them in their effores at reform.
‘The officers of the society shall be a president, vice-presidents, «
recording secretary, a corresponding secretary, and a ereasurer, and
ts
Constrrution anp By-Laws 183
there shall be the following standing committees, viz.: a finance
committee, a committee on detentions, a committee on prison dis
cipline, a commitcee on discharged convicts and an executive com-
mittee. The number of the executive committee shall consist of
hot mote than thirty-five, of whom not more than ten shall be
oficers of the society, and not more than twenty-five shall be persons
other than officers
The officers named in the preceding article shall be ex-offci
members of the executive committee, who shall choose one of thei
umber to be chairman thereof.
‘The executive committee shall meet once in each month, and keep
segular minutes of their proceedings. They shall have a general
superintendence and disection of the affairs of the society, and shall
annually report to the society all their proceedings, and such other
matters as shall be likely to advance the ends of the association.
ARTICLE FIPTHE
The society shall meet annually in the city of New York, at such
time and place as the executive committee shall appoint, and at
such other times as the president, or in his absence, one of the vice-
presidents, shall designate
Any person contributing annually to the funds of the association
not less than five dollars shall, owing to such contribution, be a
member thereof. A contribution of five hundred dollars. shall
constitute a life patron; a contribution of one hundred dollars shall
constitute an honorary member of the association for life, and a
contribution of fifty dollars shall constitute 2 member of the 2ss0-
ciation for life. Honorary and corresponding members may, from
‘ime to time, be appointed by the executive committee.
‘A female department shall be formed, consisting of such females
as shall be selected by the executive committee, who shall have charge
of the interest and welfare of prisoners of their sex, under such
regulations as the executive committee shall adopt.
184 Tur Prison Assoctation or New York
‘The officers of the association shall be chosen annually at the
annual meeting, at which time such persons may be elected honorary
members as shall have rendered essential service to the cause of
prison discipline.
Any society having the same objects in view may become auxiliary
to this association hy contributing to its funds and cooperating
with ie
The executive committee shall have power to add to any of the
standing committees such persons 2s, in their opinion, may be
likely to promote the objects of the society, and shall have power
to fill any vacancy which may occur in any of the offices of the
association, intermediate the annual meetings.
‘This constitution may be amended by a vote of the majority of
the society at any meeting thereof, provided notice of the amend
‘ment has been given at the next preceding meeting
The officers elected for the current year, under the constitution
shall continue t0 be the officers thereof until others shall be duly
chosen in their places.
‘And it is hereby further enacted that no manager of said society
shall receive compensation for his services.
§ 3. The said executive committee shall have power to establish
a workhouse in the county of New York, and in their discretion, to
receive and take into the said workhouse all such persons as shall
be taken up and commiteed az vagrants or disorderly persons in
said city as the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, or the Court
of Special Sessions, or the Court of Oyer and Terminer, in said
county, or any police magistrate, or the commissioner of the alms-
hhouse may deem proper objects, and the said executive committee
shall have the same powers to keep, detain, employ and govern the
said persons as are now by law conferred on the keepers of the
bridewell or penitentiary in said city
§ 4. The said executive committee may, from time to time
make by-laws, ordinances and regulations, relative to the manage
mene and disposition of the estate and concerns of said association
and the management, goverament, instruction, discipline and em-
ployment, of the persons so as aforesaid committed to the said
Constrrution axp By-Laws 185
workhouse, not contrary to law, as they may deem proper, and may
sppoint such officers, agents, and servants as they may deem neces-
sary to transact the business of the said association, and may desig-
nate their duties. And the said executive committee shall make
am annual report to the Legislature and to the corporation of the
city of New York, of the aumber of persons received by them into
the said workhouse, the disposition which shall be made of them
by inseructing or employing them therein, the receipes and expendi-
tures of said executive committee, and generally all such facts and
particulars as may exhibit the operations of the said association.
The said executive commircee shall have power, during
the minority of any of the persons so committed to the said work:
house, to bind oue the said persons so being minors, as aforesaid,
as apprentices or servants, with their consent dusing thei minority,
to such persons and at such places, to lear such proper trades and
employments as in their judgment will be most conducive to heir
reformation and amendment and future benefit and advantage of
such persons.
£6. The said executive committee by such committees as they
shall from time t0 time appoint, shall have power, and it shall be
their duey to visit, inspect, and examine, all the prisons in the State,
and annually report to the Legislature their state and condition,
an all such other things in regard eo chem as may enable the Legis.
lature to perfect their government and discipline. And to enable
them to execute the powers and perform the dutics hereby granted
and imposed, they shall possess all the powers and authority that
by the twenty-fourth section, of ttle first, chaprer third, part fourth
of the Revised Statutes are invested in inspectors of county prisons
and the duties of the keepers of each prison that they may examine
shall be the same ia gelation to them, as in the section aforesaid,
are imposed on the keepers of such prisons in relation to the inspectors
thereof; provided, that no such examination ot inspection of any
prison shall be made until an order for that purpose to be granted
by the chancellor of this State, oF one of the judges of the Supreme
Coure or by a vice-chancellor or circuit judge, or by the first judge
of the county in which the prison to be examined shall be situate
shall firse have been had and obtained, which order shall specify
the name of the prison to be examined, the names of the persone,
members of the said association, by whom the examination is t0 be
made, and che time within which the same must be concluded.
BY-LAWS
L. Thete shall be a stated meeting of the executive committee
‘on the third Thursday of each month, and special meetings shall
be held on the requisition of che chairman or any three members
of the executive committee. The call for a special meeting shall,
in all cases, state the business to be transacted at said meeting.
The annual meeting shall be held on the third Thursday of January
in each year at half-past three in the afternoon at the office of the
Association.
“The number of members composing the Executive Commitcee
exclusive of the officers of the Association, is hereby fixed at tweney-
Four, and divided into four groups or classes as follows: At the
election held at the annwal meeting of the year 1916, there shall be
lected, to serve from that date, six members for the term of one year,
six for the term of twa years, six for the term of three vears, and six
for the term of four years. At each annual meeting thereafter six
members shall be elected for the term of four years in place of © ose
whose terms of office then expire. Any vacancies in the member
ship of the committee by death, resignation or otherwise, may be
filled either by the Association at any annual meeting, or, in incerims
between the annual meetings, by the Executive Committee
TI. At every meeting of the executive committee five members
shall be necessary to constirute a quorum.
TIL, The order of business ar the annual meeting shall be as follows
1. Election of chairman and secretary
2. The reading of the minutes of the last mecting,
3. Report of committee on nominations
4 Election of officers.
5 Report of corresponding secretary on the work of the
year
6. Annual report of the treasurer.
IV. The order of business at every other stated meeting shall
be as follows:
1. The reading and approval of che minutes of the last
preceding meeting
2. Report of treasurer.
186
Coxstirurion anp By-Laws
43+ Reports from standing committees.
4 Report from the corresponding secretary.
5. Reports from special commizcees.
6. Report {rom the general agent,
7. Miscellaneous business.
Aca special meeting no other business shall be transacted chan
that for which the said meeting was called,
V. The chairman shall appoint all standing and special committees
and decide all questions of order, subjece to an appeal; and the rules
‘of order shall be those embodied in Cushing’s Manual, so far as
they are applicable.
VL. The recording secretary of the association shall be the secre-
tary of the executive committee; and it shall be his duty to keep
the minutes of che proceedings of said committee, to record them
‘2 book provided for that purpose, and to give due notice of alll
meetings of the committee.
VII. The corcesponding socretary shall conduct the correspond~
ence of the executive committee and of each of the standing com-
mittees; and shall act as the general financial agent of the association,
and shall report at each stated meeting of the committee.
VIII. The treasurer shall have charge of the funds of the associa-
tion, and shall give such security as the executive conmitvee may
require. His duties are more fully defined in by-law X.
IX. There shall be six standing committees, namely, on finance,
ecentions, discharged convicts, law, house, and library.
‘The committee on finance shall be charged with the duty of
raising and caring for the funds.
‘The funds of the association shall be divided into chree parts to
he known as:
1. The endowment fund,
2. The reserve fund,
3. The general fund.
The Endowment Fused. endowment fund shall consist of
such contributions as shall be given with the restriction that the
income only shall be used for the purpose of the association, and all
legacies.
The Reseroe Fund.—The reserve fund shall consise of such sums
as may be set aside from the general fund from time to time by the
executive committee for investment. Whenever any part of the
reserve fund shall be appropriated by the executive committee,
188 Taz Prison Association or New York
such sum shall be immediately transferred to the general fond
‘The endowment and reserve funds shall be under the immediate
direction and control of the committee on finance, and all invest-
ments of these funds shall be ordered by the committee. The
treasurer of the association shall be a member and act as the treasurer
of the committee on finance, and shall be responsible for the safe
keeping of the sureties of the endowment and reserve funds.
‘Any uninvested balance of the endowment and reserve funds shall
be kept each in separate trust companies in the name of the associa.
tion, subject to check of the treasurer, and shall, whenever possible,
bear interest. All income from the endowment and reserve funds
may he transferred ro the general fund as soon as received.
No part of the teserve fund shall be used for any purpose except
by resolution of the executive committee, and whenever any part
shall be appropriated by the executive committee it shall immedi-
ately be transferred to the general fund
The Genera! Fund.—The term “general fund’ shall cover all
receipts of the association not constituting a special fund or specified
for the endowment fund, the intention being that all the income,
except legacies, including donations for general purposes, and income
From endowment and reserve funds, shall be credited to the general
fund co which che authorized disbursements of each activity of the
association shall be charged at the close of the fiscal year.
the treasurer shall notify the corresponding secretary at once of
all transfers of income from the endowment and reserve funds t0
the general fund.
‘The treasurer shall notify the corresponding secretary, immedi-
ately on receipt by him of any sum for the account of the association,
that such receipt may be entered at once to the credit of the proper
account on the books of the association.
“The corresponding secretary shall be the general disbursing agent
of the association, the object of the provision being to keep in the
central offices of the association all receipes for payments by him
for the association of any kind, nature or desctiption, and to have
in the central offices immediate record of all his disbursements,
‘This provision shall not apply to the endowment and reserve funds.
All donations received by the corresponding secretary shall be
centered by him upon the proper books of the association and then
deposited in such bank as directed by the treasurer to the credit
of the association. Whenever the executive committee shall make
‘an appropriation out of either the reserve or general fund, the cor
responding secretary shall send to the treasurer a copy of the reso-
Coxsrirution anp By-Laws 189
lution making the appropriation, certified by the recording secretary,
hich cried copy shall be the treanun’s anthony for tae
fering the appropriated amount to the corresponding secre
The cressurcr uhall Koxp. an accouar coverg the gencad oad
in the name of the association, subject to his check as treasurer in
such bank as may be selected by him and approved by the com-
mittee on finance. Such account shall be separate and distinct from
those accounts opened for the uninvested balance of the endowment
and reserve funds.
The corresponding sceretary shall keep a bank account in the
name of the association, subject to his check 8 corresponding
secretary for current disbursements, and shall deposit to the credit
of said bank accoune all moneys he may receive from the treasurer
ddraven from the general fund.
‘The committee on finance shall audit and report upon accounts of
the treasurer and of the corresponding secretary.
At each regular meeting of the executive committee the treasurer
shall make a detailed statement of the receipts and disbursements
for the preceding calendar month. He shall make a statement
showing investments and the receipts and disbursements of the
endowment and reserve funds; he shall make, at the annual meeting
‘of the association, a detailed statement of receipts and disburse-
ments for the fiscal yeat.
XI. Ie shall be the duty of the committee on detentions:
1. To inquire, as far as may be practicable or necessary, into the
causes of commitment of persons in the prisons or houses of detention,
in the cities of New York and in Brooklyn, and to adopt proper
measures for procuring the discharge or providing for the defense
of such as shall appear to be entitled chereto
2. To visit frequently the prisons under their charge, and to ene
deavor to improve both the physical and moral condition of the
prisoners in all suitable and practicable ways.
XII. Ie shall be the duty of the committee on discharged convicts:
1. To correspond with prison agents or superintendents selative
to the character and trades of prisoners, and to ascertain, previous
to the discharge of each prisoner, his feelings, views and capabilities,
with a view of making the bese arrangements for his future employ-
ment.
2. To keep a record of all persons who will employ discharged
prisoners and of their several occupations; to procure such employ-
ment for prisoners and applying therefor as seems best adapted to
the capacity of each; to hold correspondence with employers; to
190 Tur Prisox Association or New York
kkeep a record of the conduct and prospects of those for whom placet
have been obtained, that they may be sustained and encouraged
with the idea that a continued friendly interest is fele for chem.
3. To secure suitable boarding places for discharged prisoners,
where they will not be exposed (0 corrupting influences, taking care
not to have more than one in a place, where it can be avoided,
4. To see that the prisoners are provided with suitable clothing,
of @ kind that will not areract particular attention,
5, To consider che intemal organization of the management of
prisons, and the physical and moral influences to be exerted on the
prisoners during their confinement, to report upon theit health,
reformation, upon convice labor, administrasion and incernal police,
fon the comparative merits of different prison systems, and on the
visitation of prison and houses of reformation.
XIIL Ie shall be the duty of the committee on law to examine
and report from time to time upon the penal legislation of the Seate,
with their suggestions for the amendment thereto, to consider ques:
tions relating thereto which are under discussion in the press or
the Legislature, including pending bills, and report their views and
conclusions upon them, also to cre for the law business of the asso-
XIV. Ie shall be the duty of the committee on house to care for
the maintenance of the real estate of the association.
XV. Ir shall be the duty of the committee on library to see that
itis properly housed and catalogued and to take steps fer its increase
be appointed by the executive
‘committee to assist the standing commniseees in their duties.
XVIL. The president, chairman of the executive committee, and
corresponding secretary shall be members, ex-officio, ofall che stand
ing committees.
XVIII. No alteration shall be made in these by-laws except upon
notice ofthe proposed amendment given at a previous mectng of
T. One or more agents sm
Part Two
INSPECTIONS
PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK
INSPECTIONS,
STATE PRISON FOR MEN, AUBURN.
Isspeerep ay E.R. Cass, May 15, ror, 10:45 A.M. To 12:15 Pa
2990 P.M. TO S215 P.
‘Ae the time of the above inspection there were 1,376 inmates in
the prison.
‘Auburn Prison is the oldest in the State, and represents the con-
gregate type of institution. The cellhouses and administration
building make a “U-shaped structure. The cellhouses extend east
and west on the north and south sides. A eross-arm section, join-
ing these two on the east side, runs north and south. ‘The part
constituting che administration building is situated in about the center
‘of thie eross-arm section. ‘The three wings, or cellhalls, are ant
‘quaced stone structures. The shop buildings run east and west in
respect to the south wing and north wing respectively. The space
hecween the nosth wing and the south wing, the approximate
width of the cross-arm section, serves as the center of the prison
grounds and is free of buildings. This space is cut up into walks
and lawns, with trees at frequent intervals. Most of the shop build
ings are two-story brick structures, the interiors being constructed
‘of wood. In the celihall on the north side there are three solid stone
celiblocks. In the frst cellblock there are five tiers on each side,
twenty-four cells on each side of each tier, making a total of 240
cells. Cellblock No. 2, which is separated from No. 1 by a space of
only aboue 6 or 8 feet, is also of solid stone, with five tiers on each
side and twelve cells on each side of each tier, making a total of 120
calls. Cellblock No. 3 is similar in construction to No. 2 and has
five tiers on each side, with twenty-nine cells on each side of each
tier. The galleries are accessible by wooden stairways and the cells.
are reached by a gallery on each tics ‘The floors of the galleries
are of wood. In the section on the top floor of the north wing, there
is a small room, formerly used as a hospital, and now as a dormitory.
‘On the norch end of the cross-arm section of what might be termed
the front of the prison, is the fourth cellblock, similar in construction,
to the three mentioned. This cellblock has five tiers on each side,
seventeen cells on each side of each tier, making 2 total of 170 calls.
195
196 Tur Prison Association or New York
‘The messhall, kitchen, chapel, hospital, observation cellroom,
chaplain’s quarters, library, and dentist’s room, occupy practically
the south end of the cross-arm section.
In the south wing there are two cellblocks, similar to those in the
other wings. ‘They are designated as cellblocks No. 5 and 6. No. 5
has five tiers on a side, nineteen cells on each side of ezch tier, making
a total of 190 cells. No. 6 has five tiers on a side, twenty-two cells
on each side of each tier, making a total of 220 cells. There are also
eleven additional cells situated over the top of the fifth tier of cell-
block No. 5.
The cells are of che old vault type, averaging 4 feet by 6 feet by
8 feet, and are not equipped with toilet or washing accommodations
‘The air space in each cell is approximately 192 cubic feet. Competent
authorities claim that each person should have '400 cubic feet or air
space. In the lodging houses of New York City the Board of Health
makes it mandatory that each inmate shall have at least 400 feet of
cubic air space and regulates the bed capacity of dormitories accord-
ingly. The absence of toilet facilities in the cells necessitates the
use of the bucket system. This brings about a most serious and
unsanitary condition. The cells are cold. Each of the cells is
furnished with an iron hinged bed and when this bed is lowered
the inmate has barely enough room left in the cell to turn around
or move about. Owing to the crow“ d condition of the prison it is
necessary to place many iron cots, some of them double-deckers,
on the floors of the cellhalls. Although there is no opportunity for
privacy, it is preferable from a standpoint of air and light to sleep
under these conditions. ‘There is little doubt but that the small,
poorly lighted, cold cells jeopardize the health of persons who are
compelled to occupy them. Cells of this type are conducive to
theumatism, and make necessary the maintaining of a large tuber-
culosis ward in Clinton Prison, at Dannemora, New York. The
population in this tuberculosis hospital is usually between four and
five hundred.
Built up against the prison wall on the west end is a modem
structure known as the isolation cellhouse building. The plan of |
this building has many meritorious features. Each person has a
Targe-sized cell, and a separate exercise yard, the top of which is open
sufficiently to permit plenty of sunshine and air to enter. The
cells in this section are furnished with modern plumbing equipment.
The prisoners are under the supervision of the warden, Charles
F. Rattigan. He is assisted by a large staff.
During the afternoon of the day of the above inspection, the
Auburn Prison. Group of Read Camp Men,
Laying Pipe Line. Men of Great Meadow Prison,
Inspections 197
inspector attended a meeting of the delegates of the Mutual Welfare
League. At the opening of the meeting the delegates considered
the appeals of prisoners who had been dropped from the League and
were desirous of being reinstated. The procedure in these cates
was as follows: A chairman, one of the prisoners, presided. The
prisoner's side of the story was first heard and then the members of
the commiteee who had recommended his dismissal from the League
were called upon to explain the basis on which they justified dis-
rmissal. Then, after a general discussion, a vote was taken, which
ticher determined reinstatement, or afitmed the recommendation
for dismissal. Dismissal feom the “League” means that the prisoner
loses all of the privileges which the members enjoy, and falls back
into the old routine, che monotony and hardship of which justifies
toa large degree the establishment of some kind of organization such
as the “League.” When all of the cases were heard the regular
business was brought before the delegates. Some suggested that
the warden be asked to permit the prisoners to purchase cocoa,
Ie was pointed out that the use of cocoa was permitted in some of
the other prisons, and finally a committee was appointed to take the
matter up with the warden. A very warm and exceedingly inter-
cating discussion arose relative to the quality, quantity and the serv-
ing of the prison food. According to the testimony of the delegates
who were in a position to know just how much food was used, a
decidedly insufficient amount of coffee is used in the preparation
‘of the same. Some men testified that they had not been served with
warm food for an exceedingly long period of time. ‘The principal
reason for this is that the mesls are served on the tables before the
thousand or more prisoners are marched into the dining-room.
Naturally, when the last of them are seated, their food is cold.
Many of the prisoners testified that ehe food was of inferior quality
and that in the preparation of the same the proper proportions of
food stuffs was lacking. Thar is, in the hash there was a decided
absence of meat, potatoes and other vegetables. It was pointed
fut by one man who undoubtedly knew what he was talking about,
that according to the meat supply for the whole prison, each man
should receive one-half pound daily. In this one-half’ pound, bone
and gristle are included and after the process of cooking is concluded
the onechalf pound has simmered down to two and one-half ounces
for each man. Many of the delegates earnestly volunteered to turn
over their one and one-half cents per day compensation toward the
purchase of better food. They denounced it a8 a crying shame that
men should be expected to work afeer being fed on food which was
of inferior quality and lacking in nutritive value,
198 Tus Prison Association or New Yore
At the time of the inspection of May 15, 1914, satisfactory order
prevailed in the cellhouse, shops, and in the groups of men working
‘on the grounds, The cleanliness of the cellhalls and the cells, and
the other parts of the institution, was satisfactory.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The present cellblocke should be replaced by a more
modern type if the present type of institution is to be
retained. With the construction of better living accommo-
dations, one necessary reform will be accomplished. As
Jong as chis Institution ig maintained on the congregate
plan, the system of dealing with the inmates will have a
serious defect, inasmuch as proper and necessary classifi-
cation and separation of inmates will be almost impossible.
A farm industrial prison, on wide acreage, with cellhouses
to accommodate hetween one hundred and fifty to two
hundred and fifty iamates, and distributed on the site in
‘a manner which will prevent the commingling of the prison
population as muck as possible, is highly desirable.
2. The work of installing large windows in the side walls
of the cellhouses should be continued. Such large windows
provide much light and alr for che cellhails and for part
of the cells.
3. If an additional opening were made in the wail which
separates the messhall from the kitchen it would be possible
to so arrange the serving of the food that the prisoners
coming in last could receive warm food.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
A. Ie was stated that in most cases persons who are
“square-chaiked"” in their cells, that is, kept in their
cells under punishment, instead of participating in the
daily routine, are permitted to receive daily exercise. Here-
tofore it was nothing out of the ordinary for men to spend
two, three and four months in their cells without this
essential exercise period.
‘This practice was condemned at the time of che different
visit:
2. The work of installing larger windows in the side walls
of the cellhouses is progressing.
3. A large number of road camps have been established
at a considerable distance from the prison.
Inspections 199
4. The chapel has been repainted and decorated by the
members of the Welfare League.
5. In conjunction with the Welfare League, an office
has been established outside of the prison for the purpose
of assisting discharged men,
STATE PRISON FOR WOMEN, AUBURN.
May 15,1914 Issrecran ay E. R. Cass, Thee, 1235 Fm
The population at the time of the aboce inspection numbered 107.
One of the population was a condemned wortan, and eight women
were in che hospital because of illness. Caloed women constitute
howe half he population
‘The warden of the men's prison, ChalesF. Rattgon, bas general
supervision of che women’s prison,” He is epresented onthe premises
by' he macron, Mr. M. Daley
‘Alhough the women's piso adjoins the State prison for men, ie
is entirely separated by high stone wall nd during the daly
routine in both prisons there is no ned forthe commingling of the
inmates of the respective prisons.
‘The matron is asin By an atsstant matron a night watchman,
several attendancs eight amistant matron four male guard, ewe
engineers two laborers and an organise,
"The prison isan old noncheeprot brick structure the interior
finish of which is wood ond plaster. It is heated by steam and
lighted by electricity. Wooden stairways give access tothe flere
parts, The prisoners are assigned to what are known as “ wards ‘5
20h ward it separate veto, soning umber of sme
Each prisoner has a room to herself." ‘The tooms are fut I
and while not equipped with moder tolet or washing accommo,
dations, cam nevertheless be made very comfortable, They are
far superior t0 the cells in the celllock of the male prison, with
respect to size, ventilation and ight
Prisoners are employed in the fellowing ways: Domestic work,
sewing, making tatresees and pillowsy and. ishing, blankets
There ace alto looms in the shops for weaving, but it was Sad thst
In the basement there are several dark cells, and i¢ was also sid
that cheschave never been used under the present matron, Occasion
ally, tis neceaary to ue the punishment cells which are Tocted
200 Tur Prison Assoctarion or New York
in & room beyond the workshop. These cells ae Inge and can-be
Sequnely lighted ad vetted, “Detenn in them with an
opportunity for daily exercise woud not he» hardship.
Pie nom fteproof construction of any institution is serious. The
condition, in the case of this building, is agaravated by the fat
th ducing the night would not be posible to use the Bee-escapes
trthoue Ase Bnding the nighs watchman whois he only one who
Tras s key to open the outlets to the fre-cacapes
"A decidedly satisfactory condition of cleanliness and order pre-
valled atthe time of the above inspection throughout ll parts of
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Each female night keeper should be furnished at night
ch will enable her to open the outlets to the
yathtubs and toilets are badly necded. Each
prisoner who can be trusted should be supplied with a wash-
bowl and water pitcher in her room.
3. New locks should be installed in the doors of the
prisoners’ rooms. The present locks are badly worn and
sometimes It is dificult zo operate them. Owing to the
fact that there is no central lock-control, the delay in
operating these locks would undoubtedly bring about
serious results in the event of fire.
4. A female physician or a graduate tained nurse should
be assigned to the prison.
CLINTON PRISON, DANNEMORA, NEW YORK.
Serremper 23, 1914, Insrecran ay E.R. Cass, Thee 945 a. at.
"70 §130 P. Ml. AND 7:30 P.M. TO 9:00
‘The prison is under the supervision of the warden, Jobn B.
Trombley, who is assisted by T. F. Coulery, principal keeper.
‘At the time of the inspection, the total population was 1441
classified as follows:
‘A trade oft fenders
1 Bade or scandens 2
C fend) oe tied (Sr oe fede
‘There were 21 men in isolation cells in the disciplinary buildings
156 in the hospital, and 134 idle in cells under the doctor's orders.
Inspections 201
These men are not locked in; 111 men were working on the public
roads, and the remainder of the population was distributed in the
shops, kitchen, the halls, yards, boiler-room, barns, etc
South hall— No changes have been made since last year, except
that the interiors of the cells have been whicewashed. ‘The cell-
block is badly in need of paint. In some places the plaster on the
ceiling is only slightly attached to the lathing, and is in danger of
falling. There is one large section where the plaster has already
fallen. ‘The cells in this hall were clean and in most cases well
arranged. The vents in the rear of the cells do not permie a satis-
factory cireulation of air
West hall.— The celiblock and interiors of some of the cells have
been painted during the last eight months, but most of the interiors
of the cells have been whitewashed. Here, again, the vents in the
rear of the cells do not permit a thorough circulation of air. The
cells and cellhall were clean,
Bart hall. ‘This hall is the original prison, At the time of the
inspection the cells were undergoing 2 thorough cleaning and in
most cases the equipment was moved out onto the fats. Many
prisoners have their beds in the corridors and remain there instead
of in the cell, This is also done in the eouth hall. In most cases
swooden beds are used and these are extremely difficule co keep
fee from vermin,
On both sides of the top tier in the east hall a disagreeable odor
emanated from most of the cells. A careful examination of the
cells. on the two top tiers did nor disclose the cause of this foul odor.
‘These cells should be cleaned with a very strong disinfectant and
the source of the above mentioned odor discovered.
‘The cells in which condemned prisoners were formerly detained
are no longer used for thae purpose, and it was said that prisoners
who are being disciplined are no longer placed in these cells.
‘Occasionally, when a man becomes vielene and there is reason t0
believe that he is mentally unbalanced, he is kept in this section
for observation. This practice is questionable; since there is no
padded cell, a prisoner is apt to do himself bodily harm on the walls,
or floors, of on the bar work in front of the cells. At the time of
this inspection, the section was well ventilated, most of the windows
being open.
‘The floor of the messhall was clean, also the stools and tables.
Many dishes were badly stained and the irregular setting up of the
cups and plates was quite noticeable.
202 Tar Prison Association or New York
‘The kitchen and its equipment, such a5 cooking pots, vegetable
cleaners, ete., appeared to be clean and the food in process of cook-
inging was palzeable, In one section of the kitchen many men
were peeling fresh vegetables. The beef in the refrigerators seemed
satisfactory. The refrigerator was clean. Ie was said that native
beef from local farmers is ar present being used; ir ean be purchased
for about ten cents per pound when bought by the whole carcass.
at the time of the inspection, mutton was ready for serving. It
‘yas said that co make up this stew, 12 bushels of peeled pocatoes,
4 bushels of turnips, } bushel of onions and Goo pounds of mutcon
had been used. This was for about 1,374 men. For dinner each
inmate received 2 liberal portion of stew, together with biscuits
and coffee
“There is a separate kitchen ateached to the hospital. The food
for the hospital is taken from the general supply, except that the
best of the provisions are usually selected,
“The bakeshop was undergoing a thorough cleaning at the time of
the inspection. It ig customary to bake about 700 loaves per day
three pounds per loaf, and an average of 600 loaves are used per day.
Ie is estimated that each man receives daily 1 pounds of bread
‘The bread was palatable.
‘The large tuberculosis hospital was found in splendid condition
from the standpoint of cleanliness, arrangement of beds, ete. The
large ward was well ventilated and the uniform manner in which
the beds and equipment were arranged is worthy of commendation.
‘The washrooms and toilets in this section were also clean and in
good condition.
‘The small tuberculosis ward was also clean and well arranged.
‘The hospital raoms reserved for men not affected with tuber-
ceulosis were in a satisfactory condition. The same ean be said of
the section used as a dental clinic
In the shops good discipline prevailed. Te was said that the results
of the industries have proven thus far to be very favorable. For
‘new machinery and improving the old equipment in general, $18,000
has been expended. ‘This applies principally ro weaving and spin-
thing machines, ‘The spinning mill has been rearranged in order to
make possible an increased output and also a beter quality. The
finishing machines are now able to cope with the output of the
machines which do the rough work. Thus far, no increased number
fof men has been employed in order co increase the output,
Iris approximately estimated that the sales from the six industries
Inspections
for the past twelve months will be $212,000, which will make an
approximate increase of $40,000 over the sales of last year.
Last spring some 100,000 young trees, received mostly from
Comstock, were set out in the forests in the vicinity of the prison,
Tn the past eleven months approximately $20,752.34 has been
credited for the sale of lumber, that is, pulp and logs. Finished
material, such as woodenware and finished lumber, during the past
leven months, represents sales of $12,470.11
‘A section of ground north of the west cellhall has been divided
during the past year into open-air recreation lots for prisoners
affected with tuberculosis. This deserves praise. The sections
are wired off so that the prisoners are kept pretty much to themselves.
‘The section of the yard directly north of the ease celhall is ina rough
and broken condition. One must pass through this seetion in order
to reach the disciplinary building which has been put into use
since the last inspection. A building of this kind has long been
needed, The building is similar to that which is now used at Auburn
for both condemned men and recalcitrant inmates. Te consists of
a series of thirteen cells on a side, separated by 2 central corridor.
Doorways lead from this central cortidor into the open-air exercise
court, which is attached to each cell, and is accessible by « doorway
leading from the rear of each cell, The cells are very large — about
towice the size of those in the prison proper — are well ventilated,
both in the front and rear, and are each equipped with a modern
type of toilet, a set washbasin and an iron cot bed. If it were not
for the constant confinement in a limited space, it would be much
more desirable to be assigned to one of these cells than to one in the
prison proper.
Since the last inspection, the following improvements and changes
Ihave been made:
1. The water from a spring located on the north side of
the prison, which heretofore has been going to waste, is
now piped into a reservoir and used in the prison. A new
well, 200 feet deep, located in an abandoned iron mine,
also adds to the water supply.
2. A new structure, known as “the root cellar,” used for
storing vegetables, etc., has been constructed.
3. New conerete walks have been lai
4. The ground between the bakehouse and administration
building has been graded and the hill leading from the
prison to the barn has been cut down considerably and
leveled.
204 Tutt Prison Assoctarion o New York
Ie is sail customary to keep prisoners ander discipline locked in
ther cls for long peviods, In eater which came to the inspector's
aes the prisoner had the option of coming from his cell when he
Tecidcd to conform to the request made by the principal keeper or
Sffeer in charge, "The bad feature of this cell confinement ie chae
he pritaners sre not given an opportunity for regular daly exercive
Se Resse or the yard. Despite a. man’s characte, his
Slasement i bound to be exiremely detrimental to his health,
£24 shouldbe odie, eicher by putting him in some of the vacane
Tile fw the disciplinary building, oF by exercising the men on the
Sats in company wath che Leeper. At the time of the inspection
threé men were found in the screen cell. Tn conversation with
{he inen, they al claimed hae they were jn for nothing. Sub-
ved thatthe} had refysed to do che work assigned
{Stiinn or nad otherwise been uilty of an infraction of the ees
Tews tha chee men had een Kepe im te seen cll 0 8
Eva in cates of his kind, itis quice importane tha, to safeguard
Peeha's health he should receive opporeaniey for daily exerci
In the past monchy the prisoners have been permitted ro have
Saturday afternoon, from 12. t0 430, for tecreaton in she yard
Daring these periods they are permitted to engage in baseball and
running matches
far the prisoners have proved themselves trustworthy but as
yet the warden docs not fel that he cam permit the men so have all
35; Sanayi che yard ecase of the cle of men who are under
a care “Conversation sich men who wore frsetimers (and the
fie timers represent about 43 percent of the population) discloses
i they feel eniled eo Sacarday afternoon and Sunday recreation,
because thsi allowed at Auburn and S Some of there me
evelbesn transfered to Clinton because of unsatisfactory conduc.
Tit encoursging to fad thatthe pritoners are being used exten
sively in the construction snd tepaiting of roads within a radius
Srey to Bfey miles of the prison, ‘There are now five of these
toad camps, namely:
Ghatenugay Fake, N.Y.
hana, AY.
Baw. ¥
Clivborah, 8,
Badnenrs Mountain
‘The men in these camps are purely on their honor and are super~
vised only by one guard who is really one of the group, inasmuch
‘as he works and lives with the men,
InsPections 205
In addition to the above number of men employed in the camps,
there is usually a gang of fifteen men working on the roads near the
prison who return to the prison every night,
Tt was said chat within the next few days a gang of twenty
three men will be sent to Lake Placid co work under the Conser-
vation Commission in setting out and planting trees.
‘The employment of the prisoners at forestry and road work cannot
be t00 highly commended. Work of this kind is of great benefic
to the prisoners, and the road work especially to the inhabitants of
the section in which they work,
RECOMMENDATIONS MAD)
1. The present celiblock should be replaced by a modern
type, with larger rooms, better equipped, and with adequate
ventilating facilities.
‘he south hall: Appropriations should be asked for
1 with which to paint the south hall and repair
theceiling. Ttisalso urged that in estimating the necessary
funds for painting, the painting of the interior of the cells,
instead of whitewashing, should be considered. Expert
medical opinion condemns the use of whitewash for the
interior of cells. It is characteristic of whitewash to scale
at some time and these scales aro bound to harbor dirt
and vermin.
3. The practice of keeping men in their cells for days
or weeks at a time without an opportunity for daily exercise
should be discontinued. Every man should have an oppor-
tunity for daily exercise. To break a man's health is an
injury and an added expense which works havoc, first, for
the community to which the man is to be returned, and,
ultimately, for the county and State. Prisoners who have
‘a good conduct record in the institution should be per-
mitted the use of the yard on Sundays. This should work
‘as an incentive to secure strict regard for the rules of the
prison,
4. It is urgently recommended that the authorities pro-
mote the use of prison Iabor on the roads as far as possible.
5. The section of the yard north of the east cellhall should
be improved. With the deep hollows filled in and a better
general level established, the appearance would be more
satisfactory and the space could be put to some use.
‘Tue Prison Association or New York.
GREAT MEADOW PRISON, COMSTOCK, N. Y.
Serrewper 25, 1914, INsrecrep ny E. R. Cass.
‘The prison is under the supervision of Warden William J. Homer.
No convicted persons are sent directly from the courts t0 thie
prison. It is customary to transfer only first timers from the other
prisons in the State who are chosen because of their good record
in the prison from which they come.
‘The system employed a¢ this prison is known 25 the honor system,
and while ie is not worked out in the strict sense of the word with
the major part of the population, there are many cases where
prisoners are not under the direct observation of a guard. ‘The
warden states that out of the entire population of a little over 600
he can trust all but about four or five to work outside of the stockade,
but mostly under the supervision of one or more guards. ‘The guards
do not carry firearms or batons
‘The entire inmate population at the time of inspection numbered
613. One hundred and thirceen of this number are diseribured
in road camps within a radius of twenty miles of the prison, and one
man is an inmate of a hospieal at Glens Falls, This man is strietly
fon his honor
‘The capacity of the institution is 600. ‘The new celall is slowly
nearing completion and will add 384 new cells, making a total
cell capacity of 18. The cells in the new wing are one foot wider
than those in the completed ving. The roof of the wing will be of
tpoctete, The roof of the noreh hall i of wood and in the event of
fire would be quickly destroyed.
‘The new messhall vill soo be ready for occupancy. This hall
is large, well lighted and well ventilated. Instead of using the long
tables with about 30 or 4o men to a table, smaller tables seating
18 men each will be used, and stools will be replaced by high
backed chairs. ‘The warden also proposes to introduce electric-
heating apparatus to keep plates and food warm.) ‘The kitchen is
adjacent to the dining-room and when it is fully equipped will be
fone of the best inthe State, | There are also large rooms and sections
for the storing of provisions, etc
A long corridor at a right angle to the cellblocks connects the two
cell wings with the building in which the messhall, kitchen, store-
rooms, laundry and bathing-room are located. The laundry is not
yet equipped. In the shower-room two batteries of shower-baths
are already installed and will be used within a short time. In the
VRecomimendasons made ly the Prron Asotiaen
Great Meadow Prison, Road Wock mar Cometock
Road Camp on Faierounds, Warrensbue
Inspections 207
central part of the room there is provision for the installation of two
more rows of shower batrcries, Each prisoner will have a separate
bathing compartment and a separate compartment in which to
rest. The Inundry is directly beneath, so that the soiled clothing,
ere., can be dropped down through a chute. The new powerhouse
is in operation and is practically complete with the exception of one
boiler which is not yet set up.
The following gang sheet shows the distribution of the population
with respect to the number employed inside and outside of the
Mas sam
orp sad dense.
oe
So
sia na cats
aoe
oust
pe
=e
oe
Ce en
prising 680 bed for ate slevadon of young tess The Cave
oe uoiaies incoctom evo aupertor ce be Of prea
copiel «dee Tih soy biraue ee per ee
ike Ente ih ses Erte propery ods mapey og pst oo
Ie ab stken wealoie ash cori or seed aul kins Doane
Soatily Ge monita Grorent Ape oot Auge
The tllowig watts ive sme va of ch counrenon wok
forthe Pcl peace oes
ee
Sooocee tee ve bes) annacen
fit bdo svat sboue toes oo 4 bed
Aiage ieieee tee lave bee plied pope
shipment nett yea
1.6000 snlings ats ready for ansplanting afr se
208 THe Prisox Association or New York
‘Young seedlings sell for about $1.50 a chousand; three-year-olds
sell at $3.50 a thousand, and four-year-olde at $4.00 « thousand.
‘There is much timber used in making frames for the seed beds, ete.
and a great deal of the inmate labor is represented in the work of
preparing these frames.
The piggery has shown very valuable results so far. This work
is under the supervision of an inmate with inmate assistants, and
judging from the large number of pigs, principally young ones,
he understands his business. Ar present there ate 600 hogs, which
is an increase of 400 over last year. Those that have already been
slaughtered are counted in the increase. For the last two months
there has been an average weekly slaughtering of about eight hogs.
The prisoners are fed pork chops twice every week. This product
from the piggery, considering the high cost of pork on the outside
marker, should be a large factor in reducing the cost of sustenance.
There are also 31 head of young cattle and 52 head of sheep.
‘The exceptionally good results from the piggery makes che warden
inclined to center most of his interest in this fine instead of on the
cattle and sheep.
This year, 40 bushels of oats were produced to the acre, a8 com=
pared with 24 last year. In all, about 0 acres of oats were planted.
Tweney acres of beans were planted. The erop ie satisfactory and
itis estimated that the supply will last for one year. A very favor-
able crop of corn was also being cut and hauled to the silos. A good
‘cut of hay vas also taken in during the
Considerable grading with inmate Inbor about the new buildings
and the powerhouse has been done and it is estimated that when
the grading is completed about $150,000 will have been saved the
State. This work will afford employment for prisoners for several
‘years,
‘At present there are six officers’ houses under consteuction, This
work is being done by the inmates, and figuring the cost of labor and
cement blocks, which were made on the premises, there isan approxi=
$2,000 a house. With outside labor and
1 the cast would be $4,000. ‘These houses are
IL ewo-story structures built of cement blocks with Acshaped
slate roofs, six or seven rooms to the house. Even with these
cottages, the staff will not be properly taken care of. Most of
the keepers are crowded together in a dormitory with no chance for
privacy and not the slightest tinge of 2 homelike environment.
‘The opening of the new wing will mean an inceease in the popula-
tion and it will be necessary to provide work forfaboutl soo more
Insrecrions 209
men. With the addition of industries to the present means of employ-
ment, which can be more extensively developed, there should not
be much difficulty in solving the problem. It is planned to work
the quarty on a very large scale during the winter. There are now
two crushers available, and, with the labor of from 300 to 400 men.
itis estimated that stone to the value of 825,000 will be crushed,
‘The inspection of the cells in the wing which is now in use satis-
fied the inspector 2s to the cleanliness and arrangement. While
in this wing, the inspector conversed with many of the prisoners
and from about twenty he received very unsatisfactory remarks
about the food. After making the rounds, the inspector took
this matter up with the kitchen keeper and the warden. Further-
‘mofe, he carefully inspected the food which was in process of cooking
and also the food which was given the prisoners for supper. ‘The
warden also produced many of the menu slips which are tumed
Over to him every day, Some of the prisoners who represent the
‘more level-headed and square type of inmate were interviewed. As
2 result of all this interviewing and inspecting, the inspector is
thoroughly convinced that there Were not the slightest grounds for
the inmates to complain of heir food.
The following are sample menus:
Sercownen 33
Braifas Ousnesh i, trad and coe
ice Pech hilt ute mae wet om Wild potas, bed oft
Sige: Spratt Bae
Serrownen 24
Breatfart: Corned bet hay hgend and cafe
Diane” Fred pok chops dente pe, ashe trnpg boiled potatoe,
ot ong ach) bre “ind cite
Sepper: Milly brea and
Serrewnen 25
Brrstfa: Corn meal puting and wil, bread and coffee,
Bide” ReGh'GR Sith oro ge, tewed Squash, belled potatoes, one
Tomato acy bread and coe
Saiper: Stemed onten, beads
‘The vegetables are all fresh from the farm, and, as above stated,
the pork is all taken from live stock from the piggery. The inmates
of this prison are fortunate to have their evening meal in the dining
room instead of, asin all of the other prisons, in their cells.
Tn order to get an idea of the quantity of material used in the
preparation of food, we can take, for example, September 13th, when
7 Since the above wae mitten, dhe evening mals at Sing Sing and Auburo are had
in de mesthall
4
210 Tue Prison Association or New Yor
for 493 men, 101 shoulder clods were used for breakfast. The
clods are taken directly from behind the shoulder and are usually
all lean mest. ‘The weight of each varies from 6 to 15 pounds.
For dinner, for che bean soup, 360 pounds of beans. For the boiled
beef, 222 pounds of beef were used, and 620 pounds of boiled potatoes,
On September 16th, when potk chops were served, 340 pounds of
pork chops were used, allowing one good chop to each man.
‘The following camps are made up of men taken from this prison:
Simp at Fare Ant
The following dietary is about the same for all the camps.
CAMP DIETARY
Moxa Great Mevdow Prison, fice’ Howes under Contraction
Bret: Rie cf, bread and bates
Maceron tus
sche, fs, rend nd bt.
‘Turse
Hot cae, bel and at
Bresd pudding en rend and butts
Weosesoar
Breakfasts Eggs calles, bred sod batter.
Stew cafe
Stepper’ — Milk fea bead and bac.
Truxsoay
Breasts Ont, brad and butter
Supper: Boule egg, te Bresd and butter
Fume
Brajets Eas cfr trend and buster
Siphon ea heen and Bore:
Braet: Hor ah efi bread and ber
ere Bile a
Sune
Breatfate Epes calf, bread and butter,
Bae sory ty end Sd buns
Supper: Eqn’ es bread Sod ut Great Meadow Prison. Road Camp, at Diane,
Insrecttoxs an
‘These men are living in tents and wooden shacks. ‘The camp
visited at Fort Ann was in an exceedingly good condition. The
cleanliness and the arrangement of the bunk house and the tent i
which the men eat were highly commendable,
‘These road camps have done splendid work for the communities
in which they are located, by transforming heretofore almost
impassable roads, especially during cercain seasons, into good ones,
and in several instances dangerous curves have been straightened
tout and projecting rock heds removed. This work nat only benefits
the community buc is also unquestionably 2 tremendous help to the
prisoner in building up his health and putting him in condition to
engage in work subsequent to his release.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The new wing should be completed without further
delay.
2. The wooden roof of the north cellhall should be replaced
by slate or concrete.
3. The farm activities should be increased.
4. The tree nursery industry should be extended.
5. Plans should be made for the introduction of per-
manent industries to provide work throughout the year.
6. The school system should be developed to provide
for the inmate who has completed the elementary school
work. For those who have no bent for further schooling,
opportunity for mechanical training should be available.
7. The production of food stuffs should be increased
to a point where other institutions in this State can be
liberally and regularly supplied.
IMPROVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR.
id cement walks and macadam roads
have been laid by inmate labor on the prison grounds and
on the outskirts,
2. At the time of inspection a new water-supply pipe
line was being connected with the lines on the prison
rounds. This work is also done by inmate labor.
3. A draining system for the conservation grounds is
being installed.
‘Tue Prison Assoctarion or New Yor
SING SING PRISON, OSSINING, N. Y.
Insrecrep ay E.R, Cass, January 23, 1914 JUNE 10, 1914, AND
Serrisnen 18, 1944
On the above dates regular inspections were made. During the
year, frequent visits, on an average of one a month, were made
to the institution, but on such visits not all parts of che premises
were visited.
The population has varied from 1,200 to 1,600.
During the year che prison has been under the supervision of three
wardens. The first warden, James M. Clancy, was succeeded by
John McCormick and he in turn by Thomas Mott Osborne, the
present warden.
‘The prison is situated on the river front, a short distance south
of the village of Ossining,
The principal building is the cellhouse, which runs north and
south, On the south end of thie is the administration building and
the warden's re ‘At right angles to the warden’s residence,
and extending toward the west, is 2 large building, in which are the
mesthall, hospital, schoolrooms, chapel, kitchen, library, chaplain's
office, and dormitory. ‘The other buildings on the sive consist of an
‘old dilapidated powes-house, which is to be displaced at some time
by one which is now partly completed, and the shop buildings.
The shop buildings are buile very close to the banks of the siver.
‘They run east and west and are arranged in a series parallel co each
other.
Ina shore wing, running south and at right angles to the buildings
in which che hospital, chapel, ete., ate located, is another building
‘occupied by the storerooms, bathhouse, and laundry. On che
extreme south end of the premises there is a rectangular piece of
‘ground enclosed by a wall and the iron fence on the river side. ‘The
Jargest open space is chat situated betwoen the east end of the shops
and the west side of the cellhouse
‘The large antiquated stone cellhouse, 487 fect long by 45 feet wide,
land approsimately 50 feet in height, merits strong and unrelenting
critic. ‘The prison was etected in 182r and is the second oldest
in the State. The large cellhouse for the most part is the original
structure and houses practically all of the prison population. The
side walls are filled with very small windows, approximately 3 feet
by 1 foot, representing distinctly the type found in the walls of a
fortress. On the east side wall some of these small windows have been
displaced by larger windows, twenty in number. On the west side
Inmate Band
Great Meadow Prive,
Insrrcrioxs 23
wall there have been constructed nine of these larger windows.
Despite the atcempe to inerease the admission of natural light and to
provide suficient ventilation, the interior of che cellhouse is etill
inadequately lighted and poorly ventilated.
‘The cellhouse is buile directly on the ground, with no
tundemeath the lower floor and only a few feet above the tidewater
mark. The interior of the cellhouse is occupied by a huge stone
cellblock, divided into two sections, each section separated from
the other by 2 narrow corridor. One should visualize an immense
granite block wich holes hewn into the sides. On each side of the
Ublock there are numerous tiers of cells, with an average of
fey-two cells on each ties. The tiers are accessible by stairways
fon the ends and in the central part of che cellhouse and the cells
are reached from galleries which run along in front of them.
The prison was buile in the punitive days, when the cell which is
now termed a dungeon was considered suitable, The health of
‘he occupant of the cell and the general sanitary conditions received
practically no consideration. The cells can be justly termed small
stone vaults, the average dimensions being: Depth, 7 feet;
Wideh, 3 feet 4 inches; height, 6 feet 7 inches, with a very stall
entrance space in the front of the cell. With these dimensions
the air space is a litele more than 168 cubic feet. Expert opinion
tells us that at least 400 cubic feet of air space is necessary
for a human being. The Boacd of Health authorities of New York
City demand that at least 4oo cubic fect of air space be allowed
for each inmate in the dormitories of our city lodging-houses. Repre-
sentatives of the Board of Health visit the lodging-howses, measure
the dormitories and determine just how many beds shall be installed.
Tf, at the time of 2 subsequent inspection, more than the allowed
number of beds are found in a dormitory, the superintendent, of
keeper of che lodgins-house, is liable to prosecution. These pre-
cautions are taken even for persons who must spend there only one
night, of, roughly speaking, nine hours out of ewenty-four. But in the
case of Sing Sing, prisoners are compelled to live night after night,
and year after year, in these strong-walled rooms, with less than
half of the prescribed amount of air space, with not infrequent
doubling-up of prisoners in a cell not half large enough for one.
Before Mr. Osborne's predecessor became warden, prisoners spent
from 4:30 Saturday afternoon uneil 9:30 Sunday morning, and from
about 10:45 a.m. Sunday, until 6:30 2. m. Monday in thei calls
‘The period during which prisoners were out of the cells on Sunday
morning was used to empty the buckets, while they ate breakfast
214 Tue Prison Association or New York
a d attended chapel. This cruel and inhuman system forced the
‘men to spend twenty or twenty-two hours in these small, damp, cold,
poorly lighted and poorly ventilated cells.
‘The equipment of the cell consists of an iron bucket and an iron
hhinged bed, which swings down from the side wal; also an electric
Tight. When the bed is lowered from the side wall, there is practi
cally no room left for the prisoner to move about in. In the tear of
the cells there i 2 small hole, which is part of the ventilating system,
During the regime of the present warden's predecessor the venti
ing aystem was improved so that it became of some value in drawing
‘out the foul and vile air that permeated the eellhouse during the
night. Before the ventilating system was repaired the men would
plug up the small holes to prevent vermin from entering the cell
This type of cell is conducive to rheumatism and tuberculesis, Ie is
rot tuncommon to hear prisoners say thae they were in perfect health
tupon admission to the prison, but that now their limbs are swollen,
weak and unsteady. Others will say with much bitterness, that they
were blessed with two sound lungs upon admission, but thar now
they know they are victims of ruberculosis, ‘The fact that there
are always between four hundred and five hundred tuberculosis
patients in the special hospital connected with Clinton Prison st
Dannemora, shows that the living conditions in our prisons are break~
ing the health of the inmates. ‘This is a fearful criticism upon our
State. Daring the year there has been practically no need of doubling
up in chese cells, but in previous years this was a very frequent
practice, Aside from being a detriment to the health of the inmates,
the prison cellhouse, representing as it does the congregate type of
institution, is a serious handicap in the problem of dealing with
delinquents, With a plant of this kind, there is na possible chance
for satisfactory classification and separstion of the prisoners, and as
a result, first ofenders, hardened criminals, perveres and diseased
prisoners are living together in close proximity under one roof,
Practically all of the shop buildings are antiquated and unsanitary
fire-traps. The interior construction is of wood, and che fre-escapes
are frail iron, stairway’, inenfficient in number. The machines in
the shops are not carefully guarded to prevent inmates from injuring
themselves while performing their work. The building in which
the messhall, hospital, dormitory and schoolrooms are located is
withoue doubt a verieable fire-trap, ‘The exits are inadequate in
number. ‘The stairways are email and insufficient in number. ‘The
windows are heavily barred and there is no outside stairway or
Iadder arrangement which the prisoners can use in the event of fire.
Inspections
‘The bathroom is small and inadequately equipped, and the arrange
ment of the apparatus is unsatisfactory. There is no opportunity
to bathe with privacy. ‘The kitchen is small; fortunately the
toilets, which were located on one side of the room, have been taken
‘out and buile as 2 separate structure outside of the kitchen,
The section in which the condemned men are held is beyond
doubt a disgrace to the State. Te is emall, poorly lighted and
ventilaced and the equipment is inadequate. ‘The cells are arranged
in a series on two sides of the room, the fronts of the celle facing
cach other. The prisoners cannot avoid, without imposing hardship
and much inconvenience upon themselves, looking direetly into the
cells on the opposite side of the room. ‘They have no work to
perform, and aside from the exercise periods in a small yard, have
nothing to help them pass the time except conversation across the
corridor, and games.
New cells for condemned prisoners are now being constructed,
Unfortunately, the design of these cells is practically the same as
those criticised above, the only noticeable difference being the
material used in the construction,
‘The building, known as the isolation building, in Auburn Prison,
and which was used in part for the detention of condemned men,
before the lav was passed which now requires that all condemned
prisoners be taken to Sing Sing Prison, is far superior to the section
in which the condemned prisoners are now kept at Sing Sing. Each
prisoner has a separate cell and a separate exercise yard and much
opportunity for privacy’
TThe condition of cleanness at the time of the different inspections
and visits has varied. On the whole, it has been fairly satisfactory.
RECOMMENDATION MADE.
‘THE ONLY LOGICAL RECOMMENDATION THAT CAN
BE MADE FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AND IN
INDUSTRIAL PRISON ON WIDE ACREAGE:
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, The ventilating system was placed in operation during,
‘ex-warden McCormick's regime.
2. Toilets have been removed from the kitchen proper.
216 Tue Prison Association of New You
3. During ex-warden McCormick's regime the monoto-
nous daily routine was broken and with the organization
of the ‘Golden Rule Brotherhood" the men were per-
mitted one hour each day, all Saturday afternoon and all
day Sunday.
4. Approximately one hundred men were taken from
Sing Sing and placed in a road camp during the summer.
‘The men did good work and lived under limited supervision.
5. The practice of giving three meals a day in the mess-
hall was begun during the short regime of Mr. McGormick.
SING SING ROAD CAMP (Camp McCormick), PALENVILLE.
Suerewmen 21, 1914, Insrectep oy Panuir Kestw,
‘This road camp is under the supervision of B. H. Wait, Division
agineer, White Plains, N. Y.
‘Camp McCormick was established about the middle ofthe summer,
in order to build the Kazeerskill-Clove State road, about four and
fonehhalf miles long. An appropriation of $190,000 was made by
the State for this road. Tt extends from Palenville along the
Kaaterekill Creek on » shelf of rock to the vicinity of Haynes’ Falls.
The road rises about 1,400 feet to the end of the four and one-hall
ailes, so that nine per cent grades are frequent. At present i is an
irregular road from § ro 20 feet in width, ‘The purpose of the
Highway Depacconenc is to make it 2 2§-foot, water-botind macadam,
to consist of one layer of six inches of hand-placed rock, to be filled
with sand or crushed stone, four inches of crushed stone, and then
the binder and sereenings. "The section upon which the work was
being carried om at the time of the inspection was about 1,900 feet
in length, close to the village of Palenville, This was the second
section of the road built, the fret having beem near the camp.
‘There wore sixcy prisoners in the camp on the day of inspection
A number of these, however, were not at, work. One prisoner had
‘escaped in the morning and several others were away in search of
him. Six prisoners of the Hebrew faich were not working, it being
the Hebrew New Year's Day. Also eight or ten men are regularly
employed abour the camp. This lefe a total of a licele over forty
prisoners working on the road at the time of the inspection. The
civilians a¢ the camp were 28 follows:
vid J. Shaw, ensinee in charge.
BEF feet pert froma
Bs
FS. Teeny, storekeeper
Inspections ary
Among the laborers, chere were 12 civilian employees, 1 a black-
smith at $3.35 per diem; 5 laborers, 3 at $2 and 2 at $1.75 per diem;
6 drivers with their teams, at $4.50 per day. These in addition to
4 guards of the Prison Department. A total, therefore, of 19
civilians and 60 convicts.
‘The camp had been planned for from 150 to 200 persons. ‘The
ratio of civilians to that mmber of prisoners would, of course, have
bbeen more normal than with 60, as at the present time. The road
was planned to be a three years’ job with an average of 150 to 200
convicts regularly at work
Considering the disproportion of employees and convicts, and the
initial cost of some 82,000 for the erection of the camp, to be described
below; considering also that the feeding of the prisoners was at first
by contract, at the rate of $2.50 per week per prisoners that pract
cally all of the material had to be hauled a good distance uphill
from the railroad station, and that afeer October the railroad from
Catskill to Palenville would be discontinued, so that all of the
hhauling would have to be done all the way from Catskill, we shall
not be surprised to find the cost mounting to high figures and unduly
discrediting the alleged economy of using prison labor. The emp
is sieuared about midway on the proposed road, just above Dog
Falls, where che old highway was abandoned, and a new stretch
built to the east of the camp. It was necessary to remove some
hundreds of yards of earth and sock in order to locate the camp,
which is located at an elevation of 1,200 feet between Fawn's Leap
and Buttermilk Falls, about three miles from Palenville and wo
miles from Haynes’ Falls, and about a mile and a half fom any
residence.
On the slope of the hill to the left of the road, there isthe office and
administration building, containing the offices of the three employees
of the Highway Department and their quarters, also a room for
the use of the physician who is said to call daily. To the right
of the road a series of buildings extend in the following order: A.
Duilding containing the kitchen, storeroom, keepers’ dining-room,
prisoners’ messhall and Keepers’ bedrooms. Connected with this
building are the dormitories for prisoners with open-wall construe-
tion for two feet below the roof. Ie i said that the portable over-
hhang can be closed in inclement weather. This bunkhouse is 100
fect by 22 feet and contains seven double windows on each side.
‘There were 60 beds in use at the time of the inspection. None had
sheets and pillow cases; ic was said that these would come later.
Iwo men were found in the dormitories on their beds. One had
a sprained ankle and the other a cut foot.
218 ‘Tut Prison Association or New York
From the dormitory, access is gained to the bathhouse, which is
supplied with concrete oor, six showers, five toilete and one sink,
‘The drainage seemed to be satisfactory. Outside of the bathhouse,
along the wall, long washbasins were erected. The laundry adjoine
the bathhouse and also has a concrete floor, a large brick stove for
boiling clothes, and a washtub. Ic is said chae different days are
devoted to the laundering of different classes of things; for insta
blankets one day, underwear another day, and s0 on. ‘The condition
of the buildings was satisfactory
The sewage disposal plane and garbage incinerator are situated
at some distance from the other buildings.
The water supply comes from a spring on Round Top mountain,
some 3,600 feet high, from which 1,600 feec of two-inch pipe line
bring the water to.a tank at some distance above the camp.
‘The stable and barn are also at some distance from the camp.
No hot water sas found co be available for bathing purposes, a
condition of which the inmates complain:
The furnishings of the kitchen and storeroom, and, in general,
the condition of the camp, were satisfactory so far as the brief
ingpection permivted judgment.
The spirit of the camp seemed very good. Thete had been some
trouble about the food, s0 chat 1
Highway Department took aver the supplying of food.
are brought from che camp to the part of the road where the prisones
happen to be working, in tin cans that have a compartment far
coffee. ‘The allotment on the day of the inspection, for dinner, was
three ham sandwiches, coffee and one orange.
The terms of the prisoners in the camp vary a good deal. One
‘of them was found to have not more than 33 days before his release,
another 7 months. ‘The prisoner with the longest term to serve had
4 years, 9 months and 19 days more
‘The prisoners, on the whole, wete satisfied with the condition of
things, and Me. Shav, the engineer in charge, stated that they were
each doing their day’s work as well 2s any free man. In other words,
he placed their eficiency as compared with free labor at 100 per cent.
This is rather higher than it has, as 2 rule, been placed.
Ac the time of che revision of this report, information has reached
us that the work hac been suspended for the winter, and that the
expenses of the camp, while exact figures are not yet obtainable,
are very much higher than they were expected to be, Considering
that the Highway Department has to bear all expenses, including
not only the payment of its own employoes, of machinery, of freight,
Sing Sing Peson. Cll 12 and 15,
‘Yard Bateal, July g 1905
Inspections
and the erection of the camp, but also the payment of the salaries
of the prison guards assigned to the camp, and of the complete
maintenance of the prisoners, i is hardly astonishing thae they do
not find the work with convier labor unusually profieable, expecially
bearing in mind that there are only 60 convicts as against 19
employess. We defer furcher discussion of the finances and practic
cabiliey of the work until exace data on this road work are available
fiom the Highway Department
STATE FARM FOR WOMEN, VALATIE, N. ¥.
Juvy 46, 1914, Inavecrep ay Partin Kcesw ann BE. R. Cass, Trste
JAS PM. TO 5:35 2. BL
‘The Farm comprises about 319 acres, 75 of which are woodland.
‘The water supply comes from two wells, each 23 fect deep.
‘Warden J. H. Mealey is in charge and receives a salary of $1,200
a year, which will be increased to $£,500 and maintenance after
October 1st. He is assisted by a staff, made up of a clerk, Harold
Mealey, who receives $60 a month and maintenance; a farm super=
intendent, who receives $2 a day and house rent; one officer, $75 @
month and maintenance.
Mealey has moved from the cottage which he has been occupy-
ing and now occupies one of the langer cottages. He intends to
return to the original cottage as soon as some necessary repairs
have been made,
Beginning wich October 1st, the farm will be used for women
inebriates only who have been convicted five times within ewo
years previous to sentence. These women will be taken from all
parts of the State. It is proposed that the women shall work on the
farm during the summer months and engage in willowstcipping
during the winter and early spring, Eventually, wrapper-making
and other work will be introduced.
Ar the time of the inspection there were twenty-one sentenced
male prisoners working on the farm who had been brought from
Comstock. Five of these were assigned to driving teams and cul-
tivating, six were building Fences, for which an appropriation of
$1,000 had been made. Most of the timber is taken from the
woodland parts of the farm. One man is assigned to look after seven
cows, make butter, etc.; two men are assigned to look after 84 pigs
and 135 chickens.
220 Tue Prison Association or New Yor
‘The total live stock consists of:
2 outed cca hoe
68 pi 2
‘Up fxs of hich 4 ae hn an aera of ot deen
oe
weave
In the warden’s house there is a convict chef and one general
hhouseman, In the prisoners’ cottage there is one engineer, one
Iaundryman and two housemen.
‘When women are brought to the farm, it is planned to use both
cottages, and have one matron and one male officer assigned to
each cottage.
‘The cost of the construction per cottage was 834,000. The cost
of construction of both cottages, including the furnishings, the
building of a sewerage system, and the installation of a heating
system, amounted to $70,749.05. It was said that the cost per
room is only six dollars more than at the State Reformatory for
Women at Bedford, The cost of the farm was $12,000. The value
of the farm products for 1913 was $3,308.20. Since then 200 men
hhave been released. Only five of these are said to have broken
their parole and one has escaped. Mose of the fatm products were
-d for the inmates last year. A carload of farm products was
sent to Great Meadow.
‘The number of acres under cultivation is as follows:
4 sees in willow,
160 ares in hay
‘The produce expected is approximately as follows:
fo bushel of se
00 bushel of potatos
co bushels of buckwheat.
sep Ei ot sta
of fader sm,
Inspections 221
The per capita daily suinenance i about aoa conte, The
expenitars for maintenance fom September, 1913, were a fallow
eae ti Sap wh 2 men de
forte ge tung ah ga
pdm i hes 2a oes
135c%p uh 38 men aed oes
DANNEMORA STATE HOSPITAL, DANNEMORA, N. Y.
Surrempen 24, 1914, Insrectsp ny E.R. Cass,
‘The superintendent of this institution is Dr. Charles H, Norehs
first assistant physician, Dr. John R. Ross; senior assistant physician,
Dr. Robert Dexter; wo medical internes, Drs. Harold Robert and
Lloyd T. McNulty.
This hospital is not a patt of Clinton prison, but 2 State hospital
for insane criminals,
The principal difference in the matter of the population of this
institution as compared with that of Matteawan is that no women
are detained here. ‘The hospital is used for the purpose of con-
fining and caring for such male prisoners as are declared insane
while confined in a State prison or reformatory or while serving
sentence of more than one year in a penitentiary.
The population of the various wards is given in the table below.
Wards 1 and 4 are considered as one ward.
Filta, Tora
neé stg
Emlayed Bok
‘The certified capacity of the institution is fixed by the Seate
Hospital Commission as 358.
The average daily population for the past year was over $50.
An overcrowded condition in an institution caring for the calibre
of patients found here is undoubtedly serious. Under the present
conditions ic is necessary to make use of some of the corridors and
in many cases overcrowd the dormitories.
222 Tue Prison Association or New York
Ac the time of inspection, ewenty-nine patients were locked in
their rooms, three of these voluntarily and the other twenty-six
because in the judgment of the physician in charge it was dangerous
for them to associate with other prisoners
‘A new wing is now in course of constrtction, connecting with the
‘other buildings on the west side. When completed, the accommoda-
tions made by this addition will help to relieve the congestion in
the institution. ‘This wing has been long sought and is an absolute
need in order to conduce the work of the institution along proper
lines with respect to classification.
The kitchen was inspected duzing the period when the noonday
meal was being prepared. Some of the food which was ready for
serving was entirely satisfactory to the inspector im appearance,
taste and odor, Every pare of the kitchen was clean. Since che
Iast inspection two new large and well built sections have been added
to the refrigerators. All four sccrions were clean and the provisions
were satisfactory. The stoveroom, which is near the refrigerators,
‘was very clean, and the canned goods and other supplies were neatly
arranged on shelves.
ymates receive three meals a day. The following is a sample
of the bill of fare for one week:
Moxoas.
fase: Ceres, mil, bacad, bute, ate.
Diver Gated pork ‘and bean bread, beer
Sapper: Sov, Bead, npple ly tomy cold meni
Tersoar
Barakfat: Cores ith, bred, te, colle, at meat
Bente ei beer pal Be
Suppers Hach bead baer
Weosaspa
Arse: Cra ily Seay bu, coe
wpper: Stewed peaches, sed Get ue me
“Tuunsoee.
Brpolfa: Corea, ilk, bread buster,
Bote nam, potaeven qatar bead Sar.
Benger: Stewed apply bread; buster, tay Sake bean
Frama,
Cereal, il, breed, butt, coe, eg:
Fresh, soup, porates, beady pole bate
Bea macaon butter eu
Seruanar.
uh eas bute, fe
Fok, ree erry, muna read rote
Fes‘ bean ap, bre apple butts ld me "
Insrections
The following table shows also the amount of provisions for one
sample month and for each day of che month:
Statement showing quantities of food consumed during the month
of August, 1914, and the amount consumed per capita per day
with an average daily population of 635
Amount
Fernaceous foods
Rolled oats . J. 280 ons,
Bacon,
Beek ah
Bologna
Pork ea
Penk mf
Salmob,canacdl
Slee, sale
va
15,653 Ibe
Dairy products
16 I.
in
ent
9.8360
Fresh eqetales
Poratoe. si aaah bu,
224 ‘Tue Prison Assoctation or New York
Dred Frits
Dies
Peschas evapraced
Braees
oo
Day grcrie ei
i
25h
Products from the farm amounted in value £0 $39182.9 for the
year The total cost of sustenance for the year was $41,907:935
Us was seduced 8.31 percent. by the farm products.
‘On the average, 470 loaves of bread are baked daily andthe daily
ose verges 350 leaves The oven abot six yeats ol, and
tras said giver satafactory results A sorezoom for bread is very
Truc needed, Plans for euch a r00m have already been drawn and
the wotk on ie wll soon beain
“The laundty was in operation at the time of inspection, A new
y ‘The laundry room and storeroom
vet ner ay bona ile.
pe A new ironing-table has
Mere clean andthe latter well arranged
Bao been added
Gne of the sone commendable improvements ding the past
arsed which sirecly affects the inmates, has been the construc:
Uin'of a number of clothes lockers in the basement on the north
Sade. Bach inmave i given locker in which his change of clothing
ne oaer arecles are Rep Thesidiness snd arrangement of this
Much co he sadafaction of the medical offical of the insiution,
an sutepay room hea been fired ip, morty by iomace labor, and
ies mmteia gathered here and there about the insitotion
ih ansther part of the basement there is 2 large section which
at present serves no particular purpose. Tes planned to transform
Tae ue a bowling alley. Also in another pare of the basement
sive special dining-toom has been feed up caring the part yeas,
dindcr che supervision of one of the Keepers nd with inmate labor.
wrifeudy” cuees are sene to this toom at mealtime, ‘The equip-
tnene is plain and neat and will tand much wear and tea.
Insrecrions aie
In the sleeping room of Ward 1, a number of the beds have very
weak springs, causing a decided drop in the center of the beds, which
isundoubtedly injurious to the occupant. The condition was brought
to the attention of Doctor Ross who said chat he would have it
remedied. Wards 2, 3, 4 and 5 were in a clean and orderly con
dition. Good discipline prevailed in the wards.
In the construction of the southwest wing, inmate labor is used to
a large degree, As high as eighty prisoners work in stone-cutting,
grading, carrying material, etc, daily.
Since the last inspection
1. The superintendent's house has been completed.
2. Coment walks and grading about the institution
grounds have been completed by inmate labor.
3. A new incinerator has been set up some distance north
of the group of buildings.
4, A new addition has been made to the barn.
5, A now flagpole has been set up, to the delight of many
of the patients.
6, Past of the main road in front of the institution has
been improved and additional electric light poles have been
set up.
7. Moving picture entertainments are given three times
a month,
A hospital orchestra, made up of che physicians and atvendamts,
together with a vicerola, make possible numerous entertainments
which are said to be enjoyed by the inmates.
Daily outdoor exercise is afforded to most of the inmates
The southern slope of the Dannemora mountain, from which the
State institutions at Dannemora derive much of their water supply,
has been sold to a private company. This will very likely bring
about a serious condition with respect to the water supply for the
hospital and prison at the foot of the mountain when the timber
is cleared. Furthermore, this tract of land also contains stone
quarvies from which the stone used in the construction of the hospital
buildings has been taken. Ac one time this land could have been
purchased by che Seate for a very emall sum, and the value of the
sone alone taken from the quarvies in a few years, not considering
the pasture land and the timber, would have gone far toward pay-
New living quarters for the employees of the institution are very
much needed. It is considered undesirable to house the hospical
15
226 Tue Prisox Association or New York
Joyces in private rooms in the village, and, aside from this objes-
ton, private rooms are not suffciently numerous. By converting
fone of the ofd shop buildings inco a cottage at a small cost, a quiet
place could be provided away from the noise of the wards, so thar
the night attendants could sleep during the day and the day attend-
ants could have 2 different environment after their long hours of
work
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The wing now under construction should be completed
a8 soon as possible.
2. A storeroom fo:
delay.
3. More living accommoda:
attendants.
4. Attendants are entitled to a more liberal compensa-
tion. The present scale of wages for attendants is a serious
handicap to the institution.
5. Many of the beds should be repainted.
6. Weak and worn-out bed springs should be replaced by
7. Funds should be provided to defeay the cost of repait
ing the sidewalls in the kitchen and in some of the cor-
ridors.
‘ead should be constructed without
ns should be provided for
MATTEAWAN STATE HOSPITAL, BEACON, N. Y.
Insercren ny Panui Krewe ano E.R. Cass, Jury 14, 1914)
1JOP. M. TO $200 P. 4
[At the time of the above inspection there were 508 male and 128
female inmates in the institution.
‘The Matreawan Seate Hospital is used for the purpose of holding
in custody and caring for such insane persons as may be commicted
to the hospital by courts of criminal jurisdiction, or transferred
thereto by the State Commission in Lunacy’ and for such convicted
persons who may be declared insane while undergoing sentence
Of one year or less or for a misdemeanor at any of the various penal
inatieutions of the State, and for all female conviets becoming insane
hile undergoing sentence.
On the day of inspection the census showed 726 prisoners, of whom
‘598 were men and 128 women. They were distributed in the various
wards as follows:
Inspections 237
Mace Depaarenrs.
we Tou
Wards 3 and 4 are the disciplinary wards, 5 and 5a are for the
quiet patients, 6 for those newly admitted. Wards 7 and & are
the infirmary wards; 8a, temporary ward; 9 and 10 are for rouble.
some cases; 11 and 12 for chose working
In the female deparement the distribution was 2s follows:
ar ee!
3 Ba
QS
% Ps
The classification throughout the institution is based on the
character of psychotic manifestation:
Just aboue half the total population is employed and the great
majority of them can be allowed to take outdoor exercise. As che
tables shove, there is still a dangerous condition of overcrowding
throughout the institution. This necessitates placing more chan
the allowed number of beds in the dormitories and the distributing
‘of cot beds in the corridors.
The institution is built on che congregate plan and is erected on
an elevated piece of land in one of the most picturesque sections of
the State, om a site of large acreage.
‘The building is a two-story brick structure, heated by steam and
lighted by electricity, and receives adequate light and ventilation,
both from che frone and the inner court yards.
‘The interior of the buildings is arranged on the dormitory and
single-room plan and is divided into wards, each ward being a sepa-
rate unit with respect to the classification of inmates and to equip-
On the firse floor of each ward there is a day-room, a room for
‘officers, a clothing-room, bathroom and toilet.
(On the second floor ate the dormitories and the single soome for
inmates. The dormitories are equipped with iron beds, with wire
228 Tue Prison Assoctavion or New York
spring bottoms. The bedding consists of blankets, sheets and
pillow cases. These are stacked up on the beds during the day in
fan attractive way and s0 as to make ingpection exsy. The day-
rooms are well and suitably furnished with large tables and chairs
‘The floors are highly polished and in some instances are partly
‘covered with large rugs. In these rooms the patients are detained
when not out in the exercise yards or employed in some part of the
(On the lower floor of the eonter wing, the dining-room and kitchen
are located. Unfortunately, the dining-room is not sulficiently
large to accommodate she most of the population 2t one sitting,
Some of the wards in which there are detained a special typeof pacient
have special dining-rooms attached. The kitchen is well equipped
vith modern cooking appliances,
‘There have been no imporcant changes in the main physical plant
of the institution during the past year. North of the power-!
which is in the extreme end of the exercise grounds and ousside of
the prison walls, new Duildings have been erected for female
‘Ac the time of the inspection only part of the new accommodations
female prisoners were available for use. Appropriations were
necessary in order co purchase equipment and furnishings for the
other rooms, The plan of this new addition provides for accommo
dations on two foore with 20 single rooms and three dormitories,
with capacity of 14, 5 and 15 respectively per floor. Day-rooms 2
provided for each floor. The dining-room is situated in the base-
ment as a temporary makeshift, the appropriations for the dining
room building not being available, although included in the original
plans.
‘The daily routine is as follo
breakfast, 7:00 to 11:30; some prisoners a
for exercise; 11:30 to 12:09, noon meal; 12:00 to 5:00, some of the
prisoners are assigned to work and others to exercise; §209, evening,
real; there is no special retiring hour. ‘This varies according to
the patients and wards
“The regular daily exercise periods are of two hours duration each;
other modes of entertainment and recreation are as follows:
Cards, dominoes and chess (these are resorted to usually on rainy
days), moving pictures and concerts, baseball and hand-balls games
are also indulged in by the patients and attendants, Teams from
the various wards compete for supremacy Sometimes a phono-
graph is transferred from ward vo ward.
All up at 6:00; 6:30 t0 7:00,
signed to work, others
InsrectioNs 229
Inmates are allowed to wear their clothing and hair as they choose,
so Tong as they keep them clean and presentable. There is no re-
striction placed on the inmates that would resule in dissatisfaction
for the aggravation of their mental states. Thus, one patient was
found to wear his hair and beard absolutely uncut, but scrupulously
clean. A considerable number of exceptions from the general rule
are found to be made for individual patients, when such exceptions
seem to be necessary in order to humor, or at least not ¢o irritate
the patient, regard being had always for the mental condition and
the possibilities of eure. Every inmate is seen by some member of
the medical staff every day. During the week following the patient’s
admission the physician who has charge of the particular ward where
such patient is, makes a daily report upon his condition and progress
and pon bis general characteristics and any other facts that may
beof interest for the treatment of the patient. For a month following
the first week such reports are made three times a week, and chere-
after once every month fora year; then, again once every three months.
From these reports of the physician a picture may be obtained of
the progress of the mental condition of each patient. To facilicare
this observation, and avoid riot or attack upon the doctor, all pa-
tients are required to sit around on the chairs along the walls when
chro iis Jn, THC nln thse males He Fuss,
king to the patients one by one, and ascertaining their condition,
The salt consists of a medical superintendent, De. RF.
firse assistant physician, Dr. J Moore; assiseane physicians;
Dr. B.R. Webster, Dr. J. H. Blauvele, Dr. F. E. Spencer, and Dr.
G.A Sharp. The general duties of these physicians are subdivided
by the assigament of each to different sections of the instieution.
The number of employees in each of the various departments
23 follows:
Rips deparment
ard eevice (ins indus superiors ses and aivendants).
Palieemen
A large farm is maintained in conjunction with the institution.
‘The results were said to be highly satisfactory with respect to the
quality and quantity of the products. During the farm season there
is much work available for che inmates of the farm.
230 Tue Prison Association or New Yor
More detailed information as to the physical plant of the institution
proper and as to che activities and system in vogue is given in our
annual report of 1913
The ordinary difficulties of the institution were considerably
increased by the unusual number of new admissions during the year.
A total of 152 were admitted during the fiscal year ending September
30 1914, which makes 32, or approximately 20 per cent. more ad-
‘missions than in the previous year, and about 33 per cent. more than
the year preceding that. This has brought the average for the year
© 852.586, Mose of this increase has come from New York City
and is attributed in large part to changes in the Inferior Criminal
Court Act, which indirectly bring a large number of convicted mis-
demeanants. Further difficulties are caused by deficiency in water
supply, and unsatisfactory condition of the boilers, three of which
were condemned.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
‘The greatest evil in this institution being the dangerous,
overcrowding, the first and important recommendation is,
that the capacity of the institution be increased, preferably
to the present group.
2. Appropriations are necessary for the further equipment
and furnishing of the new femaie section
3. At least two new artesian wells should be driven and
some additional boilers supplied in place of the condemned
boilers.
4. The facilities in the bakeshops should be modernized
and an automatic mixer added to the bskeshop equipment.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
1. During the year new boilers were installed.
2. A new fre-alarm system was introduced,
female inmates were completed and
4. The medica! staff has been enlarged.
. The woodwork of the windows and doors was being
scraped, cleaned and re-varnished during a large part of the
year. This gives an improved appearance to the wards
and has supplied fabor to a number of inmati
Inspections
NEW YORK STATE REFORMATORY, ELMIRA.
‘Mancnt 16, 1914, Iseecren ny E. R. Case,
The New York State Reformatory at Elmira receives male
prisoners between che ages of sixteen and thirty who have been
convieted for the frst time of 2 felony. When a person is sentenced
to the Reformatory no definite sentence is pronounced. However,
the board of managers cannot hold an inmate for a longer period
than the maximum sentence which might be imposed for the crime
of which he was convieced, bue an inmate can be released on parole
by the board of managers ar any time subsequent to his reception
at the inseicution. Eligibilicy for parole is determined on the basis
of conduct within the institution and progress in the school of
letters and at trade work. Inmates are usually paroled after serving
thirteen months. In addition to obtaining satisfactory marks in
1 schoo! of lerers, in trade work, and for conduct, the next requisite
for release is that the inmate has a place of employment to go to,
subsequent to temporary release. When an inmate is released on
parole he is placed under che supervision of a parole officer located
n the town or city where he resides. The patole period is usually six
‘months, but in some cases is extended to ewelve months for inmates
who have had previous convictions (not felonies) or an uncatis-
factory record in the institution. During the parole period cach
person on parole is required to report to his parole officer once a
month. At the end of the parole period an absolute discharge i
sven
The institution is under the direction of 2 board of managers,
consisting of seven members, appointed by the Governor. The
board of managers appoints a superintendent and officers, and
exercises general control over the institution, ics management,
and the parole of prisoners.
The general superintendent of this reformatory and of Napanoch
Reformatory is Patrick J. McDonell, who is assisted by the super-
intendent, Dr. Frank L. Christian, and a staff made up of chaplains,
physicians, clerks, keepers and parole officers
The toeal population at the time of this inspection was 1376,
classified as follows
Fir grade, 6
Seco ga, yer mates
‘Tid pide” lamecee
‘There were 37 inmates in the hospital and sick gallery, and g men
were in the guard house under temporary punishment.
232 Tue Prison Association or New York
The inmate population is divided into three grades. Upon
admission, the inmate is assigned to the second grade. After six
months of perfect record, not necessarily successive months, he is
ligible for admission to the first grade, and after another period
of sic months of perfect record, his eligibility for parole is con-
sidered.
‘The Reformatory was frst opened in 1876 and is splendidly located
with respect co light and air, om an elevated stretch of land know:
as Elmira Heights. Unfortunately, i is buile on the congregate
plan, which makes che problem of dealing with the inmate popula:
tion dificule with respect t0 classification. The cellhalle ave la
tod conten large brick calblocks, ‘The ruil cell expacty is 1516.
OF this number, 1,440 cells are known as old cells, Because they ace
not equipped with toilet and washing accommodations and 2
modern ventilating system. These are 176 cells with modem
equipment. In the old colle the bucker syatem is used. Despite
the greatest cate, che use of buckets tends to bring about an unsani
tary condition.
A tour of the cellhalls and sl of the ocher pares of the institution
showed a satisfactory condition of cleanliness. The inmates of the
shops and classrooms were busily and earnestly engaged in their
work and the discipline throaghout was perfect.
“The industries of coap-making, coffec-roasting, printing, book-
binding and cloching manufacturing, were said to indicate slightly
better resules than during the previous year
The parade ground is badly in need of new paving. The military
drill is one of the excellent and important features of the institution
and should not be handicapped in any way.
The invalids’ yard has only’ 2 dire surface, and, because of the
danger of spreading infectious disease as a resule of ite constant
use, should be paved.
‘The foundry building is in a very dilspidated condition, and
to expend money for repairs in order to put it in fair condition would
be hardly worth while. The foundry work is of great importance,
inasmuch as i¢ furnishes suitable work for many of the inmates and
river knowledge of a trade which can be followed on the outside.
Because of the limized number of civilian officers and the lack of
necessary funds, it is necessary to select from the population a
umber of inmates to assise the civilian keepers in supervising the
work and keeping order during che daily routine. ‘The inmates thus
appointed are known a5 “ monitors.” It is roughly estimated that
the Srate treasury is saved approximately 860,000 each year thereby.
Prison Farm, God, Ot
Pram Farm at Guelph, On.
Buildings Erected by Priton Lab.
The Orginal Wooden Deemitry
_ Insrecrions 233
Reports made by the monitors have some effect upon the liberty
and chances for parole of their fellow prisoners. Te is stated that
inmates have the right to appeal to the assistant superintendent,
endent, and even to the board of managers, if they
are being unjustly deale with by the monitors or
civilian officers. There is no doube thae there is always a feeling
of resentment on the part of the inmates toward the so-called
A monitor, in order to he loyal to the management,
must report offenders, and, even though the breach of the rules justi=
fies reporting to a superior, the inmate brands the monitor as a
“squealer.” To men behind prison walls especially, there is no
person more despised than one who makes reports or carries tales
to the authorities. This feeling of resentment would be greatly
minimized, and perhaps altogether obviated, if the monitors were
selected by the inmates and made responsible to an inmate body or
organization. For example, the delegates who are part of the
Golden Rule Brotherhood 2t Sing Sing, and the Mutual Welfare
League at Auburn, are not despised inside or outside of the insti-
tution in the way that the monitors are at the reformatory. The
men at Sing Sing and Auburn seem satisfied and willing to admit
wrongdoing when they know that their case is to be handled by their
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The parade ground should be repaved.
2. The invalids’ yard should be paved.
3. Appropriations should be made for the installation of
toilets in all of che cells, so as t0 eliminate the use of the
bucket system, which, even with the greatest care, is con-
crongly urged that appropriations be asked, which
will enable the management to increase the civilian staff
Of officers so that the monitors can be dispensed with.
EASTERN NEW YORK REFORMATORY, NAPANOCH.
Juuy 23, 1914, Inerrersp ay Pantie Kuen, rons 4. ¥, 70 12 a5
1:30 TO 3:30 AND 6:50 70 7:05 P.M
Population on day of inspection, 417
The Eastern New York Reformatory at Napanoch presents two
chief features of interest. One is the physical plant which was begun
234 Txe Prison Association or New York
by contract and continued by inmate labor; the other the reforma-
cory methods, that show an interesting modification of che principles
applied in the Elmira Reformacory
‘The cellhouse proper, that is, the two wings containing the two
cellblocks, and the connecting building used for various adminis-
trative purposes, svere built, but not quite completed, by contract
Tabor, and were originally meant for a State prison. An administra-
tom building was to. join the ceneial portion on the west. The
Toundations for this building had been laid, but no further work
done, These foundations are now covered by lawn and flower beds.
‘One other building, the one used for trades, was crected by contract
Tabor. This building appears unsatisfactory from many standpoints,
chiefly because all of the inside pillars, floors and stairways are
‘wooden and soem fairly frail
“The completion of the original buildings and the addieion of
other fireproof buildings was the work of the inmates under paid
These ate the power plant, the building con
rn, bakery, storeraom; the building containing
the laundey and shower-baths on one floor and the schoolroems on
the next floor.
‘All of the buildings are connected by well lighted and ventilated
subways, and all were, at the time of the inspection, in x satis:
factory condition and faultlessly clean. Special commendation is
due for the strikingly clean floor in the celthouse, despite the fact
that the concrete of which it is composed is very badly cracked
throughout.
‘Light and ventilation appear satisfactory in all of the buildings
‘A feature worth noting concerning the cells, in addition to their
size, satisfactory ventilation and cleanliness, referred to in other
Inspections, is chat the locks are buile into the wall ofthe cell, making
it impossible for the inmates to meddle with them. “These cells
as well as the interior of the outside walls of the building, are whiee-
washed.
‘Recently the inmates completed che new chapel, occupying the
top floor center of the cellhouse, above the hospital and adminis
tration offices
Considerable construction work, requiring the services of every
trade represented in the reformatory, has been done; blacksmiths,
lectsicians, concrete workers, brick layers, painters, ete. all had
their share.
‘While the chapel is practically completed, the rest of ehe building,
which had to be pretty badly torn up for the construetion work,
These
Inspections 235
is sil in a considerable confusion, ‘The chapel has a capacity of
“proximately 950
le the ecihouse and all of the buildings constructed by the
inmates are fireproof, the inttior of the administration part of the
Bulding, including the hospital rooms, of which there are thre,
and the offers’ moms, are not Sreproof. Whether the fnal plane
Provide for fireproofing this parti not clear, Such details, however,
1s the construction of the glass partition wall between the callbonse
and che centeal building, would indicate that che whole building
intended to be freproofed.
‘An importaneimprovemene contemplated within the coming year
is the installation of toile in at least one celllock. Super
thinks he will be able to manage appropiatons to
he installation ieslf should be a comparatively eaty
Iiatcer, a0 there fs abundane space Ife between the rows of ell for
2 satisfactory utllity cortdor to contain the plumbing
The reformatory occupies 294 acres of and, of which 2 are included
wishin the wal 2 ae ate wuld an water aco The
fawn in frone of the ealhouse oocupice 14 acres. and there are
tmove acres of unused land near the Brook, so the west of the inn
tution. This leaves only 40 acres for cultivation, whereby just
‘hough vegetables ate supplied forthe institution for the whole yest
thee nothing cee oat aac be purchased, xine pape
Piuy meee eens
The population of the institution is obtained by eranfer from
the Elmira Reformatory- The period of detention is about the
same as in Elmirs. There are three grades, che differences between
srhich are even lte than in Elmira This fate of that reforma-
tory is disitegracing at Napanoch and in fact, exiets hardly more
thin informs On Jay seo thi yet, se ion y are
Far ar 3
Thiel of punish grade y
‘The military, which forms so integral a part of the Elmira system,
is practically abandoned here. The only teaces of it are in the good
form in which the prisoners march ehrough the yard.
The marking system is also different. ‘The money basis has been
abandoned. The unie is five marks per day, or 150 per month.
236 Tue Prisox Association or New York
Correspondingly, the graded demeanor reports have also been
abolished, and the captain of the guard, who acts as disciplinary
officer, metes out punishment in terms of marks upon the merits
of the individual disciplinary infraction, The loss of 25 marke pet
‘month entails the loss of that month, and the lass of more than 25
marks in two successive months, or failure to make more than 129
marks in any one month, is cause for veduction from first grade to
second, or from second e thind, respectively
‘That, in vurn, means, here as in Elmira, chat the whole grade has
to be re-eamed. There is no difference in grades as to uniform,
meals or privileges; except in writing letters and receiving visitors,
‘Third grade men are always confined in cells. The school and brary
bear perhaps the closest resemblance co the Elmira prototype
School sessions are held five afternoons a week in two sections as
follows: From t:00 to 2:45 and from 3:40 to 4:50. The majority
of the inmates take part in the scholastic work; for example, in Jone
of this year che enrollment was 357 and the average attendance 307.
‘The organization of the school and its curticulum is modeled after
the Elmira plan, Therefore, the academic classes A and B receive
inscruction from Me. Abraham Deyo, principal teacher, and the wo
chaplains, and the elementary or grammar classes are instructed
by inmate teachers who are trained for their work in the so-called
* normal” clase.
The library, containing some 2,600 books of fiction and close to
2,000 books of reference, is divided into three groups: First,
sroup of fiction for che upper classes; second, a group of fiction for
the lower classes, and third, reference books open to all. An inmate
is im charge of the library and distributes the books at the rate of one
2 week, or more upon request. No inmate monitors are used. In
this respect, particularly, they differ from Elmita
OF the population on another date totaling 467, there were 168
returned for violation of parole and transferred from Elmira, and 299
new admissions transferred from Elmira on the basis of age and com-
patibility. ‘The inmates have satisfactory summer and winter
suits, somewhat different in style from those at the mother insti-
Outside of the library, the principal form of recreation seems to
bbe baseball, indulged in especially on Saturday afternoons.
‘As to the officers, the same situation is true here ax in many other
insticutions in chis State, that their civil service titles and grading
do not entirely correspond with their functions. None of the officers
receives board at the institution. They all have to take their lunch
with them, or go to their homes in the village. The hours of fabor
Inspections 237
of the majority of the guards are somewhat over nine hours; the
night guards, ewelve hours; and the three chief guards, eight hours
each, relieving each other for the 24 hours in the day,
The order and efficiency of the administration seem to be entirely
satisfactory, Te is doubeful, however, whether the board of managers
ave solved the problem of dealing with returned parole violators
im requiring of them that the same routine twelve months’ period
be filled in aboue the same way as other admiss
Labor just at present seoms co be scarce at the Reformatory.
Appropriations for further construction work have not been forth-
coming and so the healthful, busy day’s work possible when plenty
of work is available is made very difficule,
‘The approximate labor distribution of the prisoners is shown by
the report fer the previous month, 2s follows:
Grading
Src, Riccea, ers
Cail got oo
“Ey shop ad he op.
brie
Row chage
Woh ehh ene
Priveng
Msdhine shop,
Hadise ari tary bung
hop.
ake for vation face.
‘The bill of fare is approximately the same as that reported in the
inspection of 1913.
Appropriations will be necessary to carry out some of the required
changes, as well as farther developments of the institution, Where
inmate labor is s0 successfully employed as at Napanoch, the wisdom
of granting the necessary appropriations, which by reason of the
inmace labor are considerably smaller than they would otherwise
be, is quite evident,
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, ‘The concrete floors in the celIhouse should be repaired,
and’the conerete floor in the kitchen repaired, or painted
with a satisfactory paint,
238 Tue Parson Association or New York
2. The cells and walls should be painted with oil paint, or
enamel, instead of whitewash.
3. The administration building, originally planned, should
bbe erected and quarcers provided for a limited mumber of
officers. A restaurant should be supplied where officers
could he served at least their midday meal at cost prices,
as is done at the Bimira Reformatory. ‘The entire adminis-
tration building should be completed in accordance with
definite plans and made fireproof, especially in regard to
providing satisfactory hospital quarters. ‘Those at present
used are anything but desirable.
4. There are approximately 220 acres of unused land at
the reformatory. Most of this should be treated, either
as forest land, or as farm land. It seers entirely wasteful
to let it go idle as a present; in fact, the acquisition of more
land and the profitable cultivation thereof for State use
is desirable,
WESTERN HOUSE OF REFUGE, ALBION.
Mareit 13, 1914, Inseecrzp ay E.R. Cass, Tine 10:30 A. at To
The Western House of Refuge receives females between the ages
of sixteen and thirty, under the same law as that governing the
New York State Reformatory for Women at Bedford Hills
The institution is on the cottage plan and the system in vogue is
quite similar in ies main features ¢o thac at Bedford
‘This institution is under the supervision of a superintendent,
Miss Alice Curtin, who is directly responsible to a board of managers.
‘The certified capacity is 2153 0n the day of inspection the popula-
tion numbered 246.
New arrivals are first sent to the reception cottage which is the
initial penal element in the insticution treatment. Inmates are
‘quarantined in this building for fourteen days, and, because of the
very crowded condition of che institution, remain inmates of it for
about three months. When there is a vacancy in one of the cottages,
2 gitl is taken from the reception building to fil the vacancy and
remains an inmate of the cottage until she is discharged oF pro-
moted to the honor coteage.
‘The reception cottage ie an old structure and is decidedly unsafe
againce fire. ‘The girls are kept in separate rooms, arranged in rows
fon each side of the building. The rooms are equipped with iron cot
Przon Fars, Gus, One
Inveior of Combat,
Buile by Prison Labi,
Ixsrecrions 239
eds and the doors are of iron. The floors and uprights of the
building are of wood, as well as the stairways from floor to floor.
Ie is a question whether in the event of fire it would be possible for
the attendant to go from room to room to liberate the girls. There
is no central control on the locks of the doors of the rooms. Tn
reality, each girl has a room, but the presence of the ironbar door
of each room immediately gives the impression of a cell, It ie
unfortunate that a newcomer should be immediately thrust behind
bars, especially in an institution for giels.
The institution consists of an administration building, a chapel,
seven cottages (four of which are old and three of a later and more
moder design), a reception cottage, the hospital, the industrial
Building, the powerhouse, bara and farm buildings. Each coteage
is to a lange extent a unit in itself as regards washing, cooking, food
and recreation, with certain exceptions, Tn the school the cottage
unit is broken down. ‘The same applies to periods when the girls
are engaged in some general work or are in the chapel.
In the old cottages the rooms for inmates are somewhat larger
than those in the reception house and number aboue tweney-two
to a cottage. The new cottages contain about twenty-three rooms
and are buile on a “7” plan,
‘The inspector made hurried trip through most of the buildings
of this institucion and was favorably impressed with the condition
of cleanliness and evidence of proper management and supervision
in every part.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The crowded condition of the institution necessitates
the erection of one more cottage. This congested con-
dition is a detriment to the discipline and the chances
of reformation.
2. The reception cottage presents a serious condition in
the event of fire. Fireproof stairways should be installed,
and also some means of a central lock control should be
installed.
NEW YORK STATE REFORMATORY FOR WOME!
BEDFORD HILLS, N. Y.
Serrennen 30, 1914, Inspects ny E. R. Cass.
The institution is under the supervision of Superisitendent Mary
Rebecca Moore who is acting superintendent while Dr. Katharine
240 Tu Puuson Association of New Yore
B. Davis has 2 four yeats' leave of absence for the purpose of filling
the position of Commissioner of the Department of Correction,
New York City.
Female persons between the ages of 1§ and 30, convicted of minor
offenses, or of a felony, provided they have not before been con-
vvieted of a felony, may he committed to this institution from the
first, second, third and ninth judicial districts of che Seate, for a
period not exceeding three years
eis within the power of the board of managers to parole an inmate
at any time during this period. Inmates are paroled usually after
4 period of eighteen months, and for che remaining period up to 2
total eentence-period of three years, are still within che jurisdietion
of the board of managers, and can be returned at any time during
that period ro complete their unexpired total term of three years.
‘The total population at the time of the inspection numbered 453
‘Twenty-six of this number were inf
law, childcen under the age of ewo years can be kepe in the institu-
tion with their mothers
‘The normal capacity of the institution is 370, allowing a separate
room for each of that number. The cottage system is in vogue.
‘There are cight cottages already built and seven in the course of
construction, There are also two farmhouses, One accommodates
18 and the other 26 inmates. In some of the cottages as many a5,
36 inmates have been housed, but the superintendene is endeavor
ing to bring the average population of each cottage down to
about 30.
‘The seven new cottages will relieve the present congestion and
provide accommodations for about too more inmates. The site
fon which the buildings are located consists of four farms, making 2
total of 518 acres, of which 192 of these are owned by the Seate and
126 ate leased.
‘The parcels of land under cultivation are scattered here and there
fon the toral acreage and ic has never been determined just how
many actes are under cultivation
The farm work is under the supervision of a woman farmer,
and it was said that the products of the farm that are used in the
instieution are satisfaccory in quantity and quality,
‘The number of girls employed at farm work varies with che
amount of work to be done. At times there may be only 44, and
again as high as 200. ‘The inmates engaged in the farm work wear
Khaki Bloomer-sits. The farm girls are usually over eighteen
years of age.
InsPections
Bosides the seven cottages under construction, there are also:
A hospital ido,
ns for che clei wices Between the powethouse and the
Probably the most fundamental addition to the equipment of the
insticution has been the Flizabeth Fry cottage, opened November 13,
1913. The cottage is used as a reception hall and has in all about
fifey rooms, a separate room for each inmate. In this building the
scientific examinations of inmaces by’ experts in psychology, sociology
and therapeutics are made. The property. on which the building
stands has been leased to the reformatory without payment of rental
for 2 period of five years
Upon admission 4 girl is received by a nurse and taken to che
dressing room. Here her clothing is removed and searched, then
sheis thoroughly bathed, her hait is inspected, and a general examina-
tion is made by the physician. After this, she is given an ouch
of insticution clothing and is assigned to a separate room. Here she
is kept in quarantine for a period of two weeks, daring which time
she undergoes various examinations as mentioned above. Afeer the
period of quarantine is passed, che gil becomes a regular inmate
of the house, and is further seudied in order to determine to which
cottage it will be best to assign her. Sometimes the gicl lives in
the regular life of the reception cottage for a period of two or three
months.
‘The approximate cost of the building, without furnishings, was
$75,000.
Je was said that about 25 per cent of the gitle admitted are unable
‘to xespond to reformatory treatment because of physical or mental
defects.
The social hygiene laboratory, which is an important asset to the
institution for the purpose of stientific study, is locaced in x new
ilding a shore distance from the Elizabeth Fry cottage.
Tn this building is the apparacus for making the mental and
physical tests, also che complete records resulting from the tests.
There records are nat confined in scope to the individuals im the
institution, bur include also relatives of the individual so far as
possible
Regular hours for school are from 8:30 t0 11:30 and from 1:15 to
4:30. The system followed is practically that of the elementary
Public schools, There are also classes for sewing, dress-making,
6
242 Tue Prison Association or New York
cooking, and it is planned to begin a class for shoe-mending. The
inmates perform the work in theie respective cottages and also look
after the grounds. Each cottage is under the supervision of a matron.
The old reception building, now known ag Rebecea Hall, is without
doubt a blight to the institution. ‘The part of this building used for
inmates consists of steel celle. ‘The presence of these cells as an
actual part of the living accommodations is not at all in conformity
‘with a cortage system. The homelike spirit and environment which
the cottage plan should stand for is sadly marred by the presence
of these stecl cages. The cement foors in the rooms containing the
‘cages are in a wretched condition and add much to the grevsomenest
of the section
‘The officials a¢ the institution are wholly dissatisfied with this
building and are exceedingly anxious +o bring about its complete
renovation or abolition. It is regretted very much by chem that
the large population makes it necessary to use the building.
Girls returned for parole violation and those in the low grade
are usually kept here. Parts of the building are very dark, and to
aggravate this serious handicap the building is also non-freproof.
“The enameled cating utensils in use for the inmates of this building
are in a very badly worn and broken condition. Enameled ware
is most undesirable for any institution, because, despite the fact
that great care may be used in handling it, the glazed surface will
‘erack and chip and expose the rough metal surface beneath. ‘This
ough metal surface wil rust and harbor dire and germs regardless
of the best care. :
At the time of the inspection there were six girls under discipline
in the disciplinary building. Five of these were locked in cells
‘and one girl was engaged in scrubbing the floor of one of the cor
ridors. AIL but one of the gitls were interviewed. These girls
were free to move about within the acea of the cell, and during the
conversation of the inspector with each, no complaints were offered.
The fifth girl was not interviewed, because, upon opening the door
of her cell, che matron found that she had resorted to what was
said to be her usual practice of completely removing her clothing
The inspector was very near the entrance of this cell and spoke 40
that the inmare could readily hear him. To questions asked her
no reply was made,
The disciplinary’ building ie a emall one-story building at one end
of the grounds, It contains a series of cells; back to back. The
cells are ten in number, are constructed of wood and brick and
hhave a wooden floor. They are quite large and ace well lighted.
Fm, Gudph, Ont, Dormitory ander Const
Prison Fate, Guelgh One
Indusca Buildings wader Costrucson by Prison Labor
Ixsrections 243
Besides two iron grating doors there is also a heavy wooden door
which when closed prevents the inmate from communicating with
any one in the outside corridor, and, furthermore, des not permit
noise to come from che cell. Despite the fact that there is 2 ven-
tilating outlet for each cell, the adequacy of the fresh air supply
in the cells, when the wooden door is closed tightly, is questionable.
To the inspector this scems ta be the only serious objection to these
cells
Girls under discipline receive one ample meal a day, and two of
bread and water. Te was said chat they are given a mattress at
night to lie on and that they are exercised in the corsidors every
morning. There is no definite period of incarceration in these cells.
The amount of time for discipline is determined by the assiseant
superintendent, Sometimes it rests with the girl when she i able
to give good assurance of her future good conduct
Te was a surprise to the inspector to learn that there are no regular
periods for fire drills
“The cleanliness of the buildings visiced and the discipline was
satisfactory.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The work on the new cottages should be expedited
0 as to relieve the congestion.
2. Appropriations should be made which will make
possible the abolition of Rebecca Hall or a complete
remodeling of the same.
3. Fire drills should be held at least twice a month.
4 The use of agateware eating utensils should be dis-
continued. Those now in use in Rebecca Hall should be
replaced without delay.
5. A more liberal supply of fresh air should be had in the
cells of the disciplinary building.
ALBANY COUNTY PENITENTIARY, ALBANY.
Female
‘Nauk Minor, Total
ve oa
8 te
244 Tue Prison Association or New Yor
The sheriff of the county, Wallace A. Peasley, is by virtue of his
office, supervisor of the penitentiary. He is assisted in the peni-
entiary by 1 deputy custodian, 1 clezk, 13 keepers, 2 night watch-
‘men, 2 chaplains, 3 matcons and 1 farmer.
‘The penitentiary is an “L-shaped stone structuce, built in
1847. Tr consists of two wings, divided in the ceneer by the admine
iseration building. The first foor of che administration building
contains the general office, che pharmacy, and the sheriPs quarters
Tn the rear part of the south side there is 4 room reserved for keepers
and alzo for a reception room. The upper Hoar has on ie the hospital
and library room. ‘The south wing, or main part, of the penitentiary
contains an old stone cellblack, four tiers high, with thirty-two cells
on aside. The cellblock is not divided by a utility corridor and there
is no satisfactory ventilation system installed, ‘There ate 256 small
vault-like cells, each equipped with doubledecked iron cot beds,
with canvas bortoms. In the absence of proper toilet facilities,
it is necessary to use iron buckers. The bedding consists of
blanket and pillow; no bed linen is provided. The interior of the
cells is whitewashed frequently. The use of whitewash has been
strongly condemned by competent authorities. The celiblock is
s0 old, and so filled with vermin, that it seems impossible, despite
Frequent whitewashing and the use of bug exterminator, to overcome
the vermin, Fortunately, the cellhall is quite large and the side
walls have large windows in them. ‘This permits a fair amoune of
Tight to enter the cells and makes good ventilation in the cells and
ccllhall possible. The celhall is heated by steam and lighted by
electricity. There are no lights in the cells
‘On the north side of the administration building is the women’s
division, Half of this wing is also used for the devention of women
who are county jail prisoners. The west side of the wing is reserved
for penitentiary women. There is a stone cellblock, four tiers high,
with cen cells on a tier. Access to each tier is had by a wooden
stairway and access to the cells by a gallery with a wooden floor
running along in front of the ells
Toilet and washing accommodations a¥e not available in the
calls, but screened off in one corner of the wing there are coilet and
bathing facilities. ‘The cells are of the same type and the same size
as those in the male wing. The women aze supplied wich sheets
and pillow cases in addition to the regular bedding. The section
at the extreme north end of this wing is no longer used. On the
west side of each wing there isa yard. These yards are bounded
by 2 20foor wall, or by buildings. ‘The two yards are divided by
Insprctions 245
the shop buildings which are buile on a line and directly in the rear
of the administration building. ‘These contain the shoeshop and
tailor shop. In the yard, on the south side of these buildings and on
the extreme south side of the yard is a building containing the repair
shop, hoiler-raom and laundry. Ar the southwest extremity of this
yard is another building formerly used as 2 brush and broom shop,
bar now used as a reading-toom for prisoners. On the northwest
comer of the same yard there is a bathroom, containing éigheeen
bathtubs, a separate bathtub being set aside for men having infectious
diseases. The prisoners are required to bathe at least once a week
and are supplied with individual towels and pieces of soap. There
is also a barn and a laundry building.
Aside from the inadequate type of cellblocks and the general
equipment of the penitentiary, the state of idleness is the most
serious and most deplorable feature. Not so long ago when the
inmates were worked under the contract system, they were kept
busy every day throughout the entire year. Now, the industries
are practically at a complete standstill, the tailor shop and the
shoeshop being pethaps the most active, and they do not amount to
much, inasmuch as they tun out little produce and employ but a
few men, While 9 few of the prisoners are thus employed in the
remaining shops and in the cellhouse, the number is so small in
proportion to the entite population that itis hardly worth mentioning
‘wice a day prisoners are exercised for about an hour and a halfy
‘each time in the penitentiary yard. These exercise periods must
undoubtedly be 4 Godsend to the unfortunate men ‘who are inear-
cerated. ‘The major part of the population is made up of tramps and
ost of these are homeless. ‘The shop buildings and school-rooms,
which ae one time played an important part in the daily routine
of the institution, are now used as places in which to herd che men
‘when they are not in their cells or exercising in the yard. While
cowded into thete rooms, the men are permitted to move about
nd converse. Other than this they have no means of passing
the time. Surely, with a system of this kind, chere is litele incentive
given to a man, and no opportunity for reformation.
Large numbers of young lads are often part of the population,
and most unfortunately there is no practical means of keeping these
young lads separated from the adult prisoners during the day, and
as a result of this, the young fellows are thrown promiscuously into
the midst of adules of questionable character. The deplorable
idleness and the promiscuous commingling make the institution a
demoralizing agent instead of a correctional one.
246 Tue Prison Assoctation or New York
‘There is a small farm maintained in conjunction with the pen
tentiary and during the summer months this makes work for a
small number of inmate.
‘At the time of each of the above inspections it was evident that
the management was endeavoring to have all pares of the institu-
tion kepe as clean as possible. The blood-stained side walls in the
ineerior of the cells in many instances at the time of each inspection
showed that vermin still inhabited the old cellblock.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The county authorities are urged to obviate the
objectionable physical defects of the penitentiary by build-
ing a now celiblock, and also to plan for better facilities to
properly separate and classify the inmates.
2, Plain gray suits should be substituted for the striped
‘ones now used. Onondaga Penitentiary prisoners and
Albany Penitentiary prisoners, with the exception of some
in the New York County Penitentiary, are the only pris-
‘oners in any of the penal institutions of this State that are
compelled to wear striped uniforms.
3. Every possible means should be employed to keep
minor prisoners from associating with adult prisoners.
4. The interior of the cells should be frequently painted
and it is urged that the use of whitewash be discontinued.
5. Penitentiary officers should be cautioned against using
indecent and boisterous language while in the jail.
6. The present arrangement for emptying the buckets is
unsatisfactory. There should be three dumping places,
in close proximity to each other, with running water.
7. Iehas been pointed out that a majority of the inmates
have next to no work and spend their days In idleness,
This situation is wasteful economically and destructive
morally. Sending mon to prison to give them a chance to
loaf from morning to night {s neither punishment nor
reformation. The chances are, in every case, that a prisoner
under such circumstances would be harmful to the prison
and ¢o the community. Every effort should be made by
the Board of Supervisors to devise some scheme whereby
adequate employment would be provided for che men con~
fined. No aspect of prison management is moze important
than this. Other counties in the State, while they are
far from having solved the problem, are at least making
Inseserions 247
some attempt. ‘They have larger farms, where they employ
more men, and in one county, quarry and road work are
big factors. We urge most earnestly the serious attention
of the Board of Supervisors to this matter.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The county authorities are considering the plan of
discontinuing the Atbany County Penitentiary
template building a large county jail and in it to care for
the prisoners of Albany County only.
2. The unused sections of the north wing have been
thoroughly cleaned and put in an orderly condition. At
the time of the inspection of August §, 1913, the neg-
ected condition of this section was pointed out.
ERIE COUNTY PENITENTIARY, BUFFALO.
Manon 14, 1914, Iepecrep By E.R. Cass, Tints, 9:30.70 12:55 4. Me
‘The penitentiary is under the direct supervision of the superine
tendent, H. M. Kaiser, who is responsible co the Commissioner of
Charicies, William Hunt
‘The penitentiary staff consists of:
The total population at ehe time of the inspection numbered 645,
classified as follow:
‘Adule males serving sentence.
‘tino males ving sentence
‘Adal face serviny sentence.
The buildings which make up the penitentiary group can be
divided into three parts. ‘They ate constructed in the form of an
“1,” and are continuous. In the shore arm on the east side there
is 2 building containing the sewing-room and shops. This building
forms pare of the enclosure on the east side of the penitentiary
‘rounds; the remaining part of this side is enclosed by a high stone
wall. On the north side, or front of the grounds, there are the
248 Tie Prison Association or Naw York
administration building, superincendent’s quarters, and the women’s
prizon, The section for men and boys is in the long arm on the
west side, ‘The remain:
the south side are enclosed by a vvall. There are some old wooden
buildings in the south end of the premises, consisting of barns and
small storehouses, In the women’s prison there is an old stone
cellblock with five tiers on a side, making a tocal of eighty-four
regular cells and ewo dark Recently the cellblock has been
renovated and tro cells converted into one. The door of one of the
original cells still remains and the door of the other is transformed
into a window.
‘The cells are equipped with’a set washbasin, with running water
‘connections and a toilet. Each cell is also equipped with an iron
cot bed.
‘The boys! section consists of cellblock, divided in the centre by
utility corridor. ‘There are four tiers on cach side and a otal of
cighty cells. The cells are equipped with waterclosets and iron cot
beds and ventilating flues in the rear. From the boys’ prison, access
‘can be had to the section known as the old prison which is parc of
the original penitentiary building. In this section there is a typical
‘old scone ccellblock, with small vaule-like cells, the equipment of
which consists of a bed and an iron bucket. This celiblock con-
tains 230 cells. ‘The main section for the men contains an extremely
large stee! cage with four tiers on aside: this section was built in
2895. The total number of cells here is 298. The fronts of the cells
face the central corridor, known a= che pit, which is 27 feet wide.
This pit reccives much light through a large skylight arrangement
inthe roof ofthe cellhouse. ‘The cells are fairly large and are equipped
With toilet and washing accommodations and one irom hinged bed.
The rear of the cells faces the side walls, eo which chey are very
loge. In the space between the rear of the cells and the side walls
is the plumbing work, ‘The ceils receive » fair amoune of light
and air from the windows in the sidewalls.
There are two separate hospital rooms, one for women and one
for men. The one for men accommodates twenty and the one for
women accommodates five, Iron cot beds are used and the bedding
‘consists of sheets and pillow cases, materess and blankets
‘AIl parte of the prison are heared by steam and lighted by
electricity
‘There is a large chapel
‘There is also a large yard which is available for outdoor exercising,
‘The celthouses ate practically freproof and several of the shops
Inspections 249
are equipped with extinguishers. There isa fire pump in the power-
house, pipe lines are laid on the premises and a hose cart i available.
‘The industries afford a small amount of work but only for less
than half the average population.
‘The industries are as follows:
Tailor shop. Shoerhop
Carpets op.
Hone Bate. fancy
‘There is usually sufficient work to keep all of the female popula-
tion engaged. The idle male prisoners have two hours exercise
every day. The county authorities have recently acquired a 429-acre
fam at Wende, N. ¥., about eightoen miles outside the city of
Fao,
It is expected that with the opening of the farm the congestion
in the penitentiary will be greatly relieved. Eventually, accom
modations will be available for all of the penitentiary prisoners on
the farm.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The section now used for female prisoners should be
painted a bright and serviceable color
2. Water-closets should be installed in the celfblock,
which is now without them. The bucket system is a
menace to the health of the prisoners, besides being generally
obnoxious,
3. The bathing-room for the male prisoners should be
rearranged, but by no means is it advisable to abolish the
partitions which separate the different bath compartments,
Partitions should exist in order that the prisoners may have
privacy when bathing. With the present arrangement
proper supervision with a limited number of keepers is dif
cult, and it is therefore recommended that in rearrang-
1%) the bathroom, the shower-bath and the partitions
be placed along the sidewalls of the room, and that an
elevated platform be constructed in the center of the
room which will make it possible for one or two guards
properly to supervise a lange number of prisoners.
4. The present staff of keepers is inadequate in number.
Under the present scheme the keepers are compelled to
work long hours and are not overwell paid. Long hours
at this kind of work is a severe tax on a man and ultimately
affects the progress of the institution.
250 Tae Prison Association or New York
5, It is a recognized fact that in every prison population
there are men who must be punished sometimes. Never-
theless, there are ways of punishing a man effectually, while
at the same time recognizing the fact that he is @ iuman
being. It is urged that the practice of confining three
men at one time in a small, screened coll, without proper
toilet facilities, be discontinued. If the screened cell is
necessary, and there are more men to be punished than
there are screened cells, moro screened cells should be
constructed, and under no circumstances should more
than one man be confined in a cell.
6. Skin diseases are not always readily visible. The
shaving of a large number of prisoners is a difficult task
and requires a great deal of carefulness and patience. The
soap and brush should be thoroughly washed before use in
shaving any prisoner.
ERIE COUNTY FARM, WENDE, N. Y.
Decewnen 10, ror, Isrecren ay E.R. Cass, Timi, 11:00 A.
To 4:00 P.M.
‘The Eric County Farm is maintained in conjunction with the
Erie County Penitentiary and is under the supervision of W. A.
Hunt, Commissioner of Charities and Correction, Buffalo.
The Erie County Penitentiary is located in the city of Buffalo
fon a comparatively small enclosed arca. ‘The inseieution is small
and usually has a very large population. The establishment of
the county farm js the first step toward removing the penitentiary.
from ies present undesirable location. The farm site consists of
429 acres, in the town of Wende, 18 miles from the city of Buffalo,
and was purchased about six years ago for a couney home and
hospital. Te is easily reached by automobile, and the tracks of the
New York Ceneral Railroad ran through the property. The cost
of the farm was approximately $26,000.
For several years the county made no use of the land, until finally
it was decided co use it in connection with the penitentiary. On
March 4, 1964, 2 group of 12 prisoners from the penitentiary
together with a few guards, journeyed to the farm and settled down
in the poorly equipped and dilapidated old farmhouses. There
have been, at various times, as many as To9 inmates from the peni-
tentiary working on the farm. ‘The average number has been about
Prizon Fem, Gasp, On.
Prion Fae, Gulp Oe
‘Quatry, ad Tnmace Labo.
Window of Oude Cah
Inspections 251
70. At the time of the inspection there were 74. Te was said that
about 95 men will be on the farm throughout the winter.
Men sent ro the farm are selected from the penitentiary popula
tion on a basis of their conduct record in the penitentiary, the length
of their sentence and their previous occupations. Up co date,
about 7 of the total number of escapes have not been apprehended.
Occasionally men become discouraged and dissatished and leave
the farm, but in several instances these same men have returned
and given themselves up. Prisoners ho do not respond to the
kindness and privileges granted are returned to the penitentiary,
and the rule is that they can never again be returned to the farm.
Because of che terribly congested condition in the penitentiary,
the commissioner aims to put as many men as possible out on the
farm.
‘The staff consists of a resident superintendent, 3 day keepers
and 1 night keeper, and 1 cook. The superintendent's house is a
wo-story frame structure with 14 rooms and all improvements,
Te was buile by inmate labor.
The original buildings on the farm were two very old bare and
tewo cottages. These were patched up, repaired and equipped
with second-hand material brought from the penitentiary. On the
rear of one barn a 1¥o-ton silo was constructed.
‘The two cottages are used by the prisoners. The various rooms
fof each are equipped with iron cor beds, Each bed is adequately
supplied wich clean, comfortable bedding, The beds are made out
of pieces of iron pipe broughe from che penitentiary. ‘The cottages
are designated as “ bunk houses No. 1 and No. 2," and at the time
fof the inspection were satisfactorily clean. In the basement of
bunkhouse No. 1, there is a showerbath equipment and a bathtub.
The low cciling and the darkness of the cellar, together with the poor
drainage system, does not make the whole system sanitary or health-
fal. Bunkhouse No. 1 is used as 2 general office.
(Of the total acreage, abour 300 acres can be placed under cult
vation. The remaining 129 consist of pasture and timber land,
‘The farm is located in the natural gas bele of the State and,
probably because of this, the soil contains a large per cent of acid.
‘This means chat it will cake some time and much fertilizer to over-
come the effect of the acid, which must handicap the vegetable
product.
‘There are two large gas wells on the premises, One produces
so0j000 cubic feet per day, and the other 50,000. ‘The bunkhouses
and the mess-hall are heated and lighted by this gas, and a system
252 ‘Tux Prison Association or New York
of street lamps is also supplied. The pipe lines consist of old piping
broughe from the penitentiary. There was also considerable piping
purchased, About $5,000 was expended in driving the gas wells,
setting up the stations and purchasing new pipe. This, of course,
is a fairly Inrge ousloy, hut considering the fact that all of the light
and heat for the instivution is furnished from these wells, ic will
only be a shore time before they will moze than make up the cost of
setting them in operation.
Up to the time of this inspection $31,000 has been expended
for the equipment and operation of the farm. ‘The various items
making this total are as follows
Er seh ha ifr tec
For etn
ze wal races, cons beams, ete $8,009 09
ge ofr canis fi he i es i
(Cierny Ba
fester
io
Nice
sug a li.
Tipster inges
ito tn ei ino
‘The value of the farm products slightly exceeds a four per cent
ingerest on the total investment.
‘The commissioner, in the budget for 1915, sets forth the following
Salaty of superinendene of Farm (ceecives maintenance).
Shishce oe ce
espe a Bs,
Tora
{814,330 is asked for insurance, telephone, lighting fixtures, drugs,
clothes, fertilizer, grain, groceries and meat. Requests are made
for allowances for grain and meat, because of the uncertainty of
farm crops. Probably rmuch of this will noc be used:
For continuing the construction work on buildings now under
construction, and for further construction work, the sum of $29,350
Inspections 253
is asked, and for equipment of powerhouse, including dynamos,
wiring, boilets, ete. $3,000.
The above sum was allowed.
The water supply is furnished by the Depew Water Works.
The following buildings are already constructed or are being
constructed:
‘Two chicken houses, 20 by 20 feet each, built in accord-
ance with modern plans obtained from the New York State
Agricultural School at Ithaca, The poultry stock consists
of 250 young chickens; 150 pounds of chicken were furnished
to the Erie County Lodging House for Thanksgiving dinner.
The farm was credited with 20 cents per pound for these,
whereas the outside market price was 22 cents. Every
Friday, for the Sunday dinner in the jail, 25 pounds of
chicken are shipped to the city of Buffalo.
A large frame icehouse, capacity 350 tons, was built by
inmate labor on the banks of Ellicott creck, which runs
through the property. This natural asser insures a supply
of ice for both the farm and the penitentiary.
A large pig pen, 20 feet by 110 feet, is under construction.
It is to be built of concrete blocks made on the premises,
and will accommodate about 200 hogs. At present there
are 60 hogs, and it costs practically nothing to maintain
them because the swill from the penitentiary, lodging
house and jail in Buffalo is brought out to the farm on an
automobile truck.
‘The cow barn has been remodeled. ‘The five stock con-
sists of 20 cows, 7 calves and I registered bull. In a small
house, near the barn, and known as the “milk testing
station "" a careful record is kept of the daily yield of milk
from each cow and chemical tests are also made each day
of cach cow's milk. Tite milk is put up in cans and bottles
and sent to the penitentiary and lodging house. Butter is
also made and about 25 pounds a week are sent to the
penitentiary.
From second-hand lumber and old window frames brought
from the penitentiary, 2 temporary dining-hall has been
constructed. The dimensions are 24 feet by 70 feet. This
hall is equipped with long tables, and stools are provided
for the men to sit on. It is well lighted and was found
very clean at the time of the inspection. The kitchen is
attached to the rear. The equipment consists of a large
254 ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
hotel range which is heated by natural gas, In order to
accommodate the additional number of men to be brought
from the penitentiary, one side of the dining-hall was
fiitted up with 22 beds.
At the time of the inspection, there was in course of
construction a new dormitory building. ‘This building
will be the nucleus of a permanent institution. It fs zo be
built of concrete blocks and will bo two stories high. The
building : gs. The main, or central
wing, is 34 feet 6 inches by 210 feet. It is te be strictly fire-
proof and will accommodate about 150 inmates. The first
floor of this wing will be the dining-rcom, kitchen and
bathroom and the second floor the dormitory. A small
wing, 20 feet by 5€ fect, in front of the wing above described,
will have office rooms on the first floor, and, on the
second floor, accommodations for keepers. A simi ts
in the rear of the central building, will be used as an engine
room. The electric light plant for the institution will be
Jocated here. Electricity will be generated with the ald
of natural gas, that is, the natural gas will be used to feed
the boilers, and very likely steam dynamos will be installed.
At the time of the inspection the work had been in progress
for 90 days. During that time the cellar had been dug out;
the foundation, cross beams, and uprights of the first floor
were set in place. Iz was quite pleasing to see how well
the inmates and the keepers worked together. The keepers
all have some knowledge of structural work, It is also
pleasing to know chat zhe plans caf{ for dormitories to replace
the cell type of construction. The cement blocks in the
building are made on the premises at a cost of from 3 to
4 cents each, It was roughly estimated that che same
blocks would cost 10 zo 15 cents exch if purchased from
dealers. About ten blocks are formed out of one bag of
cement. A gang of three men operate one block machine,
manufacturing about 115 blocks daily.
Aside from saving money for the county, the men are given an
‘opportunity to learn how to handle tools, and, in general, something
about trade work, An example was cited of a man who previous #0
being sentenced to the penitentiary worked as truckman, and during
his period at the farm learned enough about plumbing to undertake
that work subsequent to his release. Where work of this nature can
be carried out itis to be highly commended, in so much as it offers
Inspections
splendid opportunity for a man to berter his qualifications for work
after his release.
While ehe construction swork will take a considerable time, it is
well for Erie County to work out a plan which will afford a permanent
kind of industrial work for the Future.
The men are placed practically on their honor. They do not
swear striped suits. In che summer the outlie consises of overalls,
socks, shoes, underwear and shirts, and in the winter heavy grey
cloth suits, boots and heavy shoes ate given.
The daily routine is as follows:
0 Caw stem are called
ohn
‘The men spend the evenings in groups, some chatting and dis-
cussing the contents of newspapers; others read books, and others
play their musical instruments.
‘At the time of the inspection the population was distributed,
relative to labor, as follow:
(nthe selfing, wetng window frame arigecemene Maks, mou
og licks siting ind sng mortar and maken conte 7
‘Tebmneets (spreading manare aad hauling sine)
‘The cooking is done by 4 paid cook. Ie was said that the men
receive ag much food as they desire; chia statement was verified
through conversation with che men. The theory is that the men are
doing good and profitable work for the county and should be fed
well. The following is a sample dietary:
tes te ine Het eee ent ae and saga, coffe, bred
Binnir: Cotted bef in cabbage, mated potatoe, bead bate nd pikes
Bippe: SETHARSRNG socal ened prone, bread and fue
Ie is customary to use the following meats in succession: Pork,
veal and beef.
256 Tus Prison Association or New York
The farm, aside from making available sufficient work for the
inmate population, is of benefit not only to the health of the prisoners
but to the Keepers also, and the product of this labor will ultimately
be of large financial value to the county. At the present time
poultry, butter, mill and eggs are supplied to institutions in the city
of Buffalo. As rhe farm is developed, its supply should grow. Te
is hoped thae very soon che farm will be able to supply entirely the
‘wants of the city institutions.
‘The following is a statement of the farm products:
Send to Nem
Sea Seceter jor “Mn, n38R ale
From August tt ond of ston
Bitkerhese
Corn (el)
Foil
‘The total amount credited to the farm account for the sale of
farm products to other institutions between che dates of May 1
and December 1, 1914, was 61,998.10.
In considering this lise, one must keep in mind many things,
thelace dare ar which farm operations were begun, the poor condition
of the soil and disadvantageous conditions under which the admin-
istration began its work
‘rom September 1 to November 31, 19°, 146 pounds of butter
‘were manufaccured. ‘The butter was worth 32 cents per pound,
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The county authorities are strongly urged to promote
the development of the county far:
2. The dormitory plan is very commendable as a sub-
stitute for the cells, although it is highly desirable to have
Bre Constructed by Briton Labor
Inspections 257
frequent supervision during the night. The buildings
should not be made to accommodate more than 150.
Groups of a greater number than this will tend to restore
the congregate type of institution, similar to that in the
city of Buffalo, and thereby destroy the main purpose of
the establishment of the cottage plan, that is, proper
classification and segregation.
3. Much attention should be given to the improvement
of the soil, so that the farm products can be greatly
increased. =
4, It is important that the matter of the employment
of the prisoners for the future should be definitely planned
now. After the construction work is completed, with the
present plan, farm work will he the only means of employ-
‘ment and this will only be seasonal work. Industries must
he iustailed and further developed than they aze at the
present penitentiary, so a8 to malke available work for the
population which isat its highest during the winter months,
MONROE COUNTY PENITENTIARY, ROCHESTER.
Female
Taspected — Adult: Minor. “Adult. Minor. Total
Martoy Ny Meg ONE
‘The Monroe County Penitentiary is under the general control of
the Board of Supervisors of che county
‘The superintendent is William H. Craig. He is assisted by
epury superintendent, eight Keepers, three mations, one farm
overseer, one chief matron, one domestic for che superintendent
and one clerk,
The original structure, built of brick, was erected in 1855 and
consists of ewo wings, buile‘on cach side of the administration build
ing. The two original cellhalls, or wings, contain the old type of
stone vauledike cells. About 1875 an additional cellhall was buile
conto the male wing and a more modem type of cellblock and cell
installed. The old cellblock of the men’s prison contains 192 cells,
arranged 48 cells on each tier.
The equipment of the cells consists of an iron cot bed and a
28 Tue Prison Associaton or New York
bucket. ‘Theres small opening in the var ofeach cll for venta
"The windows in the side walls of the buildings, seven to a side
are shout faurten fet high and do not extend downward toa level
seth the lowest te.
“The new cllhouse ig built onto the old one and coneine a fas
mode typeof ata cellslck, with 250 cella arranged on five tes
The lowers ver is below the floor level of the lowest ter in the old
eqihovse.
There ate ton windows to a side in the celhouse, ‘The cals in
the new Block have arched cllings.‘The calla are equipped vith
See pavements in which to place the bucket. There is an ston
need bed in each col. Blankets only are supplied ro the prisoners,
wee spec room for prisoners to wah i and in the Basement
there ate shower-bathe
tion building re buile exactly along the lines of the old
Sefhik inthe men’s prison, but are considerably smaller, There
sredeeneyst exls the Hock, lighted by four windows in exch
Biche side walle, ‘The rear of the celhouse is used as a seing-room
for women during the day. The toler, bath, and wardrobe fr
Gehing are also sicuaced in this wing,” There i also one dark
There is a large mess ll, sifciendly lighted and. ventilated
hecly above che bakery and kitchen, Another pare of ee section
siselthe mesa wud ata runie® dormizory and is equipped
eh owentycewo Beds anda toilet, Ics well lighted and ventilated
‘The erica ate supplied with sheets and pilow cases,
MSalane other side of the prison pant disc oppsite the cell
house ave the eld. hop buildings. These are used. principally a
reading and sitting roms.
The industries are practically at x standstill. During the winter
imontha therein no work for she prisoners ous of the ordinary
dIuing the fm season, when some of the population is employed
Seen etiendary farm- This firm je approximacely five hundrad
tien in area, eo hundred of which are osmned by de county andthe
seender rented, Mostly short cerm men ate employed a the farm.
‘een are taken to and from the farm in wagons. Some ofthe
TToduce of the farm is sd co casters, and this cogether ith the
set not old hut used in the penitentiary, contributes largely
Proraduce the cost of maintenance.
Insrecrions 259
[Ar the time of both of the above inspections the cleanliness of this
institution was beyond criticism. The management is to be com-
mended for the high standard of cleanliness.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. A new supply of fire hose should be purchased.
2, The shower-bath equipment should be increased,
Partitions should be placed around each shower-bath $0
that prisoners may bathe with some degree of privacy.
If an elevated platform were constructed in the center of
the bathroom, one keeper could exercise proper super-
vision over inmates while they are bathing in the different
department:
3. Monroe County has not yet provided a finger-print
expert for the penitentiary, to comply with the law requir-
1g that finger prints be taken of prisoners and forwarded
to the bureau of criminal identification of the State Prison
Department. For the control and proper identification of
offenders against the law, this finger-print system is impor-
tant, and Monroe county should comply with the law by
employing a finger-print expert.
4. The penitentiary does not provide sheets and pillow
cases or mattress slips. Every healthy inmate is thus
subjected to the danger of physical contamination, and
even infection. Furthermore, it is impossible to main-
tain the maximum standard of cleanliness if the bedding
is not up to sanitary standards. We recommend, and
urge, that sheets, pillow cases and mattress slips be pro-
vided.
. Similarly, individual towels should be provided to
each prisoner. ‘The lack of such individual towels is
another ready source of infection.
At the time of the inspection of November 13, 1914, a
survey was made of the possibilities for the employment
of the inmates of the penitentiary.
1@ Monroe County Penitentiary has had an average
population during 1914 of 325 men and 25 women. There
were never less than 210 men and 18 women, and the maxi-
mum rose to 409 men and 29 women, To keep such a large
number of inmates busily engaged means that a consider-
able amount of industrial or other labor is necessary. The
most distressing and heart-rending sight which greets
260 Tite Prison Association or New York
the eyes of the visitor to this penitentiary is the sight of
from one hundred to two hundred inmates sitting idle in
the large rooms, which were formerly used for manufactur-
ing purposes.
As the figures below will show, this means @ tremendous
economic loss to the county. ‘The seriousness of the situa-
tion is not so much the economic loss as the tendency of
idleness to bring about moral and physical deterioration.
‘The total expenditure for the fiscal year of 1914
hhas been $46,975 03,
Of this, there was borne by other
counties in the form of payment
of board for prisoners Si1,691 71
Paid by the State for tramps, etc... 8,093 29
Paid for board of U. 8. prisoners. 179 94
Expense to the county. Pinon Farm, Guelph, Ont. Building the Prison with Inmate Labor
From this should be subtracted the value of
the farm products sold
Leaving @ net cost to the county of. $22,826
In return for the expenditure of this $22,826.35, net, the
county received from its prisoners the cleaning of the
institution, the raising of a quantity of vegetables for its
own use, some minor repairs to the buildings and the
Seneral maintenance work,
That a condition of deplorable idleness for a county
penitentiary is not absolutely essential is proven by the
records of at least two other county penitentiaries. The
New York County Penitentiary, being part of a large cor-
rectional system within the city of New-York, which has a
total daily census of prisoners of between 5,000 and 6,000
for the correctional system ss a whole, should not be com-
pared with the situation in Monroe County.
In Onondaga County a system has been developed during
recent years by which there is opportunity for employing,
and keeping employed, nearly ail of the prisoners committed
Ts ni ate fle: Livan, Odea, Wayne, Gene, Chemune.
Schuyler Sones Tonmlane, Wyominar Wate, and tome Hom Des Peion Fare, Guelph, Ons. Cellhoute lft) and Dormiory (cigho)
Inspections 261
to that penitentiary. That county has introduced road
building with prison Iabor with signal success, During
‘the season of 1914, approximately 8 miles of 12-foot macadam
road, with 6-foot shoulders, making a ¢otal road width
of 24 feet, have been built by prison labor. An average
of over 100 prisoners ave been employed throughout the
spring, summer and early fall on the roads alone.
In the absence of quarries throughout Monroe County
the possibilities for undertaking highway work as exten-
sively as it is done in Onondaga County are somewhat
handicapped; nevertheless, the inmates of the penitentiary
could be used during the winter months in collecting the
stone from the old stone walls and preparing the same
for the sub-base of highways located not very far from the
penitentiary. For example: This could be done on the
Brighton-Henrietta town line highway and also on the
Westfall road.
There is no doubt that the farmers would be willing to
give up the stone in the old walls, and, perhaps, in many
cases, would be glad to haul it themselves to the crushers.
‘The arguments offered to the effect that prisoners will
be humiliated while working on the highways should be
regarded as absurd. In this State, and in many other
States, prisoners have been worked on the highways and
the people in the community in which they worked have
been glad to have them do the worl
‘The amount of necessary highway improvement is so
great that there is sufficient work for both penitentiary and
free labor. The small towns in the county will never be
able to raise sufficient money to improve all the highways
that should be improved or made.
‘The operations in Onondaga County should be used as. a
criterion for Monroe.
The first thing necessary will be for the authorities to
obtain legislation which will authorize them to employ
penitentiary inmates on the highways, Onondaga County
succeeded in doing this in 1901.
The highway work in this county is correlated with
quarry work. During the winter months most of the
prisoners are employed in the quarry, preparing stone for
the highway work, which is begun in the spring and carried
on through the late fall. The men are sent out from the
262 Tue Prison Association or Nuw York
penitentiary in squads and they set up camps near the
roads where they are working. As the work progresses,
these camps are moved. According to the report of the
county highway superintendent of Onondaga, the inmate
Iabor has saved considerable money for the county.
We suggest that the Board of Supervisors appoint a com-
mittee to confer with the superintendent of highways and
the superintendent of the county penitentiary, relative
to undertaking the work.
SS MADE.
1. A new bake-oven stalled. ‘The need for this
was pointed out in previous reports,
2. Additional farm land has been purchased. In reports
this Association, the farm work eartied on in this
d its further development
ONONDAGA COUNTY PENITENTIARY, JAMESVILLE,
Insrecreo ny E.R. Cass, Jury 22, 1914, Time, 11:00 4M. 10
5:30 &.
The Penitentiaty is under the control of the Boatd of Supervisors
fof the county. ‘The superintendent of the Penitentiary, who is
appointed by the board, is John S. Markell. ‘The Penitentiary is
used by Onondaga County also as 9 county jal.
‘The population on the day of inspection numbered:
1377 adel ale peivetiany ingnate.
32 ule forse penitent inmates
‘The Penitentiary is a large structure, built of concrete block,
and consists of ewo separate wings, east and west respectively. The
‘west wing, is used for the Penitentiary prisoners serving seneence,
and the east wing is used in part by’ the county jail prisoners and by
the female prisoners. ‘The witness section of the east wing, south
side, was unoccupied. The ironwork on the toilets was’ badly
rusted. A cell on the “Q" gallery was found dirty. There was
also an improvised padded cell on this gallery which is not entirely
satisfactory. In the section occupied by the jail prisoners only the
cells on the lower tier were in use. ‘The interior walls have been
Onoudaga Pentensizey. Quarry Work
Penientany
Tnmaces Building Reads
Insrecrions 263
repainted a light grey, and also the cells, ‘The toilet bowls in these
cells were badly stained and che base of the niche rusted. In some
of the cells sheets and pillowcases were very dirty and in almost
every case presented a dull and unclean appearance. A prigoner
jn one of the cells declared that he had come in the previous night,
and judging from the condition of his bed clothing at the time of the
ingpection it did not scem likely that he received a fresh supply
of bedding.
A boy claiming to be sixteen years of age stated chat he had
occupied a cell with an eighteen-year-old boy who was awaiting
action of the grand jury in the same case, There are three serious
points involved here. First: In the grand jury section, minors and
adules are confined together, and during the day, from 6:0 in the
morning, until §:30 in the afternoon, they pace up and down the long
corridor, or gather in groups; secondly, at the time of the inspection,
the toral population of the grand jury section was sixteen and che
total number of cells available thirty-cight; there was no. good
reason for doubling-up in one of the cells; thirdly, the advisability
of keeping together in one cell two prisoners charged with the same
crime is questionable, The section reserved for witnesses is nearby
and could be used for the detention of young lads when no witnesses
are detained,
‘The women’s section of the jail in the north side, east wing, was
scrupulously clean,
‘The female Penitentiary section, also on the north side of the east
wing, was exceptionally clean,
‘There were seven women working in the sewing-room of the female
department. The female hospital room was clean. It was unoceu-
pied. The bathroom for females was alse clean. The upper jail
section, north side of the east wing, is occupied by Penitentiary
women who work in the kitchen. ‘These women place their mattresses
fon the floor, because they say it is much cooler than sleeping in the
bunks,
The main messhall for men has been repainted and a cement
loor has been Iaid in ie. The eating eables, floors, stools, and the
room appeared very clean.
The west wing, used for the prisoners serving sentence,
inspected directly after the men had left the cellhouse for the after-
rnoon’s work and in many cases the beds were disturbed, that is,
sheets and blankets and pillows were catclessly arranged. In a
great many cells the side walls were decorated with piceures taken
feom packages of cigarettes and cut from magazines. The character
of the pictures was not altogether proper.
264 Tae Prison Assoctation or New Yori
‘The interior of the cells and the whole cellblock are badly in need
of painting. One gallery in particular was not satisfactorily clean,
There were some vacant cells, but in some cases two men were found
inone cell, ‘The superintendent feels that in some eases doubling-up
is helpful ro the prisoners.
Juvenile prisoners are segregated on one gallery and ate placed
under the supervision of a picked older prisoner. There is no
doubling-up in these cells unless absolutely necessary, and visiting
from cell to cell is said to be prohibiced.
“The dungeon room is in the cellar on the north side of the west
swings the room is corally dark and contains eight solid iron cells,
paineed black. There are some very small openings in the side walls
but these do nor admit an adequate supply of air. Because of the
‘most pronounced absence of air, this dungeon room is by far the
worst place the inspector ha been in and suggests the most
cruel kind of punishinent, If che authorities cannot devise « better
‘way to punish inmates wha become troublesome, it is insistencly
Urged that some means be taken which will permit an adequate
supply of fresh air to enter the room, Despite a man’s conduct,
and character, there is absolutely no reason why he should be placed
in room where it is dificule for him to breathe. The inspector
could not bear the atmosphere for more than a few minutes. It
was said that prisoners are oceasionslly placed in ehis room.
‘The hospital and Bertillon room were found in a clean and orderly
condition. A new steel steam dryer has been installed in the
laundry. The storeroom and the kitchen have heen painted. The
equipment and cleanliness of these rooms were satisfactory. The
Dakeshop was also clean. ‘The refrigerators were clean and the meat
was satisfactory, judging from its cleanliness and odor.
‘The tailor, machine and shoe shops are not very large and furnish
litele work. "A large room on che cop story of the east wing is used
partly as a storeroom and also as a place where sickly prisoners
needing segregation are placed.
‘The fire lines are tested out four or five times a year.
The following assignments will give some idea as to how the
prisoners are employed:
Bam.
ire
penn
Nea
raged betsiie ones
Inspections
Psintng.
Heed eit’ tig son)
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The cellblock in the west wing should be repainted.
A brighter color than the present one should be used.
2. A better system of ventilation should be installed for
the dungeon room, if the use of this room is to be con-
tinued. To place a man in a room in which the atmos-
phere is choking and stifling is undoubtedly a very severe
type of punishment and an actual torture. It is generally
conceded that the use of a dungeon is thoroughly unmodern.
3. The law relative to the separation of minors from
adults should be strictly observed in the jail section.
4. A better condition of tidiness and cleanliness should
be maintained in the male department of the grand jury
section of the jail. With nineteen empty cells on the
second tier it should not be necessary to double-up In cells
of the lower tier. The cleanliness of the sheets and pillows,
in the jail section especially, should be greatly improved.
5. The ironwork directly above the bowl in the toilet
niche should be filled with a layer of cement. A com-
position of one and one-half parts of moulding sand and
one part of Atlas or Portland cement will answer this need.
Painting will not remedy the evil permanently. ‘The layer
of cement should be sloped from the sides toward the
center 80 as to permit of proper drainage.
6. The practice of permitting prisoners to adorn the
interior of their colls with questionable pictures should be
discontinued.
7. A school of letters for inmates, especially for young
prisoners, should be established.
ONONDAGA COUNTY PENITENTIARY ROAD CAMP.
Insrrersp py Pusiir Keewn, Novexnse 16, 1914.
The inspection of the road camp of the Onondaga County Peni-
tentiary took place on what was probably the last day of work this
266 Tur Prison Association of New York
season, as on the following day snowstorms set in. The officals
had been expecting this, so that in one camp the prisoners were
‘working especially hard to finish the road, while in the other camp
they were getting ready to dismantle.
In accordance with arrangements between the county superin.
tendent of highways and the Penitentiaty, the camp and the camp
workers aze distinct snd separaxe from those employed on the road,
s0 far as the county superintendent of highways is concerned.
(OF the two road camps working at che time of the inspection, the
first started in April and has been working, an average of 68 to 70
men on the road. This group completed a stretch of road approxi-
mately 8 1-2 miles in length, consisting of 12 feet of macadam,
with 6foot shoulders. On the day of inspection there were 5 men
at chis camp working on the road, and § of 6 were occupied around
the camp,
‘The camp was not found in quite the sanitary condition desirable.
Neither the messhall nor che dormitories were quite clean, and the
toilets were decidedly dirty.
‘The other camp which was established in September of this yer,
fon the road from Marcellus to Clif Corners—a 7-mile country road
t0 be improved by the prisoners~-was found to be absolutely clean
and satisfactory. The messhall, dormitory, kitchen, privy, and the
camp aa a whole, were in good order. There were 38 prisoners at
this camps 35 0n the road and 3 at the camp. Ten civilian employees
were working at this camp ducing the season, consisting of 1 roller
engineer, 1 pruner and 8 drivers with their teams, in addition to
5 Keepers.
The number of persons 2t this camp was excessive for 38 prisoners.
Considering the number of other civilian employees, we think that
three guards are all thae are reguited, one as camp supervisor, one
day guard and one night guard, During the past road season of
more than 7 months, there have been only 4 escapes from both
camps, and two of them have been returned.
Another matter deserving atcention is chat the prisoners here stil
wear stripes, whereas Srate prisoners in this State and in other States
ate not requlied, and, in fact not now allowed, to wear stripes.
‘The prisoners work 8 hours 2 day. Mr. Markell, the superinten-
dent of the Penitentiary, visits the camps generally about once 2
week.
During the past sctsom, the two camps constructed in all some
8.1-2 miles of road, consisting of 12 feet of road, with 6-foor shoulders.
‘The construction of 7 miles of this has cost, so far ax figures are avail-
Insrecrions 267
able, £49,000 (0 $50,000, or approximately $7,000 per mile. Ie is
tstimated that the same work by contract labor would cost at least
$10,000 per mile, especially because of the tremendous amount of
itch digging char had to be done, on account of the difficulty of
raining che unusually level land. In this total cost is included
the sum of $3,000 for the purchase of the rights of way.
‘The quarry of the Penitentiary is now also under the management
of the superintendent of highways. During che past year it is said
shipped from the quarry, of which
the 7 miles of road just completed by the prison
camp. Mr. Bogardus states that the total product of che quarry
was not more than 25 per cent. of what could have been used on the
roads in the county during the year. He intends to install additional
chinety at the quarry so as to incrense the output and store a large
amount of stone during the wineer for use in the roud building season,
Te is seated thar the penitentiary added 10 Keepers and an auto-
ruck to keep up with the road building.
The guards on the road camps receive a regular salary of 875 per
month, and an additional s cents per hour from the Highway De-
partment for good service. The Penitentiary supplies maintenance
he road camps, pay's the guards and gives additional food to that
served in the prison proper, In retumn for this the county high-
way department pays 74 cents per convier per day for labor per-
formed. There have been some discrepancies between the fnancial
statements on the road work of the county superintendent of high-
vways and of the Penitentiary, We sefrain, therefore, from giving
nancial data.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The larger road camp should, on resuming its work
next year, apply the same system of cleanliness and order
that was found in the small road camp.
2. The striped clotling should be removed. None of
the Stare prisons in this State any longer requires its
prisonars to woar stripes. It is now considered an unncees-
humiliation for the prisoner, and a relic of times
We strongly urge the removal of stripes.
mber of guards at the oad camp should be
reduced. ‘The present number is excessive and unneces-
sary.
‘Tur Prison Association or New Yor
ALBANY COUNTY JAIL, ALBANY.
Populasion.
Inspected — By dale. Minor. Adult. Minor, Total
EE Ge
Tuy apages B Riswand BR, Caas
The capacity of the jail is as fellows:
Adule male grand jury przones sage
lose ervingsentnse togsthe. ao
Femate pins feo separ ection in the penitentiary north wing,
ith soto
‘There are four sessions of the grand jury during the year.
The sheriff is W. A. Peasley. ‘The staff consists of a jailer and
‘tee Keepers who work on eight-hour shifts
‘A wing on the south end of the penitentiary building is used for
the county jail. The structure is of brick and was erected in 1847.
The cellblock, several tiers high, is of stone and the cells ave of the
vaultlike type. They are small and dark and there is no means of
ventilation in the rear of them. ‘The cells are not equipped with
toilet or washing accommodations. Iron buckets are used at night,
and during the day 2 toilet with a flush, in the corridor. Iron
frame cots with canvas bottoms are used; in some cells there are
double-deck beds. The bedding consists of blankets and a pillow
A shower bath is in the corridor of each section, i. e4 the juvenile,
grand jury, and the section for those serving sentence. The juvenile
section is unfortunately in very close proximity to che adule grand
Jury prisoners. The wing is heated by steam. ‘The floors of the
cells and corridors are of stone. When necessary, the penitentiary
hospital quarters are used
Prisoners receive three meals 2 day. There is no opportunity
for outdoor exercise.
“The general cleanliness was much improved at the first inspection
of this year as compared with the condition at the time of the last
ingpection of the previous year. On che second inspection a very
unsatisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed. The third inspec
tion found a slightly improved condition of cleanliness over the second,
but still unsatisfactory
RECOMMENDATION:
1, The county authorities are strongly urged to procure
anew site and erect on it 2 jall of a modern design which
Inspections 269
will be large enough to meet the needs of the county. In
conjunction with the new jail plan some provision should
be made for the employment of the prisoners. See No. 1,
under Improvements.
2. Te is necessary that every human being should receive
some daily outdoor exercise. The fact that a man is in
jail {s no justifiable reason for placing him under circum
‘stances which will jeopardize his health. ‘There seems to
be no particular reason why the penitentiary yard cannot
be used for exercising the prisoners once a day. The door-
way on the north side of the jail can be used as an exit and
entrance.
3. The shower baths should be enclosed by a screen or
partition of some kind, which will enable an inmate to
bathe with some degree of privacy. Every inmate of the
jall should be compelled to bathe at least once a week.
See No. 8, under Improvements,
4. The ‘county authorities should purchase from the
Prison Department necessary clothing, such as shoes,
underwear and socks. This clothing should be distributed
with discretion among the prisoners, especially upon their
release,
5. The sheriff and the board of supervisors should insist
upon cleanliness at all times. ‘There is absolutely no
pardonable excuse, even if the institution is an old one
and the type of inmates extraordinary, for a condition of
uncleanliness.
6. Police officers and officers from the penitentiary should
be instructed to conduct themselves in a gentlemanly way
while in the jail. Boisterous and indecent talk does any-
thing but seta good example for the prisoner
7, The sections of the jail at present unused should be
put into serviceable condition to relieve the congestion
in the parts now in use. This of course should be make-
shift until such time as a new jail shall be built. The
present jail can never be so far improved us to obviate the
necessity of building a new one. The old cellblock, reeking
with vermin, and with hopelessly dark and poorly ventilated
cells, can never be satisfactory. See No 7, under Improve-
meats,
8. Boys should not be allowed to communicate with
adults, Prisoners serving sentence should not be allowed
to occupy cells with unconvicted persons.
270 Tur Prisow Association or New York
9. The buckets should be aired and preferably allowed
to remain in the air for several hours a day. See No. 6,
under Improvements.
10. The ventilating holes in
ventilators and afford the grea
should be filled In with cer
12. Discontiaue use ol
cells. Competent authorities condemn the use of it. After
It becomes sealy, it makes a splendid hezboring place for
dirt and germs. See No. 4, under Improvements.
IMPROVEMENTS MADE,
I. Agitation for the construction of a new jail or the
remodeling of the present o: September 30th,
plans for the remodeling of the jail have been submitted,
IL, Blankets are aired on the gallery rails every morning.
TI. Greate: ised to observe jaws relative to classi-
fication of the pris:
TV. Interlor of cells whitewashed. Of paint used on
stairway and ext { colllock. Since inspection of
July 17th, ol] paint used In interlor of cells of the previously
unused section:
. Varied condition of cleantiness
Vi, Subsequent to Inspection of July 17th, buckets are
entiagy yar
jona have been made ready
IAVIIL. Tron frames with canvas curtains have been placed
around each shower bath.
ALLEGANY COUNTY JAIL, BELMONT,
By Population
May 1894 ER Cam 1 male aul, serving sentence
The capacity of the jail is as follows:
ele ales . agecla
4c
Minor females
Insrecrions a7
‘The sheriff is John Tunstead. He is assisted by a jailor, and Mrs.
Tunstead acts as matron. There are three sessions of the grand
jury a year.
The jail is a ewo-story brick seructure, entirely fireproof, with
‘exposure om all sides. Te has good ventilation, is heated by steam and
lighted by natural gas. In the old pare the cage type of cell arrange-
ment is in use. Each cell has a water-closet, a set washbasin and
‘one iron hinged bed. Bedding consises of mactress, blankets, sheets
and pillow case. The new addition has the cellblock arrangement.
The cells are back to back and separated by = utility corridor,
These cells are more modern in design and equipment. The bedding
is the same as that in the other cells. Shower baths aro installed
in the corridors. ‘The prisoners receive three meals a day.
At the time of the above inspection the jail was wide open and the
inspector passed through all parts without meeting any of the officials.
Finally the sherif’s daughter was located and she explained that her
father was in Buffalo and that the jailer and the one prisoner were
working on a piece of land, a mile oF so from the jail. The advisa-
Iiliey of leaving a county institation of this kind entirely without a
male person is doubred
The cleanliness of the jail was entirely satisfactory
RECOMMENDATION.
1, That a county jail farm be established in order that
the prisoners can be made to contribute toward the cost
of maintaining them.
BROOME COUNTY JAIL, BINGHAMTON.
Popolation.
Male Fema
Ine By “Adule. Miner
to ER Gm
ir 3
Nov. °5, 1514 Philp ein
Minor fons.
272 Tu Prison Assoctation ox New Yor
The sheriff of the county is A.M. Seaman. He is assisted by =
staf consisting of an undersherif, a cumkey, two guards and a
‘The jail is a stone, fireproof structure, made up of three separate
swings, with to Moors in exch. Ie is heated by steam and lighted
by electricity. Natural ventilation is had through the heavily
sereened, small windows in the side wall. The cage plan of cells is.
tused, This, unfortunately, makes a dark central corridor berween
the fronts of the wo rows of cells. Each cell has two iron-hinged
beds, a water-closet and 2 set washbasin. ‘The bedding consists of
a mattress, blanker, sheets and pillow slip. There are shower-baths
available for bathing purposes. Prisoners receive three meals each
day. A small percentage of the population is employed occasionally
at stone-breaking, and frequently on the courthouse grounds.
‘Ae the time of the frst two inspections the cleanliness of the jail
was satisfactory. On che last inspection some parts were not up.
0 the usual standard.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The present laundry facilities undoubtedly make
considerable work for the prisoners, but it is a question
whether it is possible to secure satisfactory results. The
installation of an clectric rotary washing machine will
insure therough washing of heavy material and will not
essen the amount of actual work co a noticeable degree.
2. While the toilets are in working order, thels worn
condition raises the question of sanitation. The iron
work could be thoroughly scraped and then given « heavy
coat of red lead, and then 2 finish coat of g on
washbasins should also be painted,
3. mton should have a fockup suitable
of all its prisoners. The county jail
children prisoners who
ickup.
vidor of the cast wing.
5. The cages in all the wings, especially In the east wing,
should be painted bright color. A cream-colored white
will help greatly to brighten up both @oors of the east wing.
6. The keys to the female section should be in the hands
of the sheriff or the matron, To insure proper care of the
women, and also to avoid placing the officials of the Jail in
Insrections 273
an embarrassing position, it is advisable to have the matron.
accompany male officials or visitors into the female section.
7. If the stoneyard is to be regarded as a part of the jail
‘equipment, the work in it should be made part of the daily
routine.
8, It is quite important that the jail should have a padded
cell.
9. A citizen cook should be employed to insure proper
preparation of the food and economy in the handling of
10, No san should be kept at work with a ball and chain
attached. This practice is too barbarous to be tolerated
by an enlightened community.
11, A clean blanket, clean mattress slips and pillow slips
should be provided for every newly admitted prisoner.
At present blankets are washed about four times a year,
and no prisoner is sure that he is not using the infected
blanket, etc., of another prisoner. All bedding should be
removed from the cell after the discharge of the occupant
of that cell, and should be washed and, if necessary, disin-
fected, and kept in the linen closet or some similar place.
When'a new prisoner is admitted, he should be given clean
bedding, including sheets, pillow case, and a new blanket
and mattress slip, The blanket need not then be laundered
‘again until the prisoner is discharged, except that it should
be laundered at least once every two months, in any event.
12. A permanent record should be kept at the jail of the
exact number of prisoners in the jail every day, subdivided
as to males or females, adults and minors serving sentence,
court prisoners, awaiting transfer, ete. With the present
record it is impossible to judge what the average reliable
working population of the jail is.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
‘Phe jail committee of the Board of Supervisors has ac.
cepted some of the recommendations made by this Associ~
ation in its previous reports, and has ordered them to be
carried into effect, The recommendations, specifically, ares
L. The installation of an additional electric light in the
central corridor.
II. The painting of the corridors a light color.
274 ‘Tw Prisow Association or New York
III, The installation of now flushes and toilet bowls.
1V. The construction of a padded celt
At the time of November 9th, the possibilities
for the employment he jail were studied. As a
result the fol form of a report to
the Board of
from the jai
deal of
Iabor of pr
crushing ducing
cise sapaleaent cel GU
year-round labor.
Insrecrions 275
Second: ‘The second plan would be the employment of
prisoners on the building of roads and the preparation of
road material, that Is, broken stone.
Broome County has upward of 1,300 miles of unimproved
town highways. The importance of good roads for the
development cf any community is self-evident. Yet the
amount available for the improvement of these town high-
ways is very small. ‘There was expended during the year
1913 for road work proper on these town highways, $60,538.81,
or a Hittle aver $46 per mille. Most of that expenditure has
been for labor, which constitutes about 80 per cent of the
cost of road work. It is, therefore,
show how profitable would be the
for the improvement of town highways. Such work has
been done elsewhere in this State and outside of the State,
both by State and county jail prisoners. In this respect,
so, Toga County has made some steps. In October of
this year a group of some thirteen prisoners were employed
during a period of about three weeks in building gravel
roads near Appslachin for the town of Appalachin, In
Onondaga County, siso, prisoners are used on highways on
quite a large scale. a that county, the other half of the
proposed plan has been in effect for some years; that is,
a the winter season, when work on the roads is not
possible, the prisoners work in a quarry preparing road
material, Such 2 quarry can provide Jabor for almost an
unlimited number of prisoners and they may be worked
through the winter season in all but the severest weather.
We propose that Broome County take advantage of the
experience of the countics above mentioned in order to
carry out the provisions of the law in reference to hard
Jabor for prisoners and to provide better roads for the
county.
Section 93 of the County Law reads in part as follow
«+ « The board of supervisors of the several counties
are authorized to employ convicts under sentence to con-
tin the county jails, in building and repairing
titutions of the county and in building the high-
their respective counties, or in preparing the
is for such highways for sale to and for the use of
such counties or towns, villages or cities therein; and to
276 ‘Tu Prison Assoctation or New York
make rules and regulations for their employment; and the
said board of supervisors is hereby authorized to cause
money to be raised by taxation for the purpose of furnishing
materials and carrying this provision into effect; and the
courts of this state are hereby authorized to sentence con-
viets committed to detention in the county jail to such
hard labor as may be provided for them by the board of
supervisors.””
Section 70 of the Highway Law reads as follows:
“After satisfying himself that proper quarters can be
secured, the town superintendent may, with the consent
of the town board, request the supervisor of the town, under
the provisions of section 93 of tie county Law, to procure the
services of prisoners serving sentence in the county jail
for general work upon the public highways of the town.”
We suggest that the jail committee of the board of super-
visors look into the practicability of working out this plan,
conferring for that purpose with the county superintendent
superintendent of the poor farm.
the werk acrompllaned ta Toga County.
The financing of the plan would be comparatively easy.
If prisoners are to be employed on the county farm, it is a
pure gain for the county, and the result would more than
make up for the cost of daily transportation of prisoners
to the poor farm, not to mention the uatold benefit to the
prisoners and to the community from having the prisoners
at work.
‘As to the town highway work, that should be organized
by the county superintendent of highways, who would
be best situated to decide what towns are most in need of
such labor, and, therefore, which of the towns should be
advised to make application as per Section 70 of the Highway
‘Law and which should be granted.
In thus working on the town highways, the town should
pay the cost of maintenance, guarding and transportation
Of the prisoners to and from the highways. The county
would gain by such payment of maintenance expense to
the town by having the prisoners at work. Moreover, if
the plan works out satisfactorily, the county will be able to
terminate its contract with the Onondaga County peni-
Inspections 277
tentiary and use all its prisoners on the county roads, thus
saving the 30 cents per day paid to the penitentiary for
the board of Broome County prisoners.
The details of the plan are very much simpler to work
out than would seem at first sight. We would urge, there-
fore, that this matter be taken up immediately, s0 that
by next spring, at the latest, the work could be gotten
under way.
‘The county may be assured of the cooperation of the
State Highway Department and of any aid that the Prison
able to give, and we should be glad to be of
any service in this matter to the county at any time.
BRONX COUNTY JAIL, 161sr ano 30 AVENUE,
YORK CITY.
Population
Male Fen
By— Raul “Minor. “Adule Minow.
Phitip Klein al notin ue
Pa (all notin use)
‘Apts 1914
Apels8, 1914 OF Lewis and ER
her si BEG 5 3 8
© Fe39H4 Php Klin and BR
The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Adule males
Minor mae ce with es
James F. O'Brien is the first county sheriff and is the supervisor
7 Reg shoo 4
shone, and one met daly
nt S300 a year, and one meal daily
me meat dal.
t LE oa receives Sn§00 a year. He visite the jul
Ainly and nao subject eal 2 a
‘Tue Prison Association of New York
278
The population 2¢ the time of the inspection on April 25th numbered
48. The exace number of each class of prisoners was not obtainable
because the office of the clerk in the courthouse was closed. Prisoners
held for the county court, and also for the court of special sessions,
are detained in this jail, The court of special sessions convenes
fonce a week. The grand jury and county court are in session every
lay.
‘The employees of the jail are not taken from the civil service list
‘Their hours are indefinite, bur are twelve hours a day on an average.
The jail is located jn the courthouse building and occupies the
north side. ‘The building is a massive stone structure and occupies
the entire block, having exposure on all sides,
‘The construction of this building has taken many more years than
necessary and for the past four or five years has been a subject of
ridicule 20 the Borough of The Bronx. When 2 new county was
formed a county courthouse and a jail had co be secured, and this
structure, which no doube was intended originally for a magistrate’s
and detention prison, was turned into a courthouse and
courthous
Entrance to the jail is on the 161st Street side. The central
part of the ground floor is the warden’s office. In the east end of
the warden’s office there are two doorways; one leads into a section
vator which gives access to the
upper part are located, and the other opens into a room which is
used for the detention of female prisoners. This room is lighted
by one large window and contains 2 cage which is 14 feet 6 inches
by 11 feet 10 inches, and is equipped with a large, wooden platform,
and one iron cot bed; also 2 warer-closet in 2 partitioned com-
in which the stairway and the el
partment, and s set washbasin with running water, This section
is desirable for the detention of only two women prisoners, unless
it is intended that they should sleep on the wooden platform. Under
no circumstances is it possible co separate che different types of
‘women prisoners in this room. In the small corridor outside of
the cage is an elaborate shorrer-bath compartment, a water-closet
and a set washbasin. ‘This chower-bath, together with one of a
similar decign located in the corridor on the north side of the counsel
room, represents the only means of bathing in the entire institution,
West of the warden’s office is 2 large room which has on the
south side a large cage, 18 feet 4 inches by 15 feet § inches, used
for the detention of five and ten-day prisoners. The counsel cage
is on the north side of the same room and is separated from the
ten-day cage by a corridor. ‘The equipment of che ten-day cage
Insrecrions 279
s of a water-closet, set washbasin with running water, and a
large wooden platform on which the prisoners sleep. Te was said
that the only bedding furnished vo ehe prisoners who occupy this
cage is a blanker.
‘The floor of the cage is of stone. Two sides are of brick and tile
and the other two sides consise of bars, The only light received
is thac which passes through the counsel roam on the opposite side.
Cloth curtains are hung on the bars so that the occupant of the
re in che counsel room.
inspection, the cage was occupied by one man
‘own fcom the jail proper because of disorder
nthe west side of the ren-day cage there is a passageway which
nown as the detension pen. This room is located
‘outside of the county courtioom and is used Tor detaining prisoners
the session of the court. » Prisoners
letained in the oom for more than four or five hours at a
he equipmene consists of a large cage divided into two parts,
each part 16 feet 5 inches by 10 feet. Each pare is equipped with
A watercloyer and set washbasin with running water connections,
The room has one large window which is divided into three sections
‘The cage is situated far back from the window, and the rays of light
are intercepted by two iron stairways, one of which leads up to the
courtroom, while the other leads up t0 the corridor which leads to
the warden’s olfice. The passageway, which begins at the west
side of the ten-day cage and ends at this court pen, has been termed
the Bridge of Sighs.”
The jail proper is divided into two sections, one known as the
“fivecticr section,” and the other as the “three-tier section.”
Entrance to the five mn is on the first floor. After leaving
cross a narrow corridor and into a large
cated. ‘The celle are arranged
op of the other, The fronts
the building and the rear of
nse a narrow uylity coreidor on the south
side, The lower sow of cells has an inside and outside corridor.
The inside corrido
corridor is 30 fee
The four upper rows have only a gallery of the same dimensions
as the inside corridor on the first floor, for exercise space. Access
to each gallery is by means of an iron-frame stairway, with stone
steps, located on the east side.
‘The cells are 8 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet, built of steel. The entire
28 Tar Prison Association of New York
front of the calls is made up of stecl bars. ‘The doors work on the
sliding system. ‘The equipment of the cells consists of heavy
porcelain water-closet, without a wooden seat, a set washbasin with
running water connections, and one iron-hinged bed. The bedding
consists of stravr pillow and a blankee.
The ventilation ftom the rear is by a small fue which begins at
the center of the back of each cell and continues to the roo
“This section is lighted by four large windows in the side wall
and two small ones. The windows work on the transom plan.
The large windows are 6 feet 3 inches by 10 feet and the small
windows are 3 feet by 10 feet
"Twenty-five cells are in this section, of which 12 could not be
used when the jail was opened because cold weather had cracked
some of the bowls and burst some of the pipes. In some cases, the
necessary plumbing fixtures were also missing. Because these cells
could not be used it was necessary to double-up in almost every
cell in use, This made it necessary for one occupant of the cell
to sleep on the hard stone floor at night. There are no bathing
facilities in this section. This without doube is an unpardonable
oversight
‘On the south side of the corridor, which runs beeween che elevator
and the entrance into the first section of the jeil, is a room 22 feet
3 inches by 14 feet 5 inches, used az a locker room by the keepers;
i also has toilet accommodations. Directly above this room is
‘2 room similar jn design and dimensions which is used as a chapel.
Services are held every Saturday by a rabbi, and every Sunday by a
Protestant and Catholic clergyman.
Directly above che chapel is a room similar in design and dimen-
sions which is used for the detention of witnesses. This room is
said to be on the third floor, but in realicy i is on the sixth, because
the distance between the first and sixth floors is occupied by the
fivertier section and is separated from the hallway and elevator
shafe by a solid brick wall. The witness room is usually occupied
by male prisoners. In the event of the female section on che ground
floor becoming overcrowded, the male witnesses are transferred
from this room into the jail proper.
The three-tier section was originally intended for female prisoners,
but, owing to the large population of the jail, ie has been necessary
to use both sections for the detention of male prisoners.
The three tier section is identical in design with the fivertier
section and is separated from the same by a concrete floor which
extends from side ro side. ‘The dimensions of the cells and the
Insrrcrions 28
corridors are also the same. The total number of celle is fifteen
five cells on a tier.
‘There are two large windows in the side wall and one small window.
The windows are 10 fect high and serve only to transmit light 0
the first and second tiers.
‘The third tier faces a blank side wall, necessitating the burning
of eleceric light both day and night, This poor plan of construction,
together with the limited amount of ventilation and exercise space,
makes it hard on those confined in this tier
Tn the basement, directly beneath the warden's office, is a large,
well-constructed and well-equipped kitchen. This kitchen is 10
feet or 13 feet below the level of the street and receives no light from
the outside. The two seindows open into a space covered at the top,
‘on a level with the strect; by a grating. The dimensions of the
kitchen are 37 feet by 17 feet 7 inches. The equipment consists of
a large-sized stationary range and 2 good supply of cooking utensils,
‘The laundry is directly beneath the section on the ground foor
‘occupied by the women and suffers the same unfortunate condicion
with respece to light and ventilation as the kitchen, ‘The dimensions
of the laundry ate 35 feet by 14 feet.
The floors in both the kitchen and the laundry are of stone. The
side walls of both rooms are partly of tile and brick.
The laundry equipmenc consists of six small, porcelain washtubs,
\ steel steam dryer and two stationary ioning-boards. The station.
ary washtubs are equipped with pipes through which steam is forced
for the purpose of boiling the wash
‘This structure is not particularly desirable as a county jail, and,
‘even now, is not adequate for the needs of the county. ‘The struc-
ture throughout is freproof, and on the diferent tiers, in the two
main sections of the jail, there are hose connections.
The most pronounced undesirable features of the jail are as
Follows:
1, The absence of proper accommodations for female
prisoners.
2. The lack of adequate bathing facilities. It is not
practicable to bring prisoners from the first and third floor
sections to the ground floor for the purpose of bathing,
In order to do this it is necessary to bring one at a time,
and it would also necessitate the time of one keeper to
the men while bathing.
the fact that twelve cells were not fit (April, 1914) for
use brought about a deplorable condition. Tt necessitated
‘Tue Prison Association of New York
.é-up of prisoners in cells which are designed to
accommodate only one man with respect to sieeping accom-
modations. Under these ¢ ins the prisoners took turns
at sleeping on the
4. The mixing 9
same cell Ig particularly
8 to one tier.
however, between
adult and juventic
6. Under ©
the cell of tite priso
possible to stat!
be altogether «
of guards it is 2
sier, this plan would not
4h an inadequate number
[At the time of the second inspection the general plan of the insti
tution was studied; the inexperienced officials were advised. Con
dition of cleanliness at time of this inspection were very unsatis-
factory. Fourth inspection, cleanliness improved, also some of the
physical defects
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
cells which are now
-ondition.
ment be installed
‘will permit.
prisoners, It
16, of the
observed as far as the ¢ Hf will per
5. It is extremely :
the direct supervision of a keever. ith careful search-
ing it is guite possible for contraband goods to reach the
prisoner as tong as this practice is permitted.
Inspections 283
6, Bach bed should be supplied with a mattress.
7. An institution of the size of this jail should be equipped
with a fumigating apparatus for the purpose of cleaning
the clothes of the prisoners. With an inadequate bathing
equipment and the lack of proper means of cleansing the
clothes of the prisoners, the jail will soon become overrun
with vermin
8. Because of the many scattered sections of this jai
it is quite difficult to exercise proper supervision with a
small staff. It is urged that the number of keepers be
increased in order that the actual needs can be met. When
men are compelled to work fong hours at this particular
kind of work, the monotony of it usually results in ineffi-
ciency.
9. The county authorities should enable the sheriff to
carry out his scheme of transforming the space on the
roof into an open-air exercise court.
10, The overcrowded condition and the inadequate facili-
ties for proper separation of the prisoners should not be
forgotten by the county authorities. This sad condition
is one of the greatest evils existing in our penal institutions.
There should be a separate place of detention for magi
trates’ court prisoners and prisoners held for special sessions.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
I. Better condition of cleantiness.
II, Separation of juveniles from adults more satisfactory.
LIL. Repair of all broken ‘ollets, thereby permitting use
of every cell.
IV. Rubbish can and broom in each cell.
Y. ‘Additional beds in cells. Doubling-up is undesirable,
but if the inadequate number of cells makes doubling-up
necessary, « bed for each occupant should be available.
VI. Increase in number of the staff.
VIL. Segregation of prisoners known to use drugs.
VITI. Prisoners allowed more time in corridors outside
of cells.
TX. Closer supervision of visitors,
X. The Bronx grand jury for the October term of 1914
reported to Judge Brady, urging that better prison facilities
be provided for The Bronx.
284 Tae Prison Association or New Yors,
CATTARAUGUS COUNTY JAIL, LITTLE VALLEY.
Population
Inspected — By— TRaule” Mor. “Adule. Minor. Tota
May 16,1914 ER. Cs8 eee :
‘The capacity of tho jail is as follows:
Minor females
‘The sheriff of the county is J. C. Dempsey who is assisted by
undersheriff and a matron,
‘The jail isa modernly constructed, three-story fireproof buil
‘The celbloce i of atecl and she cele are arranged beck to hack
separated by a utility corridor. Each cell is equipped wich ewo
iromhinged beds, a water-closet in the niche and a set washbasin
‘The bedding consists of 2 mareress, blanket, sheets and pillows ease
[At the time of the above inspection the cleanliness and tidiness
of the jail was not satisfactory
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1, Prisoners awaiting the action of the grand jury should
be given some opportunity for outdoor exercise.
2. There should be some definite means of employment
for convicted prisoners. ‘This can be had on a county jail
farm or on the highw:
3. The unfortunate toilet conditions can be remedied
by covering the ironwork, which surrounds the top of the
toilet bow! and forms the base of the niche, with a layer
of cement. The cement can be so laid that it will pitch
toward the opening of the bow! and thereby permit proper
drainage.
4, The entire interior of the jail, especially the ironwork,
should be painted a bright and serviceable color.
3. The inadequacy of the water pressure should be
remedied.
6. A new type of gas range should be installed in the
kitchen, The present range burns entirely too much g
and is so constructed that it is often very inconvenient
when small pots, ete., are in use.
Inspections 285
7. A fumigating apparatus should be installed for the
purpose of fumigating the clothes of the prisoners when
they are admitted to the jail, Under the present system
it is very difficult, if not impossible, to keep the jail free
from vermin, because there is no way of getting the vermin
out of the clothes of prisoners without totally destroying
the clothes, and, in the absence of a necessary supply of
overalls and jumpers, this plan is not feasible.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
I, The jail is now supplied with gas, both for lighting and
heating.
CAYUGA COUNTY JAIL, AUBURN.
‘Adule Minor. “Adu. Minor. Toeal
ee
ele 2nd mie males tether.
‘There are only three meetings of the grand jury each year.
‘The sherif is S. L. Depew. He is assisted by two jailers, and a
matron is employed when female prisoners are detained,
This jail consises of two parts. One is decidedly antiquated; the
side walls of chis are of stone and have no windows. Air is admitted
into the cellar through small windows, and boch air and light are
admicted through a skylight on the roof. Cells are arranged on the
cage plan, two tiers high. They are of old design and are equipped
with an iron-hinged bed, a set washbasin and a water-closet. The
doors of the cells are of iron lattice work, thus preventing the pos-
ry of some light entering the interior of the cclls. This part of
is the only place where prisoners can be safely detained,
Tr ig noe always possible to separate the prisoners detained here
as the county law requires. Young and old, first offenders and
hardened criminals, are huddled together. Other parts are known a8
the juvenile, female, condemned, and “ trusties’” sections. These
286 ‘Te Prison Association or New Yore
art situated inthe same part asthe sheriffs residence. ach for
an which the ceious ae located is acces by s wooden eatresey
The face thatthe interior of the structure in which these pare ape
loesed in of wood makes a seus condiion in she crane of hee
Furthemore the cto ae sentred he sperion and speedy
acess dificule. Except for the call in the Ranale Aeparoren
light and air are insufficient. msi :
A decided “improvement in the general condition of ceanlines
was noticeable ae he tne of the mepecton of Masch ta iene
Condition of cleanliness very uneatisfacory at iapection ef Mb
15 1914. Inspection of December 15, toig, a much nope
condicon as compared with that of May 1 fot
RECOMMENDATIONS.
st, the jailer should make the
floor and cells and arrange their
1, Directly a
prisoners clean up the
bedding.
2. Te is urgently ended
Board of Sw ‘s realize th
is almost ia s
iat the members of the
the Cayuga County Jail
npaved with the majority
id is a particularly unde
of safety, health and
or any place of deten-
fe a8 & means of breaking the
oner, regardless
fiom, should Sy no
healt of
fo the ore 2 some otiner catastrophe county
might find themseiv: position of seri ious
responsibility, if ¢ = fle
te fe urgently recosameaded that the pian of pucting a
of parssiun, in the central cor
aly sensible scheme fe fo rear
m back to back, and taal
‘Thesa windows’ will permit
ve constructed at the
oa in the sherfs
‘nd. by all meant a
windows x Ha.
light and alr <0 enter an
absolutely necessary
ends and over te
quarters should be made de
fireproof stairway shot
floor. With a jail
her the jailer would know which
Section fo run co first when need demanded. ‘The cells
ch are known as the condemned cells are almost totally
dark and Ill ventilated and should be removed.
Insrecrions 287
3. An additional meeting of the grand jury should be
held during the year in order to reduce the hardship and
injustice which Is wrought upon those unfortunate enough
to be detained in the jail.
4, Leis impossible to ezpect men to reform or be inspired
for better tiving when they
and monchs at a time iz
interest of the county the
jail better, morally and physically, than when he was
admitted. “It is unfair to expect this with the present
system. Men, particularly drunkards, are received at the
jail a¢ regular periods. ‘They are aware of the idleness of
the jail and are also attracted by a system which results
in nothing more than deterioration. The county authori-
ties are always anxious to reduce the expenditures, but at
the same time are willing to bear the expense of housing
unprincipled men for months at a time, instead of spending
a reasonabic amount for the purpose of establishing some
means which ni
discourage th
5. Bvery jail should have reception a1
unclean and untidy prisoners can be kept for a day or two
to give them a chance to clean and sober up before they.
are assigned to the jail proper. Ie is important that a
fall should b hs which will peemit a prisoner to
terview his attorney of friends without coming directly
into contact with them.
6, Prisoners should receive three meats a day.
DURING THE YEAR.
I, Cage and cells repainted, slso the laundry and base-
ment.
II, Screens placed om the windows of the female depart-
ment, This is not entizely satisfactory, because the inmates
can get very close to the screens,
II. An assistant jailer was appointed. Recommended
subsequent (o inspection of August 22, 1913.
TV. Prison Commission appeared against the Board of
Supervisors of the county, before Supreme Court Justice
Rich, to make mandatory the construction of a new jail.
"The decision of the court was against the Commission.
An appeal will be taken and the report of the Prison Associa~
288 Tue Prisox Association or New York
tion subsequent to the inspection of March 12th will be
presented as documentary evidence:
V. New and a better type of mattresses have been installed.
Vi. A bathtub has been placed on the main floor of the
Jail proper.
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY JAIL, MAYVILLE.
Ipecesd- By Popalacon
Jabs 27,1914 E.R. Cas, [Adalezals, 253 adule females, 2 minor 15
The capacity of the jail is as follows
Adu ales 8 alle
Adu msl oom
ioe ate
Minor fees "Pogedhee with ade females
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, G. A. Anderson,
who is assisted by a jailer and a. matron
“There are three meetings of the grand jury each year.
The jal is a two-story. brick structure buile onto the sheri’s
quarcers. Each foor is divided into two parts. The juvenile and
female quarters are located in a small wing, off to one side of the
jail proper. The building is heaced by steam, lighted by clectricity,
and can be well ventilated. ‘The cells are arranged on the cage plan,
that is, the front of the same faces the central corridor, known as
the pit, and the year of the cells faces che side walls of the building,
and are separaced from the same by a corridor. There ae hinged
beds in each cell. ‘The bedding consists of mattress, sheet, pillow
case and blankets, ‘There are also a water-closet and a sot wash-
basin with running water connection in each cell. There ate shower-
baths available for bathing
“The juvenile section, which consists only of two cella is seldom
used first, because of the poor style of locks, and, secondly, because
ofits close proximity: co che female section
The female section, which consists only of one room, does not
ford opportunity for classfeation and separation
‘At the time of the inspection the cleanliness of the jail was
entirely satisfactory
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. There are two possibilities for employing sentenced
prisoners in this jail. The small garden can be steadily
Inspections 289
developed so that in time a jail farm can be had. As far as
employing the prisoners on the county poorhouse farm is
concerned, it is a good plan, both for the county and the
prisoners. Prisoners, however, should not come in contact
with the inmates of the county farm, Its further develop-
d matron should be employed, preferably
ona regular monthly basis. The keys of the female section
should only be in the possession of the sherilf and matron,
and at ao time should male persons enter the female depart-
ment unaccompanied by the matron,
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
J. The county has purchased a new residence for the
sheriff very near the jail. The rooms formerly occupied
by the sheriff are to be transformed into female, hospital,
juvenile and civil quarters. This improvement was much
needed and the action of the board is highly commendable.
I. A new Rudd water heater has been installed. This
will make hot water available in all parts of the jail practi-
cally all the time.
CHEMUNG COUNTY JAIL, ELMIRA.
Popul
Tspeced— By
Mav 17.1914 E.R. Cass,
May itor EE Cae
Nov.ata9t4 Philip Kia
‘The capacity of the jail is as followe :
rales,
‘AS Kale dy je Ral
Tramp seem. H
‘The jail is under the supervision of Sheriff Christopher Biggs, who
is assisted by a turnkey, W. J. Burke, and 2 matron. There is also
a keeper whose duties are confined principally to the stone shed
Unfortunately, the turnkey must be on duty night and day, and,
therefore, even with his best efforts, the best of efficiency cannot be
expected.
290 Tae Parison Assoctarton of New York
‘The bedding consists of mattress, sheets and pillow eases.
‘The building is a stone structure, about 40 years old, located on
the county grounds and in close proximity to the morgue. ‘The jail
consists of many parts, somewhat scactered, but all under the same
oof. ‘The main part, known as the pit section, occupies the central
part of the building from the ground floor to the roof and the other
parts are distribueed around this,
‘On each side of the lower tier of the pit section there are five
ich is equipped with a water-closet
cells of the stone-vault type. E
‘and washbasin, On the upper tier of the south side of the same sec-
tion there ate four cells and a bath, There is no upper tier on the
south side. This pit section, wich ies old type of cell construction
and antiquated plumbing equipment, usually carries the grearest
percentage of the jail population, noe considering night lodgers who
ture the tramp room,
"The other parts of the jail are the juvenile female quarcers, hospital,
grand juty cells, cells for civil prisoners, exercise room for grand
Jury prisoners, and the tramp room. The criticism against the
tramp room is not so much against the room itself, as the practice
fof permieting 25 or 30 men to occupy the room, which is only equipped
with five beds.
"The non-freproof structure, with ite scattered sections, makes a
serious fre danger and also makes i¢ dificule for frequent and close
Supervision. Furthermore, with the responsibility in the hands of
nly one man, the jailer, the situation is rendered still more serious.
Buile up against the north side wall of the jail is the stone shed
‘The number of prisoners employed here vaties.
“The prisoners serving sentence are not compelled to work on the
stone pile, but those who work receive three meals and those who
donot work receive two. All convicted prisoners should work.
"At the time of the inspection on March r7th, the cleanliness of
the cells in the pit section was not satisfactory, while the cleanli
ness of the other sections was satisfactory. At the time of the
inspections on May roth and on November 11th, the condition of
cleanliness was, on the whole, very satisfactory.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. It is strongly urged that the County Board of Super-
visors remove the blemish from Chemung County by the
construction of a new jail which will provide healthful,
fireproof and safe living quarters for the prisoners. It is
Inspections 291
also essential that the jail be built along lines which will
make central supervision possible and permit the handling
of prisoners in an intelligent manner. The present housing
conditions, especially in the central or pit section of the
Jail, tend’ (o demoralize the prisoner during his stay.
Demoralization should not be the result of any prisoner's
stay in the jail, because one of the functions of the jail
is that it should serve as a correctional agen
2. The water-closets and the bath in the pit are of an
antiquated type and are also in an unsanitary condition.
They should be replaced by a more modern type. Strict
attention should be given to the cleanliness of the cells in
the pit section,
3. The tramp room should be supplied with a greatly
increased number of beds. Tron cot beds with canvas
bottoms, which can be removed at intervals, are highly
desirable for this purpose. These beds are usually made
of iron pipe and take up little space, but furnish com-
fortable sk
4. Fire extinguishers should be installed in the jail.
5. Officers of the jail should be paid from a separate
fund and not from the salary of the sheriff. Their number
should be increased to three and their salaries increased
in order to obtain the highest efficiency.
6. A daily record should be kept of the number of prisoners
in the jail, classified as to whether they are serving time,
awaiting trial, witnesses, awaiting transfer, etc. With the
present record, it is extremely difficult to determine even
the daily total, and almost impossible to determine the
average number of prisoners serving sentence, although
such information is of great importance, especially in
providing a plan of employment. This also suggests that
2 card index be kept of the prisoners in the jail,
7. Clean blankets, sheets and pillow cases should be
tiven to every prisoner admitted, at the time of his admis
sion, and should be removed from his cell when he is dis-
charged, not to be used again until after they have been
laundered. At present, blankets are laundered only four to
six times a year. Under the proposed plan they would be
Washed a8 often as the man using them is discharged.
The laundry and working force of the jail is capable of
taking care of a good deal more work than is at present
292 Tue Prison Association or New York
performed. We would also suggest that mattress slips
be used. ‘The jail should take every precaution against
the infection of healthful prisoners and not use bedding
that has been used by others.
8. Individual towels should be supplied to prisoners. It
is the greatest danger to prisoners and to the community
as a whole to continue the preseat system of supplying
fone towel to a department, in some cases one towel to
dozens of men.
9. Three meals per day should be given to all prisoners,
regardless of whether they ving cime awaiting
trial. Similarly, three meats should be served on Sundays
as well.
10. Upon the employment of ional guard or
keeper, t A reception room from
which prisoners would be assigned to thelr regular places
in the Jail, aft yh cleaning and examination by
the jail officer. All prisoners should have their clothing
removed at the time of Such clothing
should be femigsted
‘Ac the time of the November inspection, the possibilities for the
employment of of the jail were seudied, and the following
plans were submitted to the board of supervisors for their cone
sideration:
PLAN OF EMPLOYMENT.
1. The form of labor best si
of prisoners is outdoor labor, rath
From a standpoint of the disposition of th
ited for the rehabilitation
er than indoor industries.
Tabor, as well
as for the
outdeor labor app! 3 are also best
suited for the community interests.
Prisoners could best be employed
building roads and on stone-crushing,
road building are occupations for the spring, sum:
eatly fall, During the winter, stone-crashing is the best
form of employment.
(a) Farm labor may be undertaken either om a jail farm —
which does not esist in Chemung County — or else on the
Insrections 293
county poor farm. The poor farm of Chemung County
composed of 305 acres, of which a comparatively small
part only Is tillable at present.
According to the reports of the State Board of Charities,
the average number of inmates at the poor farm during
1913 has beon 124. As a general thing, not more than
ten per cent of the inmates are capable of working on the
fields, and that only for a few hours a day, so that the labor
available for the tilling of the land on the poor farm, and
especially for its Improvement so as to make more of the
Jand fillable, is very small. This plan does not mean that
the almshouse inmates would have fo come in contact
with che Jail prisoners, Whore prisoners are working on
poor farms at present they are kept separate from the
inmates. In fact, caution must be observed in carrying
out this plan that such contact shall aot take place,
‘What better plan is there for the poorhouse farm than to
obtain the labor of the jail prisoners for the spring, summer
and early fall, for the cultivation and improvement of the
farm? fts distance from the jail is not prohibitive and
the guarding of the prisoners itas been found, in the cases
where such labor has been developed heretofore, to be a
stabt problem. | Ros ceample., Tioga ‘and. St: Lawrence
Counties particularly have found this end of the plan to
dive them very little, if any, trouble. Escapes are few.
(b) As an alternative for farm labor, and perhaps even
better for jail prisoners, is the plan of working them on the
town highways. ‘There are some 808 miles of unimproved
town highways in Chemung County. For road work proper
on these town highways, there was expended during 1913,
542,685.23, or about $48.50 per mile. Needless to say, this
isbutadropin the bucket. Eighty per cent of such expendi-
ture goes for labor. Therefore, obtaining the free labor
of jail prisoners on such town highways would be the great-
est possible aid to good-road work.
According to plans evolved in other counties, the towns
upon whose highways prisoners are employed pay either
all or part of the maintenance of such prisoners, and also
the guarding and transportation expenses, and receive in
return the very much more valuable laber of the prisoners,
The benefit to the county is obvious. ‘The county is able
to have its prisoners at work, saves on their maintenance
294 Tu Prison Association or New You
and guarding expenditure, and gets, indirectly, the benefit
of better town highways. ‘This, or similar work, has been
undertaken before by other counties, such, for example, as
Tioga, Onondaga snd Schenectady, not to mention the
State prisoners employed in such counties as Saratoga,
Cayuga, Greene and others.
Section 70 of the Highway Law definitely provides for
the possibilities of this labor, es follows:
“After satisfying himself that proper quarters can be
secured, the town superintendent may, with the consent
of the town board, request the supervisor of the town,
under the provisions of section ninety-three of the county
Taw, to procure the services of prisoners serving sentence
in the county ail, for general work upon the public highways
of the t0
(© Both the above forms of Iabor must practically be
discontinued during the winter wh
larger, and, therefore, occupation most necessary. A good
deal of stone is used on the various kinds of highways,
town, county and State, that are built in the counties during
1 can be carrled on through the
ore, that the county purchase
or lease a quarry located conveniently to the jail and the
railroads, and that prisoness be worked in the quarry under
the supervision of the sheriff and the county superintendent
would probably be best situated for organizing the work
fat such a quarry.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
I, Fire extinguishers have been installed, but not in
sufficient quantity. See recommendation No. 4
2. The Board of Supervisors have appointed a committee
to study the labor possibilities as suggested by the plans
submitted In the report of November lith. Tt has been
yoted to experiment with jail labor on the county farm
and Co arrange for the purchase or leasing of a quarry.
Insrscrions 295
CHENANGO COUNTY JAIL, NORWICH.
Inspected By Popuaon.
Feb. 6 1914 E.R, Ca 7 adule males
The capacity of the jail is as follows:
feel Scale
Ate female tae
Mina female With Siu mater,
The sheriff of che county is C. S. Holcomb. He is assisted by
a jailer and a matron.
The jail is 2 modern two-story fireproof structure buile onto
the sherif’s residence.
‘On the frst floor there is a steel cellblock, wich 2 dividing corridor
running the full length of the celblock hetween the backs of the calls,
On the second floor the construction is similar to thee of the~ fies
oor, except that the part which corresponds with che parc used as a
chapel on the first Hor is divided ineo two parts; one is the hospital
and the other is for prisoners who are intoxicated or who need
leaning up.
‘One side of the second floor is used for juveniles and the other for
female prisoners. Each cell is equipped with two iron-hinged beds,
set washbasin, with running water connection, and water-closet
in the niche. ‘The bedding consists of, for men, mattress and
blankets, and for women, the same, with the addition of sheets and
pillow eases.
Although the jail was only construcced in 1902, in planning the
location of the structure, the imporeance of having plenty of light
ind air was overlooked. "The south side is dark, because i is buile
very close to the county clerk’s office building and separated from the
same by a small alley. There seems to have been plenty of avail-
able space on which to construct the jail in a betcer location, thus
avoiding the sad condition which now exists,
‘The sheriff strongly believes that it is beteer for the men to be
employed at some kind of work than to be idling away the long hours
of the day. During che year, prison labor has been used extensively
in renovating and repairing the courthouse. The only outside
Tabor necessary to carry on this work was done by plumbers. The
extent of the work in the courthouse, which consisted of painting and.
repairing, cost the county only $193.70 for material. For the ja
the sum of $177.81 has been charged to the county for repair work in
the barn, sherif’s residence and other work. In the past it has
296 Tu Prison Associarton or New York
cost about $1,000 per year for the upkeep of the jail and courthouse.
Tris quite evident, chen, that the value of the jail prisoner's labor has
contribuced to some extent to che cost of maingenance.
‘A satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed at the time of the
inspection.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1, A padded cell should be installed in every jail.
ality
2 ‘The plan of employing the prisoners should fe steadily
developed. The experiment of St. Lavrrence County, which,
is now looked upo:
terion for the other count
farm. Two years ago, official at county. pu
a 60-acre farm at $10 anacre. alue of the fa
uct for each of the firse two years, together
improved condition of the land and the value of th
struction work done by the has practically made
the farm pay for itself, Furthermore, the per capita cost
of maintenance per week has been reduced from $146 to
$1.27, in the last yoar, and there has also been a decrease
in the population.
COLUMBIA COUNTY JAIL, HUDSON
Population
“Make Fem:
owpected— By — ak.” Minor” “Adute Minor) Tosa.
July 15,1914 E.R. Cues and Philip
Now. 23,1914 Priip Riis
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Bisel ro calls
danttieaaia fen
les. ‘Wit ade females.
Tuverie males geal
‘The sheriff of the county is Robert Storm. He is assisted in che
jail by a jailer and several deputies. There is no matron.
Ixsrections 297
The jail is a small qwo-story brick structure built onto the rear
‘of the courthouse. In the main pare of the first floor there is a
steel cage. The cells of the cage are equipped with to iron-hinged
beds, a washstand and a wilee. The bedding consists of mattress
and blankets. Bathing accommodations are in the last cell of the
sesies. There are also on this oor ewo tramp rooms and in the rear
s r00m for civil prisoners. On the second floor, in the same location
us on the first, there is a similar cage. There, also, are the female
cells, juvenile cells, che hospital oom and another civil prisoner
room. ‘These different sections ave scattered and separated by
corridors. ‘The jail is heated by steam and lighted by electricity
dnd can be considered relatively fireproof. The general plumbing
is in poor condition and also poor in appearance. The limited
accommodations do not always permit proper reparation and classi-
fication of prisoners. The close confinement made necessary by
the small floor area, and the usual congestion in each section, works
hardship on those detained for long periods.
At the time of the inspection of July 15th a decidedly unsatis-
factory condition of cleanliness prevailed. Accumulation of dire
were behind the bowls of the toilets in the bathroom of the
juvenile department and in the recess behind the section used for
prisoners serving sentence. In the juvenile department, especially.
in the section behind the cells, remnants of bread and empey whiskey
bottles were found. Bread was also seacteted about in the various
sections on each floor. ‘The buckets which are used in the grand
jury section were unclean, Fresh bedding is not supplied to a
prisoner upon admission, ‘The beds are not even made up after 2
prisoner is discharged from the jail. This was especially noticeable
in the femsle department. The bedding throughout the jail was in
1 badly worn and dirty condition
At the time of the inspection of November 234, the general cleanli-
ress of the jail was somewhat improve,
RECOMMENDATIONS MAI
1. The filth in the various parts of the jail must be
cleaned up. The county should adopt a standard that
will be a credit and not a blemish to the community. No
recommendation compares, in importance, with this
requirement for cleanliness.
mattresses used at present should be destroyed.
14 should be installed after a thorough cleaning
Prisoners serving sentence can be utilized
for cleaning.
298 Tue Prison Assocration or New York
3. A new coat of bright colored paint should be applied
throughout the jail.
4. Some disinfectant, such as fime, should be used in the
buckets, if it is still necessary to have thems, and then they
should be aired daily.
5. The old, antiquated type of toilets should be replaced
by a modern type of porcelain toilet without a wooden seat.
6. Clean bedding should be supplied for every newly
admitted prisoner.
7. A satisfactory iaundry equipment should be installed.
8. The county should have a supply of clothing on hand
to give prisoners when necessary.
9. A matron should be employed to assure proper treat-
ment of women prisoners and to avoid placing the officers
of the jail in a possible embarrassing position.
10, The jail should not be used as a town lockup. The
city of Hudson should fall in line with most of the other
communities and have a lockup of its own.
11. All prisoners should receive three meals a day and the
cooking should be done by a regular employee, not by the
jailer, and in the more appropriate part of the cellar. Two
meals a day are quite inadequate.
12. Prisoners should be given outdoor exercise. For this
purpose a large space of ground adjacent to the jail should
be walled in and used, 2s has beer: urged in previous recom-
mendations.
13, Care should be taken that no prisoners are kept in
the tramp room for more than a day, because it is almost
brutal to ask a man, especially an aged man, to sleep on
the hard wooden benches more than one night. One such
case was found at the time of the inspection of July 15, 1914.
14. At the time of the inspection of November 234, special
attention was given to studying. the possiblities of employing the
prisoners serving sentence, The following plans were submitted to
the Board of Supervisors for consideration.
Section 93 of the county law reads a8 follows:
“.. Such keeper may, with the consent of the
board of supervisors of the county cause such
of the conviets under his charge as are capable of hard labor
to be employed outside of the jail or in thesame. . . . And
the boards of supervisors of the several counties are author~
Inspections 299
-d to employ convicts under sentence to confinement in
the county jails, in building and repairing the penal insti-
tutions of the county, and in building and repairing the
highways of their respective counties, or in preparing the
materials for such highway’, for sale to and for the use of
such counties or towns, villages or cities therein, .
Columbia County has 1,291.16 miles of unimproved town
highways within its limite and the amount for their improvee
mene available in the year 1913 was only $74,861.27, oF less
then 458 per mile for the town highway work proper. The
proper expendieure of even this small amount is hampered by
the lack of labor at the right time.
We propose, therefore, the following plan:
First: ‘That no prisoners be sent to the Albany Peni
tentiary, but that all be retained at the county jail, thus
saving the amount expended for their board at the said
penitentiary
‘Second: That during the spring, summer and early
fall, all such prisoners be employed on improving the town
highways in the county, in accordance with Section 70 of
the Highway Law, which reads as follows:
“After satisfying himself that proper quarters can be
secured, the town superintendent may, with the consent of
the town board, request the supervisors of the town, under
the provisions af section 98 of the county Jaw, to procure
1@ services of prisoners serving sentence in the county
jall, for general work upon the public, highways of the
That during the winter, when work on the
highways is impossible, the prisoners be employed in crush
ing stone. For this purpose the county should locate a
quarry, set up stone-crushers, and work all its available
pelsoners at full time. It will be found, as the experience
of Onondaga County shows conclusively, that not only
will all the stone thus crushed be marketable, but that
in fact the county will not be able to supply all the stone
needed on its town and county highways, even with the
Greatest effort; so that an efficient market for the crushed
stone will be available without effort on the part of the
county authorities.
Fourth: In order to secure the proper working of this
joo Ta Prison Assoctattox or New York
plan, it is suggested that it be organized and conducted
by the county superintendent of highways in Columbi
County, Mr. Lester J. Bashford, Holiowville, N.Y. Appl
cations of towns for the labor of prisoners in accordance
with Section 70 of the Highway Law, above quoted, should
be organized and solicited by him.
A quarry for crushing stone in accordance with the above
plan should be located and managed by the county superin-
tendent of highvays and the stone marketed by him. He may
hhave to lease, or buy, a quarry and machinery for this purpose.
Section minety-thtee of che County Highway Law, above
‘quoted, authorizes the board of supervisors to provide money
for that purpose.
Tr is suggested that the county superintendent of highways
be requested and directed by the board to make necessary
arrangements both for the highway work and the stone-crushing
and that che judge and juscices in che county be requested
to discontinae sending prisoners to che Albany County Peni-
tentiary, and to retain them in the county jail to be employed
as per the above plan,
‘The county: may be assured of the full sanction and coopera-
tion of the State Highway Departmenc in these efforts
‘The plan here proposed is nor a new one. Te has been
successfully” in operation in Onondaga County under County
Superintendent of Highways Frank E, Bogardus, In face
wwe suggest that your honorable board ditect your county supei
intendent of highways vo visit Mr. Bogardus and consult with
hhim in this work, Similar work hax been done to a limited
extent in Tioge County, has been arranged for in Montgomery
County, and will be undertaken by a number of the other
counties in the near future. This, in addition to a considerable
Amount of road work done by prisoners of the State prisons in
Greene, Saratoga, Clinton, Cayuga and ocher counties. We
should be glad to offer our services for working out the details
of the above plan,
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. At the time of the fast inspection a better condition
of cleanliness prevailed.
2. Plans have been filed for the enlargement of the present
Jail and provisions are to he made so as to have a separate
Section as a town lockup.
Insrecrions jon
CORTLAND COUNTY JAIL, CORTLAND,
Population
Female
Inspected — By Rake Mi Total
Feb th10%4 E.R. Cass 28
fay t9d EL Co 2.
‘The capacity of che jail is as follows:
ase te .
Ada a ci te
ae : Set
‘The shri of the county is R, E. Wrighe
‘The jail and courehouse are practically under the same rot, ‘The
structure in not Beeproot. ‘The jal is small, antiqued fa designe
and not suably arranged ao as to perme proper sanifcaise ed
separation of the prisoner, ‘Ths is partculaly tue of the vecond
oor hen i nee ot snc arp ale sey mio
thin walls between, and with conmacntcation very easy, Futches
Imore, the only bathing facilis forthe whole jul are on this Reor,
“The cells on the lor Boor are of the ste vaulelite eye and
are equipped wieh iron cot beds. ‘The bedding consists of secre
Blanket, sheets and pillow case, The watetlosets on the Boe
and second floors are of am ald type and are in a badly worn cone
dition. ‘The same applies vo the bathing facies and the manhs
bowls. The working of the sewer system is frequently unaate
factory. The danger of the old non-ireproot building is ade to
by'a very old brick boiler in the basement. “This baler hss bese
nseevice 25 of 30 years, Ie nas said that ths bole hae already
‘At che ime ofthe inspection of February 11th, there was a decided
improvement in the clealiness of both the fse and second fos,
as compared with the condition fond atthe time ofthe las ingpee
the cleanliness throughout the jail was saifacton
A small boys a fw months over shtcen, and avaiting tamale to
Indusezy, was in the room reserved for juveniles He was lying
comfortably on a cot be, fully dressed, nd busily engaged in smoking
cigaretcs, His supply of cigarote papers and tobateo was quite
got Tu Prison Assoctatton of New York
plentiful. A young wirl detained at the time was employed in the
kitchen. ‘The other prisoners were assisting the jailer in doing
chores about the jail.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. Cortland County should have a now jail, The inade-
quate facilities for properly separating prisoners, not only.
according to the nature of their detention, but also accord
18 to sex, age und disease, bring about a deplorable con-
dition, and shouid not be tolerated. This jail is one of
the distinctly bad ones, from a ph:
upon’a site and build a new jail which will pro}
facies for handling the prisoners intelligently.
2. In conjunction wi jail there should be some
definite provisions made for employing the prisoners at
hard work. ‘The present jail eystem Is an agreeable inyita-
tion (0 men of fittle or no principle. No body of broad-
minded men, who represent the interests of the county,
should be willing to permit such an unintelligent system to
exist, especially in view of the fact that under Section 93 of
the Gounty Law they are authorized to establish some kind
of employment for the inmates ‘Men who get
fo the point where Iaw-breaking i daily business
have not the siightest fear of going to jail. Possibly the
present system is solely responsible for chis, but, however,
this should and must be discouraged in order to mete out
Justice both to the tas
ee and to the 0!
3. Very young prisoners should not be permitted to
indulge freely In the use of cigarettes.
4. There should be at least one more session of the grand
jury during the year. With only two sessions, mach hard-
ship and injustice is worked out. Furthermore, with the
poor equipment and arrangement of the jail, the serious
condition brought about by the few meetings during the
year is groatly aggravated.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. ‘The spacing between the ceiling of the first floor and
the flooring of the second has been cleaned of all rabbish
and the (rap-door opening into the space has been nailed
Insreetions 303
down, In the report of September 3, 1913, it was pointed
out that the inmates on the second floor would remove
the trap-door and sweep the dirt and rubbish into this
opening. After a timo, much dirt and rubbish accumulated.
Ie was then recommended that the opening be cleaned and
the door fastened,
2. Sheets and pillow cases have been added to the bedding
equipment. This was also rocommended in the last report
of the previous year.
3. The toilet equipment has been repaired and painted.
Recommendation No. 3, last inspection of previous year.
4, Paper roller towels have been installed.
5. The cell doors in the male section have been painted
black. ‘The cells have been water-painted and the pipes
and toilets painted with aluminum. In the recommenda-
tions of the last report of the previous year the need of paint-
prevailed at the time of both inspections of this year.
7. The Board of Supervisors have voted to have a new
boiler placed in the basement to replace the one which was
severely criticised in several reports.
'8. There has been some agitation on the part of the Board
of Supervisors relative to the purchase of a new jail site.
There are three sites available and up to the last report
a site has not been definitely decided upon.
CLINTON COUNTY JAIL, PLATTSBURG,
Male
Inspected By “Adsl Minor. Adult Minor Total
Fs 16 1914 E.R. Caw. 7 Fe
hig ER Ge ay
Nov idigig ER Gs
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
‘Adal mate ra celle
Ale sates (ie wed by veil Fema) fn eome
Savers mais Sede
The jail is under the supervision of Sheriff J. M. Moore who
receives a regular salary and is assisted by a jailer, a janitor and a
304 Tue Pxtson Assocation or New York
The jail is a small ewo-story brick structure built onto the rear
of the courthouse. The frst floor is generally the only one used
The second is not always used, because the equipment is such that
prisoners cannor be safely detained. The averare daily population
is approximately chirey. With the present asrangement and
number of cells itis practically impossible to meet the requirements
of the county Inw relative to the classification and separation of
Prisoners. Fucthermore, the conditions aro aggravated by the
lunsanieary toilets and washbowsls and the broken-doven plumbing,
The bedding for females consists of mattress, blankets, sheets
and pillow cases, and for men consists of mactiess and blankets.
“Theroomsfor the female prisoners, located in the courthouse proper,
are accessible by a wooden stairway. in the event of fire ic i 3
auestion whether the female prisoners could be speedily released
‘At the time of the inspection of Febriary 16th the bedding in
the cells was in a very unsatisfactory condition, alchough the sheriff
said that it was washed weekly. The cells inthe far end of the cage
on the first foor contained large pieces of paper and swespi
the floor. The toiless were in 1 bad condition 35 usual
‘At the time of the inspection of September qth the condition
of cleanliness was decidedly unsatisfzctory. Inthe rear cell on
the south side of the cage, ground floor, the contents of a lazge reise
barrel were strewn about. The odor arising ftom this large pile of
rubbish was extsemely obnoxious. The floor of the cell directly
opposite was covered with cigarette boxes and wads of tet paper
and che water leaking from the base of the toilet produced 2 ie
agreeable odor. This tilet condition was very much che same in all
Of the cells in this section om this fooe. The bedding was extremely
dirty and the frames of the beds also. The windows om thie fo
were closed and che atmosphere was most oppressive. eis customary
10 apply kerosene oil to the iran oor of the cage after it is mopped
The odor of the oil aggravates the already disagreeable atmosphere.
On the south side of the second floor, five Chinamnen occupied one
dark cell. The condition of unclenntiness prevailed also on chi
floor. In one af the cells on the notth side of this floot a prisoner
was found in bed fully dressed, and, jrdging from che odor hich
came forth from the rear of the cell in which he was lying, he needed
a bath. With all the windows closed the atmosphere was
intolerable
At the time of the inspection of November toth the toilet conditions
were about the al cleanliness, chat is, of the cells
and corsidess, was much improved.
IxsPections 305
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Tt does not seem necessary for Clinton County to go
to the expense of erecting an entirely new jail. Thero is
plenty of available ground on the north side of the present
Structure on which an addition could be erected. With
the interior of the present structure renovated by installing
a modern type of cellblock, and with the construction of
an addition with modern ‘equipment, the needs of the
county could be well met.
2. Clinton is one of the very few counties in the State
in which there are only two sessions of the grand jury each
year. With a system of this kind, much hardship and
injustice is worked upoa prisoners who are held for the
grand jury and also upon witnesses who are connected
with the case, There should be at least one more session
of the grand jury each year. With no available means of
outdoor exercise, there is a strong likelihood of jeopardizing
the health of any prisoner who is compelled to spend the
long months between grand jury sessions in such a small
area and in an unhealthful atmosphere.
In order to alleviate the present unsatisfactory con-
i i plan of the
1@ recommendations are made
1. Leaking toilets should be repaired.
2. New mattresses and blankets should be purchased
and distributed.
3. Barrels containing rubbish should be emptied at
east once every day. Prisoners who wilfally refuse to
co-operate with the management to keep the jail clean
should be disciplined.
4. An abundant supply of fresh air should be admitted
to the jail at all hours of the day and night.
5. As far as possible, minors should be kept separate
from adult prisoners.
[As the time of the inspection of November toth the possibilities
for the employment of the inmates of the jail were discussed with
county officials and studied
‘The condition caused by the bad physical plan of this
jail is greatly aggravated by the deplorable idleness which
exists within the small area. ‘The present system is unin-
telligent and carries with it propagation of vice, all of which
306 Tu Prison Assoctatton or New York
tramples down the chances of reformation and ultimately
deprives society of the protection which it originally sought
in placing the man in the jail. Section ninety-three of
to food and labor, reads in
the County Law, which perta!
part as follow:
. The of supervisors of the several
counties are authorized to employ conviets under sentence
to confinement in the county jails, im building and rep:
ing : uinty and in building and
repairing the hi el fs
cherein, and to make rules and regulations for thelr employ-
ment; sad the said board of supervisors is hereby authorized
to cause money to be raised by taxation for the purpose
of furnishing materials ond carrying this provision into
effect; and the courts of this si :
to sentence convicts commaitted to detention in the county
jails to such hard Iabor as may be provided for them by the
Doards of supervisors.”
This shows conclusively that
of the Board of Supervisors to undertake the task of pro-
viding employment for the prisoners. It is not only withia
their jurisdiction, duc ic is the duty of the board co deal
with the labor problem and jail situation so that the best
interests of the taxpayer will be met,
‘The present system is not improving the individuat
prisoner or helping the county. Young and old are thrown
together, and out of the young #s made material to continu
a system whick Is @ large financial burden to the taxpayers
There are severat ways in which the jail inmates can be
employed. One, on 2 county jail farm, This is done in
Canton, St. Lawrence County, and In Oswego, Oswego
County. are highly satisfactory.
The population at that jail is lower than during former
years and the per capita weekly cost of maintenance has
been reduced from $1.46 to $1.27. Furthermore, with the
value of the product and the value of the prison labor, the
cost of the farm hes practically been repaid to the county
treasury during the past two ye
‘The services of an additional guard are necessary. ‘The
sheriff and the undersheriff devote their time, principally,
to the jail and their administrative duties,
it Is within the jurisdiction
Inspections 307
In the late fall and winter months the prisoners in this
county are employed at stone-breaking. This broken
stone is sold to the neighboring villages and towns. Stone-
breaking is carried on in a number of counties, and, where
the co-operation of the town superintendent of highways
ja had, the scheme can be made successful.
Aside from a jail farm, the employment of jail prisoners
upon the highways is being recognized by experts as a very
desirable and helpful plan, which will benefit both the
ahabitants of the various towns, who are eager for good
roads, and also the jail inmates,
‘The highway authorities of Onondaga County have beon
employing this type of labor on a large scale on the high-
ways, and find the result very satisfactory.
Jail Iabor can be used in improving some of the streets
which are badly in need of repair in the city of Plattsburg.
Towns within a radius of eight or nine miles of the jail,
such as Schuyler Falls, Beckman, and Peru, are very much
ia need of improved highways. These are only a few
instances where there are bad bighway conditions and
for the improvement of which the respective towns will not
ve able for many years to raise sufficient money if the
work is to be done completely by contract labor.
thas been stated that the work performed by the inmates
of Clinton Prison is past the experimental stage and is a
big success. ‘The same scheme can be worked out with
the inmates of the jail in some of the nearby towns. The
expense of such work should be shared by the county and
the towns, the larger percentage to be paid by the county
fa cases where the work is being done by poor towns.
Very near Plattsburg there are some splendid limestone
quarries which could probably be rented at a nominal
charge, Here the county could set up a large stone-crushing,
plant, and during the winter months sufficient stone could
be cracked for use on the highways in the towns in which
the work is to be done.
Kt is urgently requested that a committee be appointed
to consider che establishment of a permancnt plan for
the employment of jail inmates, in order that Clinton’
County may take part in the State-wide move for the
purpose of abolishing jail idleness and establish the nucleus
for an intelligent jail system.
308 Te Prison Association or New York
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YFAR.
At the time of the last inspection it was quite evident
that the management was exercising more care relative
to cleanliness of the jail, Considerable painting has been
done on the first and second floors and in the female section.
‘The Board of Supervisors are considering the necessity
of a new jail. To this end a committee has been appolated
to visit the jails in some of the neighboring coun
order to determine what course is (o be pursued in solving
their own problem.
DELAWARE COUNTY JAIL, DELHL
Population.
Tospeeted — By— ‘awk Minor! Tota
July 3051954 EAR, Cass,
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Adal ate, seg
Aa fests
ven fai Wie ens
jc mate
“The sherif of the county is J. J. Farrell. He is assisted in the
{all By an undersherif, a matron and a female coo
The jail is a small three-story brick structure buile onto. the
sherf's residence. ‘The fst and second floors ate equipped with &
tmodern type of steetcllblock with utility corridor. The thied foo
has a smal cllblock and two hospital rooms. Each cell is equipped
swith one iron hinged bed, a watet-closct in a niche, and a ser watke
basin. The bedding consists of martress, sheets, pillow and. pillow
ganc.“There ip no jall yard, Ar the Gnnc-of the above taapestion
the showcr-bath drain on the frst floor was clogged. Some of the
toffee im the oxlé on the firse feor, north aide, werd cruifed with
paper, and in one cell there were nives and forks throw carelessly
about.” ‘The outside corridor on the same floor, same side, contained
2 considerable amount of sweepinge which had noe yet been removed.
“The hospital room on the south side of the ehitd Ror was in 2
very untidy condition. ‘The general condition of cleanliness through
‘ut the fal was not satisfactory. ‘The sheriff and jailer were not 0
at the time of inspection and ie was explained by the sheriff's wife
Ixsrecrions. 309
that they were both working on an important case since the previous
night and that hecause of this the regular daily routine was some-
what broken. On the south side of the first floor a sixteen-year-old
oy was in the same section with adults. This is a serious breach
of the county law, and more so in view of the face that practically
the remainder of the jail was unoccupied,
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
4. Section 92 of the County Law should be strictly
observed, especially when there is plenty of available room
in the jail.
2. A better condition of cleanliness and tidiness through-
out the jail should exist.
3. The ironwork directly on top of the toilet bowls in the
niche should be filled in with a layer of cement. The
composition should be one and one-half parts of moulding
sand and one part of Atlas or Portland cement. The
cement should be sloped toward the opening in the bowl
so that proper drainage could .be had. Paint will not
satisfactorily solve the rust problem in the niche and its
application is a waste of time.
4. A partition in the east and west end corridors on the
first floor will permit proper separation of grand jury
prisoners from prisoners serving sentence and at the same
time permit the prisoners to have the use of the inside and
outside corridors.
5. A jail yard should be acquired which will permit out-
door exercise for the prisoners and possibly some kind of
work
6. A padded cell should be provided.
7. Crockery or aluminum should be substituted for tin-
ware.
DUTCHESS COUNTY JAIL, POUGHKEEPSIE.
Population.
Inspecud—~ By
Feb as,1014 E.R Cast
Jy FS ioid Es a Bip
310 Tu Prison Association or New Yous,
The capacity of the jail is as follows
eae ns
The sheriff is F. C. Hornbeck
The jail ig located in the upper stories of the courthouse building
in the center of the city. It consists of three parts. In each part
there is a steel eellblock, two tiers high cells are equipped
‘with two iron-hinged beds, a water-closet in @ niche, and a set wash-
basin. The bedding consists of mattress and blankets, sheers and
pillow case. The peculiar arrangement of having the jail quasters in
the top of the courthouse, in the heart of the city, docs not permit
opportunity for outdoor exercise, The jail sections are accessible
by fireproof stairway and an elevator. The juvenile department,
from a physical standpoint, is undesirable f
He is assisted by ewo jailers and
the detention of
juveniles, first, because of the pronounced absence of natural light,
and, secondly, because of the poor facilities for proper classification,
One side of the main section, used altogether by: adule prisoners,
is quite dark, because the cells face a blink wall. ‘The female
department is very satisfactory. The cells of the feinale section are
seldom used, and it seems that i would be advisable to transform
part of the female section, by means of pas
At the time of the last inspection of the previous year, a decided
condition of uncleanliness prevailed. The sheriff was advised
relative to this and promised thae ar rhe time of the next inspection
the jail would be one of the cleanest in the State
At the inspection of February agth a much improved condition of
cleanliness prevailed cheoughout the entire jail. The inspector
spent much time with the sheriff, going over wich him, word for word,
the report of the inspection of December to, 1913. At che time that
report was read before the Poard of Supervisors, the sheriff was quoted,
through the press, as having declared it unfair and exaggerated,
However, in going over the report with him, he acknowledged that
ic was a just one and his only objection was that it had been sent to
the newspapers and to the Board of Supervisors. However, it was
explained to che sheriff that this was the customary practice and it
was also pointed out to him that at the time of the vo inspections
in che year 1913 the jail w:
had been advised and had
tions, into 2 nev juvenile
is found very unclean, at which time he
nade promises for better cleanliness.
Iysprctions 3m
[At the time of the inspection of July 13th the ceils in the main
section of the jail were clean and on the whole in an orderly con-
dition. Much dire was found below the grated flooring on the
tutside corridor on the second tier of this section
The female section, as usual, was found co be very clean.
The cleanliness of the juvenile section was fair
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The opening directly beneath the skylight in the main
section should be painted a bright color.
2. The fron stairway which leads from the kitchen to
the street should be painted.
3. There should also be an additional fire-escape equip-
ment in the form of a bridge which would span the alley-
way between the courthouse building and the Dale &
Company building.
4. The floor of the shower-bath compartment on the
second tier in the main section should be pitched toward the
center so that the overilow of water will not run into the
corridor and down onto the floor of the first tier.
. Employment should be provided for convicted prisoners.
Prisoners can be employed on the town highways or on
a county jail farm. St. Lawrence, Oswego, Tioga and
Nassau Counties employ prisoners on farms. In conj
with farm work these counties are slso emplo}
at stone-breaking during the winter months.
breaking as the only means of employment throughout
the year is not advisable, if it is to be continued on a small
scale. Ontario, Orange 2nd other counties have failed to
make this form of employment a success financially. Where
quarry work can he carried on, such as in Onondaga County,
and correlated with highway work, a splendid opportunity
is afforded for keeping the prisoners employed throughout
the year. In counties where some kind of permanent
employment is established, it tends to decrease the popula
tion of the jail. St. Lawrence county has not only decreased
is jail population, but also ite per capita weakly cost of
maintenance in the past year from $1.46 to $1
6, Fumigating apparatus should be installed so that the
clothes of inmates can be disinfected. Without apparatus
of this kind it is prac E
from vermin, Upon admission, prisoners should remove
312, Tur Prison Association or New York
their own clothing and receive @ jail uniform of overalls
and shirt. During the period of incarceration the inmates
clothing, after being disinfected, should be kept in a store-
room until the time for release.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. A layer of cement has been iaid around the toilet seats
the cells, Recommendation No, 3, report of December
10, 1913.
2. The water-cooiers have been removed from the various
ions. Recommendation No. 2, roport of December 10,
-chox has been removed to a more obscure place
in the corridor near the entrance to the jail. Recommenda-
tion No. ff, report of August 4, 1913.
4. The padded celi has been repaired and repainted.
The side walls and the steel work in the various sections
have been repainted
5. The coffee cauldrons in the kitchen have been ropaired
and are now used instead of wash-boilers. Recommenda-
tion No. 9, report of August 4, 1933.
6. The pantry is not used as a store place for shoes and
clothing. Criticised in report of December 10, 1913.
7. Stricter attention given to the separation of juvenile
prisoners from adults, Criticised in previous reports.
8. Atthe time of both inspections this yeara much improved
condition of cleanliness prevailed as compared with the
condition found at the time of the inspections of the previous
year.
ERIE COUNTY JAIL, BUFFALO.
Population.
Me Female
‘Adult, Minor. “Adult. Minor, Tota.
ee gs a
R
fied ERGs. 7
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Insrecrions 35
‘The sheriff of the county is Fred Becker. He is assisted in the
jail by a staff consisting of a warden, two turkeys, one record
clerk, three guards, three engineers, one Iaundress, one table girl,
two matrons, tWo cooks and one porter.
‘The jail is a stone structure, consisting of two wings, and is used
exclusively: for the detention of prisoners awaiting the action of
the grand jury, awaiting erial, awaiting transfer and held as witnesses,
‘The sentenced prisoners are sent to the county penitentiary in
Ballo,
The south wing, berter known as the new building, contains the
ron’s quarters on the frst floor, the sherif’s residence on the
second and third floors, the jurors” rooms on the fourth and the
women’s quarters on the Bit.
In the old building, or north wing, on the first floor, are the offices,
on the second, probation officers’ consultation room and the hospital
On the third foor are rooms for disciplinary purposes and for wit
nesses. On the fourth floor are the women’s quarters. In addition
there is che pit section, which extends the full height of this wing
and occupies the greater patt of it. Tn the pit section there is a
“U-shaped stecl cage, consisting of six ciers, with ewenty-four
cells on a tier. One cell is known as doctor's quarters, one is equipped.
‘with bathing accommodations, one 28 a barber shop, one as a padded
call, four a5 washrooms, one as a roilet for use during the day, and
tne as a storeroom; the remaining cells are used as sleeping quarcers
by the prisoners. ‘The dimensions of the cells are 8 feet by § feet
by 8 feet. Each cell is equipped with one icon hinged bed and an
old iron type of water-coset. ‘The bedding consists of a mattress,
pillow, sheets and pillow cases, and blankets. The doors of the
lle are of lattice work, In the rear of euch cell are two holes for
ventilation, ‘The rear of the cel is so close to the side walls of che
building chat it is exceedingly difficult ro keep the small space
between free from dust and dirt. The cells are dark, principally
because of the small, narrow windows in the side walls of the build-
ing. ‘They are inadequately ventilated. ‘The section is lighted by
large electric lamps and heated by a decidedly antiquated heating
system, which brings about a serious unsanitary condition. Ie is not
possible to separate adults from minors, and during the day young
‘old commingle promiscuously on the small floor space of
the pit.
At the time of the inspection of December 8, 1914, out of the
total population of eighty-seven in this section, twenty-six were under
the age of twenty-one. This is 2 serious violation of the County Law,
314 Tae Prison Association or New Yorx
which was framed among other purposes for the purpose of protecting
juveniles. ‘The condition justifies the name of * School of Crime”
for the Erie County Jail
The heating systein is situated directly beneath the steel foor
of the pit and consists of a hot air chamber, and on each side of this
there are coils of pipe through which steam passes. ‘The heat from
these pipes circulates over a short wall into the hot air chamber and
then passes up into the pit through four gratings situated in the
steel floor. During the long hours of the day the inmates pass up
and down the sinall floor area and some frequently expectora
through these gratings. Ie is also a common practice to sweep
some of the dirt from the floor over the gratings and into the air
chamber. In order to carry che sputum and dirt avvay’ a stream of
water is kept constantly Rowing on the Boar of the hot air chamber.
hot air coming up from the chamber must
the bacteria and foul air
Te seems certain tha
carry with ic some used by the expecto-
rating and sweeping of dirt into the chamber. During the winee
season the hot air rises to the glass of the skylight and then is eon
densed and falls back on the floor of the pit, making the same wet
On the third floor of the north wing there is a room knovn as the
dungeon. This room contains three eells, built parallel co one side
wall, with the fromts of che cells opening on'a blank wall, Inadequate
light and air are received from one end of the room. There is no
direct circulation of air or light into the cells, One of the cell
especially is a dungeon in every sense of the word, Ie is covered
‘on the sides and top and bottom with heavy solid shects of steel and
is totally dark when the door is closed. On the cop there is a small
hole about three inches in diameter. ‘This hole is the only means
through which air can enter when the door is closed, There is also
a large iton ring attached to the center of the floor. There is another
room on this floor with the same equipment, The cells in these
rooms are occasionally used for disciplinary purposes.
Some of the rooms used for the detention of witnesses are poorly
lighted and ventilated Ir is unjust and cruel to keep persons not
even charged with crime in close confinement with no opportunity
for outdoor exercise, and in rooms poorly lighted and ventilaced.
The hospital and the female quarters, both in the new building,
are of modern equipment and designed on the room plan. Some ef
the rooms have two and three eds. ‘There are modern toilee and
bathing facilities. The rooms are well lighted and can be well
Ventilated. These rooms are the only part of the whole jail that
ustify favorable comment.
Insrecrions 315
Ac the times of various inspections it has been noticed that large
groups of juvenile males make visits to the jail. Tn most instances
these young lads are only street chums of prisoners detained in the
jail. They have no particular business or mission to warrant their
visitation, other than the mere novelty of visiting the jail and
Killing time. Many of these young visitors were questioned at
different times and it was found that they had no particular or
definite means of employment. It seems improper to permie this
loose system of visieation to continue. Furthermore, the condition
is aggravated by the fact that the visitors assemble in a small steel
cage in the north wing, conversing with the persons they have co
to visit. ‘This means that young lads of questionable character are
in this small area with respectable mothers and young girls and the
conversation between the young fellows is undoubtedly not always
of che best nature,
At the time of the inspection of March 14th the condition of
cleanliness in the washrooms, toilet rooms, beds and bedding in che
north wing was satisfactory. The condition of cleanliness in all
parts of the south wing was also satisfactory.
‘Ar the time of che inspection of December Sth the mattresses
in some of the cells of the nozth wing were not satisfactorily clean
\d were badly worn. The space hetween the rear of the cells and
the side walls of the norch wing harbored much dust and dirt. The
problem of cleanliness is quite dificult in this wing because of the
customary large population and the face that all the prisoners are
grand jury prisoners and cannot be made to wor
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. Te ts strongly urged that the Board of Supervisors
expedite negotiations for the construction of a new jail
with the installation of the outside cell plan,
2. New mattresses should be distributed in the jail.
3. The padded cell should be removed to one of the rooms
on the third floor.
4. The dungeon rooms on the third floor should be
abolished. They are entirely inconsistent with modern,
methods of dealing with the inmates of penal institutions.
Their abolition will remove any question as to their use.
5. Special provision should be made in order to protect
female visitors to the jail. Even with the present equip-
ment this can be done by putting inte use, solely for female
visitors, the ather screened cage on the Delaware Avenue
side of the jail.
316 Tae Prison Association or New York
. A record of visits to the jail should be kept. Such
its should be restricted mostly to adults who may be
related to the person detained. Visitation by young lads
should be discouraged,
7. If in improving the pre y
conditions of the north wing, part of the old structure is
to be retained, the present heating system should by all
means be replaced by a thorough modern one,
8. In order to reduce the presence of vermin to @ mint
mum, it is urged that a system be introduced whereby the
clothing of prisoners can be removed at the time of adznis-
sion to the jail and fumigated.
During the period of incarceration, overalls and jumpers,
or plain shirts, can be used. This is done in Schenectady
and Montgomery Counti
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR
1, There has been much agitation to remedy the unsatis-
factory conditions which exist In the north wing. The
committees appointed by the Board of Supervisors have
inspected various kinds of prison buildings. Architects
and other experts from various parts of the State have
conferred with the members of the board. The installation
of the outside-cell system has been strongly urged by this
Association. The latest reports are to the effect that the
supervisors’ committee has agreed upon the outside-cell
plan and have accepted bids for such construction.
EX COUNTY JAIL, ELIZABETHTOWN,
Popultion,
Wise Femate
Toapected by ‘Adult: Minor. “Adu Minor. Tora
Nov. "5, 1915 ape erg, eel
Wi ie fale
‘The sheriff of the county is J. W. Knowlton. He is assisted by
a jailer and a salaried matron.
Insrecrions 317
‘The jail is a new three-story, fireproof brick structure, connected
with che sherif’s residence by means of a covered passageway. On
the firse oor there i a steel cellblock with five eells on each side.
There is also the same arrangement on the second oor. On the
thied floor, one part contains the laundry and the other part is entirely
vacant. On the first and second floors, in the same section in which
the stairway to the various floors of the jail is located, are a number
of rooms. ‘These rooms are large and well-lighted ‘and are each
cquipped with an iton hinged bed, toilet and washbasin, The
building is heated by steam and lighted by electricity. There is a
small jail yard which is said co be used freguently. Owing to the
arge population at the time of the above inspection it was neces-
sary to use one side of the celtblock on the first floor for male prisoners
and the other side for female prisoners. There are no partitions in
the end corridors, so that it is a very easy matter for male and female
‘soners to converse. While there was no evidence that there is
mingling of the two sexes, the very fact that they are in such
close proximity and within such easy hearing distance is unforeunate
ond not in conformity with common decency. ‘The rooms men-
tioned above were originally designed for female prisoners, but in
we past there has been some difficulty, the female prisoners having
complained that male prisoners passing from Boor to floor have
stopped to annoy them.
‘The condition of cleanliness on the first floor was not entirely
satisfactory — the bedding in the cells of the male prisoners on the
frst floor was unclean. A satisfactory condition of cleanliness
‘existed on the second and third floors
The most serious situation with respect to the physical plan of
this jail is the lack of proper accommodation for female prisoners
‘The inspector cannot recall another instance in this State where the
male and female prisoners are kept in such close proximity.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The coment floors should be repaired.
2 Immediate and permanent accommodations should
be made for female prisoners on the third floor which is
now practically unused.
3. There should be, when the population of the jail
warrants it, an additional session of the grand jury. In
Tompkins Gounty, for example, there are only two regular
frand jury sessions but an additional one is held in June
If the number of grand jury prisoners warrants it.
518 Tue Prison Association or Naw York
4, The prisoners should he made to exercise greater eare
in washing thelr bed linen.
5. The deplorable idleness which exists among the prison-
ers in the jail represents an unintelligent method of dealing
with them and also a big financia! burden to the taxpayers
without any effort being made to have the prisoners reduce
this in any way. A condition of this kind is a disgrace to
the county. Prisoners should be sent to a county jail,
first, to protect the inhabitants of the county, and, secondly,
to be dealt with for the purpose of reformacion.
‘The following is taken from Soczion 93 of the County Law
which pertains to food and labo:
“The boards of supervisors of the several counties are
authorized to employ convicts under sentence to confine-
ment in the county jails, in Duilding and repairing penal
institutions of the county, and in building and repairing
the highways of their respective counties, or in preparing
the material for such highways, for sale to and for the use
of such counties, or towns and villages and cities therein;
and to make rules and regulations for their employment,
and the suid board of supervisors is hereby authorized t0
cause money to be raised by taxation for the purpose of
furnishing materials and carrying this provision into effect;
and the courts of this state are hereby authorized to senten
ieced to detention in the jails to such hard
labor as may be provided by the board of supervisors.””
‘This plainly shows that it is within the jurisdiction of the
members of the board to employ the jail prisoners.
‘There are several ways in which the inmates can be
employed to advantage in this county. We are told that a
very short distance from the jail there Is a large quarry
and that the privilege of working it can be obtained at a
very nominal charge, or perhaps without charge. This
quarry contains limestone which Is Invaluable in making
food roads. To work the prisoners here would probably
necessitate the employment of one additional guard and
the purchase of some necessary tools. A crusher could
also be set up in order to carry on the necessary stone-break-
ing on a large scale, as Is done in Gnondaga County. The
prisoners could start from the jail in the morning and
take their noon meal wich them so that the noon trip back
to the jail could be dispensed with.
Inspections 319
There is plenty of available highway work, for several
years, within a radius of six or elght miles of the jail. In
the southwestern part in the town of Lewis, for example,
the roads are in bad condition, and the crossroads of the
(own of Elizabethtown need to be repaired and widened.
‘The consensus of opinion of the highway superintendents
Siroughout the State is that jail labor on the highways
will not conflict to the slightest degree with free labor.
As a matter of fact the highway needs in the various towns
of the county are so great that the respective counties and
towns will not be able for years to raise sufficient money
t
limits), has sufficient work in the up-Keep of the streets
and the cleaning of ditches. Inmates of the jail are doing
such work within the corporate limits of the village of
Lake George. This scheme has proven satisfactory and
mouey has been saved for the village.
Another highly desirable plan for the employment of
jail inmates is in connection with a jail farm. For the
past two years a farm of this kind has been worked by the
prisoners of St. Lawrence County and the result has been
very satisfactory. The jail population has been reduced
to a noticeable degree and the cost of maintenance has
also been reduced from $1.46 to $1.27 per capita per week
Guring the fast year. ‘The value of the produce, together
‘with the amount saved by jail labor in construction work on
the farm, has practically covered the cost and maintenance
of the farm during the past two years.
The farm of sixty acres was purchased at about $40 per acre.
in conjunction with the farm work, stone-breaking Is
carried on during the late fall and winter. Arrangements
are made with the various town superintendents to pur-
chase this cracked stone.
jon 70 of the Highway Law also makes it possible for
the Board of Supervisors to enlist tire co-operation of town
highway superineendents in empfoying prisoners on the
toads. “It is strongly urged that a committee be appointed
to consider the opportunities for employing the prisoners
ln the county, and to submit to the board a definite plan of
employment which can be put into effect.
This Prison Association will gladly cooperate so far as
possible with the committee in its work,
320 Ta Prison Association or New York
FRANKLIN COUNTY JAIL, MALONE.
Popa
ne F
“Rik, Minor. “Adult. Minor ‘Toa.
yoy Me eS
Tnspected— | By —
Fe igtoig ER. Caw
Now ti tgnt EL Ca 788
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
a glle and 4 rooms
With taf ines
Aue fe cel
‘Minor female. ‘With adule sles
“The average daily population throughout the yea 33
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, A. A. Edwards, who
js assisted by an undersherif, 2 turnkey and a matron. The jail
a small brick structove built onto the rear of the sheriffs residence.
The first and second floors are similar in design. There is on each
the “cage” arrangement of cells, that is, the fronts of the cells open
into a dark eeneral corridor. ‘The cells are small and at
‘equipped with cwo or three beds
"The bedding consises of mat
edly worn and filthy. The toiler and bath accommodations are
wretched, The small number of cells makes it quite diffculs, if
not impossible, for the sheriff to properly sexregate juvenile and
‘male prisoners, and also to observe the County Law relative to the
separation of prisoners according to the nature of their detention,
The female department is perhaps the only redeeming feature of
the jail. ‘The objection here is that juvenile females cannot be
satisfactorily separated from adult females.
‘There is no jail yard. Because of the unsanitary conditions, the
small floor area, the usual congestion, che lack of daily exercise and
sand blankets. ‘These are wreech-
proper classification and separation of prisoners, conditions at this
jail are excremely unsatisfactory: and should not be tolerated. This
jail is perhaps the mose wretched in che State. To further aggravate
‘the inadequate accommodations, unpardonable uncleanliness as
deen found.
‘A fair condition of cleanliness prevailed at the time of the ine
spection of February 15. The doubling-up in the eells, altho un-
desirable, was unavoidable. Prisoners had some complaints co offer
relative fo the variety of che food — more so than the quantity.
‘Ar the time of the inspection of November 11¢h, the jail was
crowded, two or three persons sleeping in one cell, young lads mixed
Inspections gat
with adults. Complaines were made by the boys relative to immoral
featment at the hands of che adules. Vermin literally covered the
bedding, most of which was worn to shreds.
Large piles of wet and soggy sweepings and paper were found
insome of the cells. One batheub was filled with dirty, vile-smelling
water. A prisoner was found who had not bathed for weeks. The
toilets were in a slimy, wretched condition,
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. Franklin County should havea new jail. The members
of the Board of Supervisors should visit the jails in some
of the adjacent counties, for example, Jefferson and Oswego,
80 a8 to become cognizant of the small and antiquated
type of jail existing in their own county.
In order to relieve the present wretched conditions until
Improvements of a more permanent nature are made, the
following improvements are recommended:
2. A county jail is a public institution, and therefore its
cleanliness should be beyond criticism.’ Unpardonable is
the saying that the inmates of a jail have never been
accustomed to anything better in the way of food and
cleanfiness, The county as an institution should preserve
fits dignity and not be willing to tolerate a condition of
uncleantiness.
3. The plumbing equipment on the first and second
floors, especially the toilets, should be improved without
delay.
4. New mattresses and blankets should be purchased
and distributed Immediatel
5. The interior of the jail should be fumigated and
repainted.
6. Provisions should be made so that the prisoners can
receive daily exercise in the open.
‘At the time of the last inspection the labor possibilities of the
‘county were studied. The following statement will show whae has
been done with jail Iabor in chis county.
The county authorities are to be commended for the
efforts they have made during the past summer to employ
the inmates of the jail on the highways within the cor-
porate limits of the village of Malone. It is estimated
that there were employed on an average from five to seven
322 Tus Prison Assoctarion or New York
jail inmates during the forty days during which the work
lasted. Unfortunately, no account was kept as to the
ployed and no statement
| accounting #8 to the approximate
value of the jail labor. Taking for an average six men per
day, and assuming that each man had received one dollar
per day, it would have cost the county $249 for labor. It
did cost the county §80 for meals for the prisoners and
some of the civilian employees. 3
the approximate cost of the meals for civilian laborers,
and subtracting the remaining $95 from the approximate
value of the jail labor, it seems fair co assume that the
jail labor was worth to the village of Malone about $175,
or about $4.40 per day. This, of course, does not amount 0
very much, but it shows that it is possible to increase the
value if the jail labor is employed on a larger scale.
Jail labor was also employed on = piece of road work
extending betwoon the corporation limits and the county
farm, and also upon a plece of work on Webster Street,
It is estimated chat seven inmates of the jail were
employed daily with civilian labor under the supervision
ofa guard hired by the town and county. This work
extended from July to September. During that time
only three men escaped, and they were subsequentiy and
quickly apprehended. There are no records to show the
value of the jail labor on this work. Nevertheless, it was
worth something to the town, and, regardless of how little,
tended to reduce the cost of construction. The experiment
has been worth while, and it is urged that the county
authorities encourage and cooperate with the couaty and
town superintendent of highways in order to use liberally
the jail labor.
Section ninety-three of the County Law authorizes the
county Board of Supervisors to employ jall labor, either on
the highways or In the county buildings, ete.
Section seventy of the State Highway Law permits the
co-operation of the town superintendent of
rence County, at Canton, are having with their jai
should not escape the attention of the board. It would be
well to consider the plan of purchasing a farm not far from.
he courthouse and erecting thereon a new jail. It has
Insrecrions 323
been shown in St. Lawrence County that since the intro-
duction of a jail farm, which is worked during the farm-
ing season (during the late fall and winter stone-breaking
is substituted), the population has been reduced, and that
the per capita cost of maintenance has been decreased
during each of the past two years.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR,
‘There is now one additional meeting of the grand jury
each year, making a total of three. The hardship imposed
by only two grand jury sessions a year was pointed out in
the body of our report of the inspection of May 3, 1913.
FULTON COUNTY JAIL, JOHNSTOWN.
Female.
Tnspected — “Adal Minor ‘Adult, Mioor, Total
1 1914 oe
lly tovtory 3 et
The capacity of the jail is as follows
"gee
Nis fr Wi i rates
The sheriff of the county is W. J. Shepherd. He is assisted by a
janitor, a cook, and a maton,
The jail is «small scone structure built between the sherif’s and
undersheriffs residences. It consists of two separate floors. There
ate eighteen cells with one iron hinged bed in each, and six cells
vvith two iron hinged beds in each. There is no padded cell. The
cells are equipped with a water-closet in a niche and a set wash-
busin, The cells are arranged back to back with a utility corridor
between. ‘There are shower-baths and a tub for bathing, and the
beds are equipped with mattress, blanket, sheets and pillow case.
The only possible means of getting from the first vo the second floor
is a wooden stairway which is located in the sherif’s section. This
serions fe danger, the more so because the heating apparatus
for the jail in the sheriff's residence isin the basement directly beneath,
‘Ac the time of inspection of January 18th a satisfactory condition
of cleanliness prevailed.
324 Tue Prison Association or New York
At the inspection of July 20th the condition of cleanliness and
‘order was not so good as that found at the time of the previous
inspection. There was some renovating work going on at the time
and it was explained by the sheriff that this was largely responsible
for the conditions found
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The sheriff and the Board of Supervisors should be
concerned about the safety of the inmates of the jail. It
is essential that some immediate action should be taken
to remedy the present dangerous condition which is
brought about by the absence of an asbestos c
sheet-iron covering over the top of the boiler in the base-
‘ment,
2, The itonwork in the interior of the jail is badly in
need of paint. The management should prohibic the
prisoners from drawing pictures on the walls of the cells
‘or pasting clippings from magazines. This may satisfy
the taste of the inmate of the cell but it mars the appear-
‘ance of the jail.
3. An adequate water-heating system is strongly recom-
mended.
4. Some means of employment should be devised in order
to obviate the deplorable idleness which exists among the
Prisoners serving sentence.
5. A padded cell is essential in every jail. ‘This kind of
cell will guard the inmate from injury because of his violence
and will also save the management of the jail from unwar-
ranted suspicions of brutality.
6. Some of the available gro
should be enclosed so that a jail yard could be had. Irre~
spective of a man’s character, outdoor exercise is essential.
‘The county, or State, is not justified in jeopardizing the
health of any individual and che individual's health is
‘a matter of concern, ultimately, to the county.
7. With some additional construction above the kitchen,
hospital rooms and reception quarters can be provided for.
Reception quarters are quite necessary If the Jail is to be
kept free from vermin.
8. The matron should be employed on a fixed monthly
salary basis.
don one side of the jail
Insrecrions 335
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, The shower-baths have been put in working order
and some new attachments added. Recommended in
report of August 18, 1913.
2, Fire extinguishers have been placed in the sheriff's
quarters, directly outside of the jail proper. Recommended
In report of August 18, 1913.
3. A new locking system for the cell doors is now being
Installed. Recommended in ceport of August 18, 1913.
4. The ceiling directly above the boiler in the basement
has been covered with asbestos. The same has been done
to the side walls and the wooden partition adjacent to the
stairway. This improvement was strongly urged in recom-
mendations in report of January 18, 1914.
5. The ironwork on the second floor has been painted a
bright and serviceable color, and now that the renovating
work is practically completed on the first floor, the iron-
‘work there will also be repainted. Need of painting pointed
out in previous reports.
6. One of the most important changes that have been
made is the installation of the Rudd hot-water heater in
the basement. This new hester works automatically and
yery satisfactorily, making it possible for hot water to
be had in the jail and sheriff's office at all hours. Recom-
mended in report of January 18, 1914.
7. The electric lights on the first and second floors have
been rearranged, giving an equal amount of light to the
outside and inside corridors.
GENESEE COUNTY JAIL, BATAVIA.
Population
4 soul mae
Inspected —
wae ts 1904
By
BR Gas,
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows
Adal ates rz egie
Ade feats.
Minor fea Wit seule.
eae
Minor male
‘The sheriff of che county is T. A. Hart. He is assisted by a jailer,
8 matron, and a paid cook,
326 Tue Prison Association or New York
‘The jail is a modern brick structure built onto the sheriffs
residence and consists of two separate floors. On the first floor
there are sixteen cells and on che second floor twelve. Each cell is
equipped with two iron hinged beds, 3 water-closet im a niche and
set washbasin, The bedding consists of a mattress and blanker
There is no padded cell, ‘The seats on the tops of the water-closecs
are badly rusted. The side walls on each floor are faced with slabs
cof marble. In some cases the slabs are working loose. This is
the only side-wall arrangoment of ies kind for a councy jail in the
State and the value of itis decidedly questionable, Due to the lack
of paint, the rust is gaining much headway on the steel work, especially
in the rear of the cells. In some cases the joints are open considerably,
A satisfactory condition of cleanliness existed throughout the entire
jail at the time of the above inspection.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, If the rusted condition of the toilet seats is not looked
after now, the county will find It necessary to spend much
money for new seats and new ironwork around the toilets
Ie is possible to overcome the rust on the ironwork by
thoroughly scraping it, then applying @ coat of red Jead,
and lastly placing a layer of cement over it. ‘The cement
should be so piaced that i¢ will be high on the ends and
gradually slope down toward the toilet seat, in order that
the necessary drainage will be possible.
2. The plumbing work in the utility corridor should be
repainted in order to protect It against rust.
3. It is not possible, under normal conditions, for an
abundance of light to enter into the jail corridors. This
undesirable feature is increased by the fact that the windows
have been painved. This was probably done for the purpose
of preventing prisoners from communicating with, or
attracting the attention of, persons on the outside white
they are in the outside corridors. It is not altogether
necessary that the prisoners should be in the outside cor-
ridors, or near the windows, and if the prisoners are kept
in the inside corridoss, it will not be easy for them to attract
the attention of people on the outside, If the prisoners
Persist in annoying people outside of the jail it will be an
easy matter te punish them by keeping them on the inside
corridors and closing all the windows. It is urgently
recommended that the paint be removed from the windows,
especially from the window panes on the top sash.
Inspections 337
4. There should be a jail yard so as to permit necessary
daily outdoor exercise.
5. The backs of the cells badly need paint. Unless the
rust is checked immediately, the county must soon install
new steel partitions,
6. The county Board of Supervisors are urged to devise
some plan whereby the existing idleness will be obviated.
Several counties have been successful with county jail
farms, and in conjunction with che jail farm it is possible
to carry on stone-breaking and highway work.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, The jaif is no fonger used as a town lockup. Batavia
now has a new lockup of its own.
2, An adequate Iaundry equipment, consisting of a
power-washer, power-dryer, and power-extractor, has been
installed. Tis improvement was urged in roport of
August 25, 1913.
3. New blankets and mattresses have been distributed.
GREENE COUNTY JAIL, CATSKILL.
Inspected By. Population
July"35,1904 Philip Klin shite
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
ssoale
Accommadatins fr 10 males
‘With beter
Sesle
Mince mates
‘The sheriff of the county is Elmore Mackey. He is usually
assisted by a jailer. Mrs. Mackey acts as matron and also super
vises the cooking. She receives no regular salary but does get a
per capita allowance for each female in the jal
The jail is a modern three-story structure built onto the rear
of the sherif’s residence. The outside walls are of hard sandstone;
the inside walls are finished with cement. Both gas and electricity
are available for lighting purposes. The building is heated by
steam from the boilers ir the courthouse. It is possible for an
abundance of light and air t. enter through the windows in the side
walls, which run practically the full height of the building. The
jail ig fireproof, except that access to each Roor is by means of #
328 Tur Prison Assoctation or New Youk
wooden stairway which is located in the sheriff's residence. On the
fret floor there is a steel cellblock, with six cells on one side, five
regular cells and a padded cell on the other. Each cell is equipped
swith one iron hinged bed, water-closet in a niche, and a set wash-
basin, The bedding consists of mattress, blankets, sheets and pillow
cases, ‘The second floor is similar in design, exeepe that there is
no padded cell. The equipment of the cells is the same. The
third floor has 2 sinall cellblock, chree cells on a side, and in the
rear two separate hospital rooms. On the west side of the base-
ment there is a tramp room, equipped with shower-bath and toilet
accommodations. There is 2 jail yard. At the time of the above
inspection the jail was found to be satisfactorily clean.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Clean bed clothing should not be Ieft in cells but
should be stored and supplied to individual prisoners on
their admission. The jailer said that he would follow
‘this recommendation.
2. Some of the cement-covered walls on several floors
of the jail are unpainted and present a rough surface.
‘Those should be, by ali means, painted.
3. The tramp room in the basement, and some of the
other rooms in the basement, have not had the brick walls
covered even with plaster. They present a rough and
unsanitary surface. ‘They should be plastered ang painted.
4. The flushes in the toilets are weak, Stronger water
pressure should be supplied.
5, To prevent rust and uncleanliness of the toilet seats,
it is suggested that these be coated with a layer of cement
to the level of the seat proper and so constructed that
there will be a drain to the cent:
6. There should be an adi
during the year.
7. The system of paying $2.80 per capita per weels for
board of prisoners should be discontinued. The sheriff
should purchase whatever is necessary for the maintenance
of the prisoners and the bills should be paid by the Board of
Supervisors.
onal grand jury meeting
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The interior of the jail has been painted. All the
steel work received a coat of aluminum paint.
Insrecrions 329
HERKIMER COUNTY JAIL, HERKIMER.
Population
ae Female
spe By— Adal. Minor. “ Adult, Minot. Total
E.R. Cae 6 oe ft 8
ee aot EL Cae 8 8 3 8
(The capacity of the jail is a8 follows:
Adate males : seo
Ad aes ne
Minor frater ‘Wek Saute
Minor mate Palle
‘The sheriff of the county is William Stitts. He is assisted by a
jailer and 2 matron
The jail consists of three separate floors. On the first and second
oors the cells are so arranged that the rear of the cells face the side
walls of the jail and che front of the cells open into a central cor
ridor. The third Boor is divided into several sections. One section
is for female prisoners and the other two sections are used as hospital
quarters and rooms in which witnesses can be detained. Mose of
the cells contain two iron hinged beds. There is no padded cell
Each bed is equipped with a mattress, blankets and_pillow case.
There is one water-closet on the first floor, one on the second floor,
and one in each section on the top floor. There should be better
toilet equipment, especially on the first and second floors. ‘The
dark central corridors on the first and second floors make necessary
the use of electric lighe practically all day. This condition is
unfortunate and imposes 2 real hardship, especially on grand jury
prisoners, who must spend long periods of time between the infre-
quent grand jury sessions
‘At the time of the inspection of January 2oth the condition of
cleanliness and order was satisfactory.
‘At the inspection of December 16th the condition of cleanliness
was also satisfactory.
REGOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. It is quite important that every jail should have a
padded cell. A cell of this kind protects a violent inmate,
and also protects the management from what might be
unwarranted suspicion of brutality.
2. There should be at least a third meeting of the grand
jury during the year. Under the present system much
330 Ta Prison Assocation or New York
hardship and injustice comes to a man who, charged with
a felony, is unfortunate enough to get into the jail and
cannot secure bail.
43. The jail yard should be used as much as possible for
exercising prisoners.
4. Screens or shades for the windows on the lower floor,
west side of the jall, shoulé be provided. Without such
provision pedestrians can easily see the men in thelr cells,
day and night.
8, Avillage lockup for both Herkimer and Mohawk should
be provided.
6. At the time of the Inspection of December {6th the
possibilities for the employment of prisoners serving sen-
tence were studied. It was found that the average popula-
tion of those serving sentence {s about five, and, of course,
with a low population such as this, ft would not be advisable
to undertake highway work, quarry work, or farming.
Sometimes the jail is without prisoners for two weeks at
atime. The greater percentage of the population consists
always of prisoners held for the grand jury, or awaiting
transfer, and of course these cannot be considered in the
plan of obligazory employment.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The condition of general cl
at each inspection.
2, The ironwork in the colls and the heat and water
pipes throughout the jail have been painted. The need
of painting was polated out in report of August 19, 1913.
3. An additional grand jury meesing is now held, making
three in all. The hardship imposed with only two grand
jury meetings was pointed out in previous reports.
ines has been better
JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL, WATERTOWN
Population
Mak,
Tospected—
Adult. “Minor. “Adal. Minor. Tova,
og ee
Bo o$ 3 8 &
InsrEctions
‘The capacity of the jal is as follows
ale mate
Ac femates,
Siar females,
Minor wale
The sheriff of the county is M. S. Gregg. He is assisted by a
jailer and a matron, The sherif is employed on the fee system.
‘The jail is a modern, three-story Greproof brick structure built
onto the sherif’s residence, located on an elevated piece of land,
and has exposure on three sides. On the iret and second floors there
is a large steel cellblock of modern design. ‘The celle are large and
re equipped with one iron hinged bed, a water-closet in a niche and
1 set washbasin, There is no padded cell. The bedding in all the
cells consists of mattresses, blankers,sheets and pillow cases. ‘There
are partitions in the corridors on each floor which make it possible
to assign the various classes of prisoners to separate sections, thus
allowing the proper facilities for satisfactory classification, Half
of the third floor has a number of rooms which are used for female
prisoners; the other half is one large open room which seems to be
sed mostly for drying clothes during stormy weather. ‘There is
plenty of available space for a jail yard, but the fence being of iron
and not very high, docs not make ie possible co keep the inmates
fom the view of outsiders and does not guarantee sufficiently against
escape, even under very close supervision. The basement contains
x kitchen, boiler-room, store-rooms, ete, The jail is heared by steam.
and lighted by electricity.
At the time of the inspection of February 14th most of the bedding
was found to be unclean and in a badly worn condition. ‘The sides
of the walls and the partitions were covered with pencil drawings
and pictuces torn from books. In the section on the second floor
& number of young prisoners were found together.
young lads was affected with a very bad case of v
There seemed to be no good reason for not segregating this young
lad from the others. A fair condition of cleanliness prevailed in
the eells and corridors on each floor. A general condition of unclean
ness prevailed in every part of the basement. In the kitchen, the
Store-closets were in a disorderly and unclean condition. Reaches
were found in large numbers. Some of the cooking utensils were
rusted and others badly chipped. Some of the prisoners com-
plained that the food was only half cooked and otherwise not
iroperly prepared and others complained of the quality and general
cleanliness,
332 ‘Tae Prison Assoctarion of New York
From a reliable source the inspector was informed that the sherif
employed some of the prisoners on his farm, doing both farm and
construction work, and for this privilege paid che county Board of
Supervisors $50 per year. The prisoners are not compensated.
At the inspection of November 13th a much improved condition
of cleanliness prevailed on all three floors of the jail and in che
basement.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. It is highly important that the fee system be discon-
Haued in this county. In addition, i is highly important
adop: the same basis for feeding the
used by practically every county in the
need male cook should be employed,
and a county purchasing committee, or the sheriff, should
buy the food supplies and submit the bills to the Board of
Supervisors for payment.
2. The prisoners should receive cofiee once a day and also
something to drink with che noon-day meal. The present
quality of tea is very likely satisfactory, but more tea should
be used in the preparation of it. Some other cereal should
be used occasionally in place of oatmeal every morning.
Strict care should be exercised co prevent roaches from
finding their way into the food.
Seles asada, PAG diese
might be transmitted t0 2 celimate should be
Segregated. ‘The jail physician should see that this is
done.
4. Rubbish cans should be emptied daily.
5. The prisoners should be prohibited from storing food
under their mattresses. New mattresses and blankets
should be supplied,
6. Agateware cooking and cating utensifs should be
replaced by aluminun
7. The keys to the female section should always be in
the sheriff's or matron's possession.
8. Female prisoners should be exercised in what is kaown
as the dryer room on the third floor at least once a day,
under the supervision of a matron
‘The following zecommendations aro made
the general physical condition and equipment:
9. The cellblock on the first und second floors and the
rooms on the third floor should be repainted,
regard to
Inspections 333
10. An adequate hot-water system should be installed
to replace the 100-gallon boiler which is now expected to
answer the needs of the jail.
11. Modern and adequate laundry facilities should be
installed.
AC the time of the last inspection, chances for the employ-
ment of prisoners were studied and the following plans
submitted to the Board of Supervisors for consideration:
12. The deplorable idleness existing in the jail represents
a sad and unintelligent system, which makes reformation
almost impossible and ultimately works inju
society. The purpose of sending a man to a jail is, briefly,
first, to protect society, and then to work out reformation
if possible. Under the present system, the prisoners are
a big financial burden to the taxpayer. While society is
temporarily protected, the inmates are living in an atmos-
phere and under conditions that tend to make the reforma-
tion of the individual impossible,
Section 93 of the County Law, which pertains to food and
Iabor, reads as follows:
“The boards of supervisors of the several counties are
authorized to employ convicts under sentence to confine-
ment in the county jails, in building and repairing penal
institutions of the county, and in building and repairing
the highways in their respective counties, or in preparing
the materials for such highways for sale to and for the
use of such counties or towns, villages and cities therein
and to make rules and regulations for their employment;
and the said board of supervisors is hereby authorized to
cause money to he raised by taxation for the purpose of
furnishing materiais and carrying this provision into
effect; and the courts of this state are hereby authorized
to sentence convicts committed to detention in the county
jails to such bard fabor as may be provided for them by
the hoard of supervisors.”
This section shows conclusively that it is within the
jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors to employ jail
prisoners, and that, in order to act for the best interests of
the taxpayers and the welfare of the community, the board
is under obligation to do so,
We are told that recently a site of about 36 acres has been
purchased and that a tuberculosis hospital is to be con-
334 Tue Prison Association oF New York
structed upon it, It is contemplated to use part of the
site as a jail farm, but as yet no definite action has been
taken.
If the prisoners are to be employed on this farm it will
mean that they will come in contact with cuberculous
patients and that in cura the tuberculous patients
come in contact with a criminal element. This com-
mingling will work injustice both ways and is not at all
desirable.
Furthermore, 32 acres are hardiy more than a large-sized
garden. It is recommended that the county authorities
make arrangements for the employment of the jail inmates
on a site of at least 60 acres. A large acreage is necessary
in order to make the products of the farm of any great
‘economic value to the county.
In St. Lawrence County the jail farm is a success. The
products of the farm, together with the value of improve-
ments made with the inmate labor, have practically covered
the original cost of the farm. The population has been
reduced to a noticeable degree and the cost of maintenance
has been reduced, in the year 1914, from $1.46 to $1.27 per
capita per week.
‘The men are taken from the farm every morning by the
turnkey, who is a farmer, and he supervises the men while
at work. The sheriff or the undersheriff takes care of the
jail.
Another plan which should be considered by the board is
the opening of a iarge quarry on the county poorhouse
Property, and the establishing of a stone-crushing plant,
similar to that in Onondaga county, for the purpose of
supplying the various towns throughont the county, or
in other counties, with cracked stone. It would not be
at all difficult to transport the prisoners from the jail to
the farm. Arrangements could be made whereby the
nearby towns could haul the stone, of further arrange-
ments could be made to use the railroad fine that runs
through the property.
The stone-breaking work would furnish employment for
the prisoners the year around.
Another plan would be to employ the prisoners on the
highways. Under Section 70 of the State Highway Law,
the Board of Supervisors can ask for the cooperation of the
Inspections 335
town superintendent of highways. In some of the nearby
towns, such as Brownsville, Rutland and Pamelia, there
are many highways greatly in need of improvement. The
fact that the towns are so near Watertown makes free
fabor scarce. With the absence of necessary free labor,
and the inability of some of the poorer towns to raise
sufficient money to undertake the work, it seems that
many years will pass before this work can be begun by
free labor.
‘Arrangements can be made whereby the town and county
can share the expense of the work.
The jail inmates have done satisfactory work in Onondaga
County, and State Prison inmates have also done satis-
factory work in Saratoga, Clinton, Warren, Cayuga and
other counties.
There is no doubt that with a fair trial jail labor on the
highways will prove satisfactory, both as to the work and,
ultimately, financially.
One accruing advantage would be that if a scheme for
employing the inmates on the highways was once well
established, the county could depend indefinitely upon
such fabor, Tt is strongly urged that a committee be
appointed by the Board of Supervisors for the purpose of
finding employment for the prisoners, using every effort
to arrange a definite plan. ‘This county is fortunate in
having suitable conditions which offer many plans to
choose from.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, The fee system was discontinued January 1, 1915.
‘This system was severely criticised in previous reports.
2. A much improved condition of cleanliness prevailed
at the time of the last inspection.
3. Hot-water heating apparatus was installed so that
hot water can be had at all times throughout the jail. The
need for this was pointed out in the recommendations
made in report of February 14th.
4. The cellblock on first and second floors and the rooms
on the third floor were painted. ‘The need of painting was
pointed out in the recommendations of report made Febru-
ary 14th.
336 Te Prison Association or New York.
5. The existence of a contract between the Board of
Supervisors of the county and the sheriff, permitting the
sheriff to use the inmates of the jail on his own farm for
consideration of 350 per snnum was brought to the atten-
tion of the Prison Commission by the Prison Association.
It was decided that a contract of this kind was illegal and
notice was served by the present Commission on the Board
of Supervisors to discontinue the same.
KINGS COUNTY JAIL, BROOKLYN, N.
(For civil prisoners or
Ivsrecrep ay Pui Kuen, Serremarr 28, 1914, Tome 10:20 10
rigs A, M.
Census: 12 men and 2 women,
‘The capacity of this prison is: Male 24, female indefinite: several
rooms, capacity 4-8.
‘The civil prison of Kings County Jail has occupied its present
quarters for a short time only. Ie formerly occupied part of a floor
in the City Prison building in Brooklyn, Ie i still on the site of the
prison gcounds and a number of the windows open to the yard of
the City Prison.
‘The civil prison occupies one corner of a large square constituting
the grounds of the City Prison. There are three floors, as follows.
The first foor contains the offce,a toilet, kitchen and dining-room,
‘The windows of all but the kitchen face the jail yxrd. The kitchen
‘opens from the dining-room and faces the stfeer. On the same side,
a stairway leads to the next floor.
The second and third floors are somewhat similar in construction.
They each consist of evo parts, one containing rooms, the other con-
taining the celb On che second floor, the cellblock consists
OF § cells, back to back, 4 ina tow, Four of them face the corridor,
lighted by windows opening into the jail yard. The four others
face windows on the street. The corridor for the cellblock on this
oor continues around ehce sides of the cellblock. The toilet and
bathroom are in the corridor. As the occupants are civil prisoners,
they are not restricted to their cells bur are allowed the freedom of
the corridor
One large room on chis floor is set aside for hospital purposes in
case of need.
Inspections 337
On the third floor the pare devoted to rooms is used as a female
department. One of these is used by the matron. The cellblock
here does not have a continued corridor, so that one-half can be used
for women in case there should be a large number of them, while
the other side can stil be used for men,
Additional toilets and bath occupy the part which on the floor
below is used as a corridor
The lighting on all these floors is not quite satisfactory. For the
cellblock portion there are only two windows on each sides also the
color of the paint is somewhat too dark. In the women’s bathroom
the wall has a stucco finish
The cells in the cellblock are 7 feet by 74 feet by 9 feet. There are
two bunks to a cell, each bunk provided with blankets, pillove cases
and sheets. There is also 2 stool in each cell, and a wire-screened
tlectric Hight. ‘The Boors are concrete. ‘The color of the paint is tan,
Heat is supplied from the City Prison, light by the Edison Com-
pany. The toilets were in good condition and the whole jail was
found to be perfectly clean. Doubling-up is found necessary.
There is no laundry in connection with the jail. Laundering is
done on the outside.
‘The inmates on the day of inspection were twelve men and two
Of the men the causes of commitment were
Alimony cases
neon
Bree promt :
Maweriai wicncaes
One alimony prisoner was in the Kings County Hospital. The
‘v0 female prisoners were both material witnesses.
‘The furnishings of the jail were provided through the Prison
Commission by the State Prison Department, The bookkeeper,
who gave most of the information eegarding the jail, complained that
very inferior quality of material was furnishes
Th. of the ail i as flloms
Sherif, Louis M.
Warden, Richard 3
den, Ci
Tepe and eyo going lie woxk
slices M8 erat Gy ae ‘ose?
338 Tue Prison Association or New York
1 deans (femal).
4 mntrons a $1,000 (eight hours, scven day por wee).
sani
oe
Tota “
‘The physician is Dr. H.C. Hartis, who receives $2 per visit, and
comes when he is called. Atl employees are entitled to one meal
a day, and the warden to two meals and a room. ‘The matrons
hhave one room. The chaplain of the city prison comes in once or
wice a week. No regular services are held. ‘The bookkeeping
in the jail was found to be excellent. Daily records are kept well.
Financial accounts, bills, etc. are filed in easily accessible places
good order.
‘The expenditure for food between January 21st and August 31st,
ora little over 7 months, was given as $1,582.49. The allowance
for food for 1914 was $3,500.
The census is carefully kept, not only of the number of inmates
daily, bue also of the number of meals served.
The following. tables were obtained as examples of the form in
which the information kept is available:
Aversoe Danty Census
Pan
9 fe
gant
Parr
Haife
“aa etage of 138 is
Another table gives the following informaci
“Hdy® Prisons,
Ic is unfortunate that the jail had to be buile within walls already
standing, so that its construction had to be subject to the already
existing floor conditions. ‘The jail is not ideal, but itis fairly good,
ring the difficulties under which ie was built
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The stucco finish in the women's bathroom should
be changed to a smooth surface and painted.
Inspections 339
2..An exit should be provided from the civil jail to the
jail yard, so as to enable civil prisoners to obtain fresh air.
We understand there has been some attempt made to reach
an agreement with the Commissioner of Correction,
Prisoners are at present deprived of what is furnished
before their very eyes to prisoners charged with criminal
action.
LEWIS COUNTY JAIL, LOWVILLE.
Population
Male Female .
Inepeced— By. Basle Minor “Adele Minor Toes
July Be t9t4 ER. Cas recy a ee |
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows
‘Ate mates Gea
‘Adult females fs
Minor females ‘With Sales
Stoddard, who works under the
‘The shevff of the county is S.
fee system.
The jail is a very small brick structure about forty-eight years
old, Te is built onto the sheriff's residence. There is one stone
calblock, two tiers in height. ‘The cells are of the vault-like type
with no system of ventilation and are inadequately lighted. The
cells of the lower tier rest on the ground and in warm weather there
is much moisture on the side walls. The juvenile male department is
directly above the section intended for prisoners serving sentence
and communication is very easy. The female department is on the
other side of the cellblock and is directly above the section reserved
for male prisoners awaiting action of the grand jury. Communica-
tion here is also very easy. As a matter of fact, the jail is so small
that a prisoner in any partis within easy hearing distance of prisoners
in any other part. The equipment theovghout, such a8 bathing and
toilet accommodations, beds and bedding is inadequate and very badly
worm. Ae the time of the above inspection ie was stated that the
Bedding now in use had positively been in service since 1912 and
how long before that was not known,
“The general cleanliness of the jal at che time of the last inspection
wastnot satisfactory. Tt wa ssid that the jail has not been painted
while the present sheriff has been in office.
‘Tur Prisox Association or New York
340
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, A new jail is badly needed and the Board of Super-
visors should acquaint themselves with this need and take
steps toward the erection of a new one, somewhere on the
outskirts of the village, so that a farm can be maintained
in conjunction with it. ‘The physical makeup of the present
jail jeopardizes the health of prisoners and does not permit
Proper separation and classification of prisoners. Most
serious of all is the fact that females cannot be properly
separated.
The following secommendations are made with a view
to temporarily making the present jail a fitting place In
which to house prisoners.
2, Bathing facilities should be installed on the first floor
0 that it will not be necessary to bring the men on
the lower floor up to the so-called second floor in order to
bathe. It is now necessary to bring the men thr
juvenile department, which in every respect is very unde
irable.
A sufficient suppiy of clean new bedding should be
purchased. This recommendation should not be looked
upon as a move to furnish the prisoners with unusual
comforts or luxuries. The county authorities should not
i bring shame upon themselves by permitting the standard
of cleanliness and equipment to sink to the level of a man
who reverts to the crudest and roughest manner of
living.
4, The Interior of the cells, the celiblock, and the exterior
of the wails of the jail should be thoroughly cleaned and
then repainted a bright color. The use of whitewash should
be avoided. Oil paint of a cream color — almost a white —
will improve the appearance considerably.
PROGRESS MADE DURID
The term of office for the sheriff at the time of the last
inspection expired December 3f, 1914. ‘The new sheriff will
take office on a salary basis, thus ending the existence of
the fee system in this county.
‘The discontinuance of the fee system was recommended
in our report of October 1, 1913,
THE YEAR.
Inspections 340
LIVINGSTON COUNTY JAIL, GENESEO.
Inspected — By — Populacon
May 16,1914 E.R. Coss 7 stbiesles
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Adsl wal tgegle
iin fale Wieh Fealee
Misr mse hea
‘The newly elected sheriff is George H. Root.
‘The jail is a modern two-story fireproof structure built onto the
sherif’s residence. There is a steel eellbfock on the first oor and
fon the second floor a small stecl cellblock and two hospital rooms.
Each cell is equipped with an iron hinged bed, a toilet in a niche,
and a set washbasin, The bedding consists of mattress, blankers,
sheets and pillow eases. ‘There are shower-baths for bathing, The
jail is heated by steam and lighted by electricity. A highly satis-
factory condition of cleanliness prevailed at the time of the above
inspection, ‘The population is usually small. The village of Gene-
seo uses the county jail as a village lockup. This practice is un
desirable. It makes discipline in the jal difficult and also tends to
bring about uncleanliness
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The village of Geneseo should have a lockup of its
"PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. Since the last inspection of the previous year the
interior of the jail has been repainted. This work was
done by inmate labor and cost the county for material
approximately §20.
MADISON COUNTY JAIL, WAMPSVILI
Popul
Iowpested— By To
La or es
Minor male,
‘Tue Prison Association or New York
342
The jail is under the supervision of a sheriff, John Bendster,
who is assisted by a jailer and a matron.
The jail is a three-scory brick steucture of modern design. Te is
lighted by electricity and heated by steam. Plenty of light and
air can come through the large windows in the side walls. These
windows extend practically the full height of the building, While
the building is fireproof, there is one danger, namely, the wooden
stairway which is the only means of access from floor t0 floor. This
stairway is located in the hallway which separates the shetiff’s resi-
dence from the jail. There is a large steel cellblock on the first
and second floors, and on the third oor there is a cellblock with six
cells on a side, occupying abour three-quarters of the entire floor,
and in the rear there are two separate hospital rooms. Each cell is
equipped with water-closet, set washbasin with running water con
nections, and an iron hinged bed. ‘The bedding consists of ticks
filled with straw, materesses and blankets; for women there are
sheets and pillow cases a8 well
‘There is a jail. yard off to one side of the building, but ie is not
frequently used, because an improvised ice shed in one comer would
make it easy for prisoners co get over the wall, and, furthermore,
the bars on the windows, which are close to the ends of the wall,
would make ic easy to get over the top of it.
‘At the time of the inspeetion of January toch the jail throughout
was in a clean and orderly condition.
‘The bowls in the toilet were badly stained and the ironwork
around the top of the bowl badly ruseed,
‘The interior walls of che cells were marked with pencil drawings.
‘The ironwork of the cells and the ceilings showed very much the
need of repainting,
Ac the time of the inspection of November 16th the condition of
Cleanliness throughout the jail was satisfactory.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE,
1. The ironwork inside of the jail should be painted a
bright and serviceable color.
2, The tracks in witich the coli doors run should be kept
free from water and 4!
3. Some other place should be found for the fee house,
0 that it will be posstble to give the prisoners the benefit,
of the jail yard.
4. The wooden stairway should be replaced by an iron
‘one. A modern type of fire extinguisher should be installed.
Inspections 343
5. Three meals per day and extra rations for workers are
recommended.
6. In order to save the county the expense of installing
new toilet sections in the cells, some steps should be taken
to check the progress of rust. "First of all, the doors of the
niches should be permanently removed. The following
plan has been tried in many cases with success: The base
of the niche should be filled with a layer of cement; the
layer should be high at the ends and gradually slope down
toward the opening in the bowl so as to insure proper
drainage. _ It is useless to lose time in painting this section
with the hope of overcoming the rust, which makes an
unsanitary condition.
At the time of the inspection of November 16th a survey
was made in order to ascertain the possibilities of employ-
ment of the inmates.
‘The great evil existing in the jail is the deplorable idleness.
The sheriff usually employs, for a few hours daily, about
seven prisoners to clean the county buildings, and work
in a small garden during the summer and also on the
lawns. The garden consists of about one acre and is rented
to the county for $8 a year. A small supply of vegetables
is produced.
It is important, both to the county and the prisoners,
that the Board of Supervisors establish some kind of employ-
ment for them, Section 93 of the County Law authorizes
the supervisors to use jail labor. The small garden has
given satisfactory results and forms the nucleus for a
larger plan of employment. Adjacent to the jail is a large
farm which might be obtained by the county and used as
a jail farm. St. Lawrence County has maintained a jail
farm for the past two years with considerable success.
‘The fatter county has been able to produce sufficient
to practically repay the county for the cost of the farm,
and, furthermore, has reduced the weekly per capita cost of
boarding the prisoners from $1.46 to $1.27 during the past
two years. Also there has been a noticeable decrease
the jail population. ‘This farm consists of sixty acres
and is managed under the direct supervision of the sheriff
who is assisted by a turnkey. The farm is about a mile
from the jail.
At the present time the rooms in the cellars of the court-
house and the jail of St. Lawrence County are filled with
344 Te Prison Assoctatton or New Yore
vegetables raised on this farm and in sufficient quantity to
maintain the prisoners until the next crop.
In conjunction with the farm in Madison County a stone.
crushing plant could be established to provide work for
the prisoners when there is no available work on the farm.
‘This cracked stone can be transported to the various parts
of the county to be used on the highways. It is not practi-
cable to employ the prisoners on the highways in chis county
because the county-seat is located at one end of the county.
In order to carry on work of this kind it will be necessary
to set up road camps. For prisoners who are on very short
sentences, of four o> five days, transportation to far-off
camps would not be feasible, whereas with the farm near
the jail the prisoners would be under close supervision.
If the farm were properly managed and the prisoners
wisely employed, within a short time the farm plan should
be on a paying basis.
In sending @ man to jail, the first purpose Is to protect
society, the second purpose to bring about reformation in
the individual if possible. Reformation is impossible if
the chief factor in the jail life is idleness. ‘Therefore, with
the present unintelligible system, che taxpayers are bur-
dened with 4 weekly per capita cost for maintenance and
are tolerating a cystem which manufactures crimtnals
who ultimately become a greater fin
county and State. [f work were available,
would be repaid to some degree for the cost of maintenance
and would help che prisoners coward reformation.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
The sheriff has finally succeeded in getting permission
to purchase material so that the ironwork of the jail can
be painted. The need of painting has been emphasized
in our previous reports.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY JATL, FONDA
Populacon
Female
Adult. “Minor. “AduIC Minor. Total
te
=
InsPEctions
The capacity of the jal i as follows:
ee on coiaig : aia
Eaves ie
Aa ii SS
Nec ake
“The staf consists of the sheriff, Emest Kuslbaum, x jailer, and
a male cook, ‘There is no permanent matron, Te was said that
toatron ia staged when wornen are detained in the Jai
‘The jail is a new threestory brick fireproof structure built onto
the rear ofthe sheri's residence, which ie an old servecure, Te hae
food exponure on three sides, The outside windows extend almert
the fll height ofthe Building; they are 6 feee in width. There are
nine wrindows on the west side, thes windows on the south end,
Ind nine windows on the east side, ‘The sections of the windows
on each floor work on the up-and-down sash plan. The sash framee
tre fled in with ground glass, Electric lights and heating pipes
Ze installed in she ouside coridorson each foot.
‘Access to each floor of the jail fs had by an irom stairway which
is ented in the apace between the sheri's office and the jail proper.
The firse Boor containe a stec! cellblock, painted an aluminum
toler, The calle face back to back and are separated by a utlity
corridor which extends from the basement all the way to the roof
Venitating turrets on the oof permit ar to enter the utility corridor
There are vo suceon fae
Gn cach side of the ceilblock there are fifteen cells on the fst
floor, Each cell io 8 feet by 6 feet by 8 feet and is equipped with
one icon hinged bed, a water-close in the niche, set wash basin with
cold wacer attachment, a stool and a small cabinet for toilet articles
and other private paraphernalia, Thete are alto clothes hooks
on the walls of the cella. The flora of the cells are of concrete;
the frones ate entirely of bars. The doors work on the slide system
and are operated from one end by an automatic contrivance. Hang-
ing upon one of the clothes hooks in each cll was an individual
towel.” Each bed was equipped with 1 new mattress, new blanket,
new sheets and new pillow case. "At the time of the inspection the
Fall had only been in use for about one week, Ie is hoped that
the complete condivion of cleanliness found in the cells, throughout,
wil continue
‘The inside corridor is 4 fect 5 inches wide by 90 feet in length
These dimensions are the same on the second floor. ‘The inside
rmeasurements ofthe jail are 99 feet by 100 feet. The approximate
Cost ofthe building was $36,000.
‘Tue Prison Association or New York
346
The floors of the corridors are of red cement. ‘The side walls
are of light grey cement, with stucco finish, Tn each corner, fist
floor, of the south side of the jail chere is a shower-bath compart.
ment. The floor of each compartment is on a dead level with
the floors of the corridors. The result is char when the baths are
used, the water does not drain of quickly enough and flows out into
the corridors. It is necessary co station a man in the corridor with
a broom to sweep the water into the shower-bath compartment.
This condition is unfortunate and will probably hinder the use of
the bath compartments.
The second floor is similar in construction, with these exceptions:
‘There are thirteen ordinary cells on each side of the cellblock, and on
the south end, one cell on each side is made into a shower-bath
compartment. On the north end of the cellblock, similarly located,
there are two padded cells.
The third floor is divided into many sections. Un the west side
there are three separate sections and one hospital room. The
fronts of these sections are entirely barred and are separated from
the side wall by a corridor four feet in width. Communication
between the various sections cannot be had easily because of the iron.
partitions in the corridors.
‘There are similar sections on the east side of the jail which are
separated from those on the west side by a utility corridor. In the
north end corridor there is a partition with a doerway in it. There
is a separate entrance into each section on the thied floor from th
corridor in which the stairway is located.
Both hospital rooms are located at the extreme south end of this
floor. The rooms arc large and well lighted. The one on the west
side has three windows, the one on the east side, four. Each is
equipped with separate bathtub, water-closet and set washbasin,
The batheub in each room is partitioned off so that prisoners can
bathe with privacy.
Each room can hold approximately six or eight iron cot beds.
At the time of the inspection there were ewo cot heds in the west
side hospital room and four cot beds in the ezst. The other equip:
‘ment consists of stools and cabinets. The bedding here was als»
found to be new and immaculately clean,
Two of the three comparements on the west side are equipped with
four iron hinged beds in each; also a separate shower-bath compatt-
ment, toilet, and a washstand with running water connection,
‘The one on the north end is equipped with three iron hinged
beds; ulso a water-loset, washbasin and a shower-bath,
Insrecrions
On the east side, directly off the hospital room, there are three
cells intended for ‘male adults with contagious diseases. These
calls are deeper and narrower than the cells on the floors below.
They are each equipped with iron hinged bed, water-closet and set
washbasin. There are partitions in the cortidors so that prisoners
cannot communicate with those in the other sections.
Adjoining this section are three cells reserved for boys. ‘These
cells are equipped with one iron hinged bed in each, a water-closet
and a set washbasin.
In the juvenile department there is also a shower-bath com-
partmene. Adjoining the juvenile department, and separated by a
partition in the corridor, is one large cell with four iron hinged heds
in it, and a compartment in which there is a shower-baeh and water-
closet; there is also a set washbasin in this cell. It was said that
prisoners incarcerated on civil charges are detained in this cell.
At the time of the inspection the one prisoner held on 2 body execution
was detained here. ‘The bedding was found to be immaculately
clean and the prisoner was supplied with a towel
‘On the east side of the basement is the kitchen which is equipped
with 2 sink, 2 coal range, but no stationary cooking utensils. Adjoin-
ing the kitchen is a pantry, and on the southeast corner of the base-
ment 2 room which will be used as a laundry; as yet it is noe fully
‘equipped
‘The side walle in the basement are of brick, with no additional
finish. ‘The floors are of cement.
‘On the east side of the jail, northeast comer, there is a large
room which will be used for intoxicated persons and asa kind of
reception room. This room would be better suited for the purpose
if ie were equipped with bathing accommodations. Adjoining it
is a small compartment containing a passageway to the room on the
‘extreme south end and also a toilet room. The room on the extreme
south end, it was said, will be used for the overflow of “ short-
termers.”” "Ar the time of the inspection there were many iron cot-
beds in ie, but i was said that these are not used. Their presence
was accounted for by the jailer who said that chey had been used
temporarily by men working upstairs.
‘There are eight windows on the cast side of the jail in the base-
ment and nine on the north side and ewo windows on the south
end. These windows are, approximately, 5 feet by 3 feet.
‘On the extreme north end, and separated from the rooms described
above, are two rooms. In one room there is a hot-water heating
apparatus and in the other it was said there will be installed a fumi-
348 Ta Prison Association or New York.
gating apparatus. At the present time it is used for storing the
clothing belonging to inmates, The jailer said that each inmace
must remove his clothing and have the same placed in a bag. This
bag containing the clothing is stored in the room. When the
famigating apparatus is set in operation all clothing will be furni=
gated.
Prisoners are supplied with shoes, overalls and jumpers when in
the jal
On the east side of the building there is a jail yard, 100 feet by
42 feet, with an exit in the south end and one on the north end.
Prisoners can be let into the jail yard from the doorway in the
basement or ftom a doorway on the frst floor.
‘Ac the time of one inspection fourteen out of the sixteen serving
sentence were working outside of che jail, laying concrete walks,
cleaning the county buildings, and Jooking after the county grounds.
Phe wall of the jail yard is approximately twenty feet high. It
would not require very much effort for prisoners to get over the
section of the wall which is close by the stairway leading up to
the first floor of the jail
Ac the time of theinsnection of January rth the_ basement of
the courthouse » ‘temporary jail. The condition
of cleanliness was fair. The equipment, such as bl
tresses, was in badly worn and unclean condition,
At the time of the inspection of July 21st the new jail was in
use and a satisfactory condition of cleanliness and order prevailed
At the ti
infraction of che Inwe relative to the classification of prisoners
of the inspection of November 20th there was a slight
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The seucco finish of the side wails should be smoothed
and painted over to make it sanitary.
2. The tollet in the basement and the drawers in the
kitchen closets should be kept clean.
3. A clothing fumigator should be provided.
4. The beds in the cells should aot be made up, nor should
any bed clothing be left in the cells when unoccupied. A
complete set of clothing should be given to each prisoner
and removed after his dischazge.
5. Tables should be set up in the large room in the base-
ment and prisoners should eat their meals at these tables,
instead of in their cells as at present.
InsPrcrions
6. Some one room on the top floor should be set aside
as.a reception room where all prisoners should be received,
bathed and examined by the physician before assignment
to their proper tiers.
7. Perhaps most important of all, at least one additional
guard should be employed and both his and the jailer's
salaries should be paid independently by the county and
not by the sheriff from his salary.
8, It is urged that the road work in the spring be begun
as early as practicable.
At the time of inspection of November 20, 1914, a survey
was made of the possibilities of employment for the inmates
of the jail serving sentence and the following recommenda-
tions were made:
The county superintendent of highways should be en-
trusted with the organization of the labor of the prisoners
‘on roadways. Applications of the towns should be con-
sidered through his department, and arrangements for the
contribution by the various towns for the maintenance,
guarding and transportation expenses for prisoners employed
on their roads should also be made through the county
superintendent of highways.
In order to supply labor for the winter months the county
superintendent of highways should be empowered and
directed to locate a quarry favorably situated with respect
to the jail and to the railroad, to make the necessary arrange-
ments for such quarry, and for the lease or purchase of
Proper machinery to be installed in the quarry, and should
organize and supervise the stone-crushing industry to be
undertaken by the county for its prisoners, at least during
the winter months, Such a plan will be found to work out
to the interests of everybody concerned, as it has worked
owt successfully in other counties, notably in Onondaga
County.
While the steps taken by the Board of Supervisors for the
employment of its prisoners in the town of Mohawk during
the coming year is certainly a long step in this direction,
We wish to emphasize the necessity of furnishing employ-
ment to the prisoners for the winter season as well, and
therefore urge the adoption of the plan for stone-crushing
on a large scale.
By the adoption of this double plan of road work and
3g0 ‘Tar Prison Association or New York
stone-crushing, it will be possible to employ a large enough
jhumber of prisoners to make the sending of any of them
to the Albany County Penitentiary unnecessary.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. Montgomery County now has a new, lange and well-
equipped jail.
2. A request has been made by the supervisor of the
town of Mohawk for the use of jail labor on the highways
in that town. This request was granted, as shown by the
official record of the Board of Supervisors.
MONROE COUNTY JAIL, ROCHESTER.
Population.
Nate Female
Inspected = By — Thal, Minor, “Adule. Minor. Tous
vote EASE eee
rom Biase?
Rosed of Spervisors ©
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
4 als
wih adults
"scl
aie
Minor male.
‘The sheriff is George R. Brown, filing an unexpired term. He is
assisted by two jailers, one watchman, one assistant jailer (who also
esists in cooking), two engineers, two female cooks, one porter,
fone laborer and one matron.
“The prisoners serving sentence are not detained at this jail, but
instead are sent to the county penitenti:
“The jail is a fairly large institution and consists of three parts
oro of which ate of antiquated design. The pie section contains
f large number of cells, all of which are poorly lighted and poosly
‘The juvenile and female sections on the floors above
ventilated.
dre non-lizeproof and poorly lighted and are inadequately ventilated
‘he new addition to the jail is of modern design. ‘The cells in vhis
part are well ighted and ventilated. The bedding in the main section
Ponsists exclusively of blankets. In the female section there are
fron cot beds equipped with mattress, blankets, sheets and pillow
Insrections
cases. The cells in the new section are equipped with water-closet,
set washbasin and an iron hinged bed. In each cell of the pit section
there are also an iron hinged bed and a waterccloset. In some of
the sections on the upper floors there are iron cot beds in the cells.
The two bathrooms each contain a shower-bath and tub and are
sed by all prisoners in the new and old prisons. They are situated
on the lowest tier of the old prison, ‘There is jail yard; the top
of this is screened with steel wiring to prevent escape and com
‘At the time of the inspection of May 16, 1914, a very unsatis-
factory condition with rerpect 10 the management and cleanliness
af the jail prevailed. The flor of the pit, the galleries, the stairway,
the beds, bedding and the toilets, were found ina very dirty condition,
In some of the upper cells of this section, food was strewn on the
foor, also peelings from fruit. A similar condition of uncleanliness
prevailed on the upper floors, except the female section. In some
‘of the corridors, food and paper were scatted about and in very
few instances did the prisoners have their beds properly made.
There was no matron on duty. Te was explained that he regular
matron was ill. Nevertheless, another female member of the staf
should have been in charge of the female deparement. The calls
in the new section were untidy and in many instances the walls
‘ete decorated with improper pictures. :
The jail office is very small and at the time of the inspection
vas crowded with many persons, some of whom had no particular
Tusiness in the jail. ‘There seemed to be general confusion and
the jailer in charge did not seem to be master ofthe situation. There
vas no evidence of careful search of visitors or of careful inspection
of the articles brought into the jail. The general spire of the office
was decidedly unbusinesslike, The laws telative to the classilica-
tion and separation of minors and adules were not stricly observed.
‘The Board of Supervisors, subsequent to the receipt of @ report
of the inspection of the above date, requested that the inspector
make another inspection of the jail, together with 1 committee
appointed by the board, s0 as to point out the grounds for the severe
criticism in the previous repore. On July 23d a joine inspection was
made with the supervisors? committee and the condition of clean-
liness throughoue the jail was unsatisfactory. ‘The members of the
committee agreed with the inspector that here were sufficient
founds forthe severe report and requesed hate, submit 2
special set of recommendations to be used as a guide in imp vin
conditions. aaa
352 Tur Prison Association or New York
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Uncleantiness is unpardonable and warrants severe
criticism, ‘The jail has a very large staif and one member
of the staff might well be used solely to supervise the
prisoners, so that at least a reasonable amount of cleanll-
ness can be had in the pit section and on the floors above.
fem should be devised for supervising
visitors to the jail.
3. The cells In the pit section should be used only in
cases of overcrowding, Even if the cells are not used,
they should, nevertheless, be kept clean.
4, Prisoners should be compelied to keep thelr cells clean
and free from rubbish and paper. They should not be
permitted to decorate the walls and ceilings with obscene
pictures and other worthless decorations; prisoners should
be taught to exercise proper care of their beds and bedding.
5. The practice of assembling prisoners in the pit section
during meal time should be discontinued.
6. In order to avoid placing the male employees in
‘embarrassing predicaments, and to properly protect female
prisoners, a matron should be on duty or in the building
at all times. If the matrom is ill, some other salaried
female of the staf? should take over the responsibilities
of the matron. The keys of the femafe department should
only be In the possession of the matron and the sheriff.
7. The appearance of the pit section could be greatly
improved if the lronwork were painted.
8. The utility corrid sar of the cells om the upper
floors of the jail proper should be kept free from dirt,
rubbish, ete.
9. The reception
oom of the jail should not be used as
a “time-killing ” place for people who have no particular
business at the jail. The routine of the jail and office
would be greatly improved if @ more. businesslike and
dignified spirit were adopted.
10, Thoroughly clean the window sills in the new and
old sections and keep them free from dirt and rubbish.
11, Furnish pillows and mattresses for the prisoners and
supply each new prisoner with fresh bedding.
12. Install electric lights in the section where the stair-
way leading to the upper gallery of the pit section is located.
13, Do not permit lawyers to visit clients, or prospective
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Ixsrscrions 353
clients, In any part of the jail, There should be one special
place for such visits and an attendant should be in: the
room, of section, all of the time.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The official records of the Board of Supervisors show
that the charges of uncleanliness and poor management
made in the report of May 16, 1914, were sustained by
unanimous vote of the board.
2. The jail yard has beon safeguarded against escape
s0 that now prisoners can be let out for exercise.
3, Prisoners are not permitted to decorate the walls of
the cells with questionable pictures. The walls of all the
cells were free from decorations at the time of the joint
inspection.
NASSAU COUNTY JAIL, MINEOLA,
Populacion.
Wise Fem
Inpesed—_ By — Raul. Minor “Rite. Minor! Total
Iie id OR Getic'ie E 8
Se oto EAR Cac hid Pile = 4
7 8 ee
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
‘Ate ate sete calle
inp Foo cisions Hr 43 tes
Muna aes
Minor mates saat 5
The sheriff is Stephen P. Pettit who is assisted in the jail by
a varden, an assistant warden, five keepers, one cook, and a matron.
‘The jail is a one-story stone structure, consisting of two separate
wings. One wing is used for the detention of female prisoners
and the other for the detention of males. In the wing for the
detention of female prisoners there is a steel cellblock, with celle
arranged back to back, separated by a utiliey corridor. | This wing
is well lighted and can be well ventilated. ‘The cells are equipped
with iron hinged beds, toilet accommodations and running water.
In the wing used for the male prisoners there is also a steel cell
ay
354 Ta Prison Assoctarion or New York
block, two tiers high. These cells are equipped with iron hinged
beds, toilet accommodations and running water. There are shower
baths in both wingsfor bathing. ‘There is one padded cell; this is keps
in the tramp room in the basement. ‘The equipment in the tramp
room consists of wooden boards supported by a steel frame. These
boards are placed close together, making one continuous surface
almost the full length of the room. | The bedding consists of mattress,
Dlankets, sheets and pillow cases for both male and female prisoners,
excepting in the tramp room where only blankets are furnished
‘The jail is well heared by steam and lighted by electricity, ‘There
is a jail yard, bue the prisoners are not permitted regular outdoor
exercise, There is a stone shed, but stone-crushing is not carried
fon to any great extent. There is also a small farm; the quantity
of vegetable products from this farm was said to he satisfactory.
At the time of the inspection of January 12th, a fair condition
of cleanliness prevailed in the male section. In the female section
the condition of cleanliness was, as usual, very satisfactory. The
lack of privacy, overcrowding, and the unsanitary condition of the
tramp room swere pointed out
‘Ac the time of the inspection of June 1st, the condition of clean
Tiness was not altogether satisfactory, The laws relative to the
separation of minors were violated, At one end of the female depart-
ment a colored woman was sitting on 2 washeub directly in front of
fan open window. It was quite evident that she was attracting the
attention of two male prisoners who were sitting in the doorway
of che garage directly outside the window.
Ae the time of the inspection of September gth, a satisfactory
condition of cleanliness and order prevailed in all parts
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The toifet seats in the male department are in a badly
rusted and worn condition. ‘This is not only repulsive to
the sight but also presents a serious condition from the
standpoint of sanitation. There are two ways to deal
with this unfortunate situation; one is to scrape the soats
down to the raw iron and then apply a heavy coat of red
Jead before putting on the finish coat of paint. Another
way would be to apply red lead to the ironwork around
the top of the bowl of the toilet and then put on a layer
of cement sufficiently thick to come up to the level of
oval-shaped plate which is on the top of the bowl. It
might be well to have the layer of cement thick on the
Insrecrions 355
ends and gradually diminish as it nears the center in order
that water may drain directly into the bowl. If this toilet
condition is not remedied immediately the county will
find it necessary sometime in the near future to expend a
much larger amount of money in order to remedy a
neglected evil.
2. A new supply of bedding should be distributed
throughout the entire jail. During the day the bedding,
after having been sufficiently aired, should be folded and
placed at one end of the bed. Prisoners should not be
permitted to lounge on the mattress and bedding during
the day.
3. The entire interior of the male section should be
painted a bright and serviceable color. The plaster work in
the tramp room should be repaired. A new toilet seat is
necessary for the bowl of the toilet in the tramp room.
4, Itis entirely wrong to have the padded cell in the tramp
room. While this cell is not very often used, it is, neve
theless, an absolute necessity. It is mostly used at present
by prisoners who become dissatisfied with the accom-
modations in the gallery. In the event of an insane person
being placed in this cell, it would mean that the entire
population of the tramp room, which, as above stated, is
usually the major part of the entire population of the jail,
would be disturbed. Furthermore, the crevices in the
padded cell serve as 4 housing place for vermi
5, It is often found impossible to keep juve
properly separated in the male wing of the jail.
of the celiblock in the female wing is seldom,
for the detention of prisoners. ‘The cells in this section
are more frequently used for the storage of mattresses, etc.
With the installation of proper partitions, it would be
possible to transform this section into a juvenile depart-
ment.
6, The matron should be on duty at all times, and under
no circumstances should male persons be permitted to go
into the female department unless accompanied by the
matron.
7. Strict supervision should be exercised so as to prevent
male prisoners who are working in the yard from attracting
the attention of the female prisoners. The window panes
fat the end of the female cellroom should be made trans-
lucent,
356 Ta Prison Assoctarton or Naw York
8. The sheriff and warden should insist upon cleanliness
and tidiness in the cells and the corridors. Rubbish and
sweepings should not be permitted to accumulate in the
cells.
9. The small farm should be steadily developed so that
it will ultimately provide active work for practleally the
entire population of the jail. With the assistance of so
many Keepers as are attached to this jail it should not be
difficult to employ and supervise the prisoners outside of
the jail. In one county of this State 2 ninety-acre farm
ig worked and the supervision of only one keeper is neces-
sat
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The toilets in the cells have been repainted. Interlor
of jail has also heen painted. The need of painting and
repairing was pointed out in recommendations of previous
reports.
2. The tramp room in the basement has also been
repainted. This need was also pointed out in previous
reports.
3. Additional Jand has been acquired for the farm, It
was recommended in a previous report that the farm be
further developed.
4. Curtains have been huag tn the windows so that
female prisoners cannot attract the attention of male
prisoners on the outside. The need for this improvement
was brought to the attention of the authorities in a report.
NIAGARA COUNTY JAIL, LOCKPORT.
Population
Female
‘Adult Minor. Total
3 8
‘Minor ele.
Insrzcrions 357
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, D. W. Daly. He
is assisted by a jailer, am assietane jailer, and a matron,
The jail is a stone Greproof structure. The first floor, “court
section,” contains eleven cells, These cells are arranged on the
cage plan, with the fronts of the cells facing a central corridor,
A fair amount of light enters through the back of the cells but
the central corridor is practically dark
There are ewo beds in cach cell of the section and doubling-up
is practically necessary at all times. The toilets are of an anti-
quated type and are in a badly worn and rusted condition. The dark
central corridor brings about an unfortunate condition; here che
prisoners commingle daily, during the long periods of time between
the grand jury sessions.
The cast wing of the first floor is made up of two sections, with
iron steel cage in each, The fronts of the cells in both sections
face the solid side walls separating the two sections. This makes
the corridors, in which the prisoners have to spend much time,
ovoid of much light.
The toilet conditions are similar to those in the court section. On
the second floor, in the part directly above the court section, is 2
steel cage of similar design to che one in the court section, containing.
thirteen cells. The toilet conditions, the datk central corridor, and
the necessary doubling-up, make conditions unsatisfactory. On the
third floor, ditectly above this section, is another section similarly
equipped and designed.
Adjacent to the section on the second floor and directly above the
court section is a room with a cage containing one cell; known as the
solitary cell, this is used as 2 means of discipline. The room is well
lighted and can be well ventilated,
The hospital ward contains two large iron beds. ‘The section in
the west wing, second floor, contains an iron cage in which there are
three cells, ‘These are used for erusties. ‘The east wing of the second
floor is made up of two sections, similar in design and equipment to
those above described on the first floor. The same undesirable
features exist in chis part. There is a jail yard, bue unforeunately
ies not used,
At the time of the inspection of March, 14, 1914, the floors of the
cells and corridors and the stairways were satisfactorily clean.
‘The bedding was found to be badly worn. ‘The management com-
plained of the difficulty of keeping the jail free from vermin.
‘At the time of the inspection of December 11, 1914, a satisfactory.
‘ondition of cleanliness existed in all sections excepting the one
Tue Parson Association of New Yor
358
The floors of the
onmade. Th many
instances it was found that the beds were insufficiently supplied
with blankets.
in which the juvenile prisoners were detained.
RECOMMENDATIONS MAD}
1. A laundry should be installed, both for economy and
for the sake of better facilities for keeping the prisone
clean.
2. Grockery shouid Se u
3. A padded cell is necessary
the prisoner from his own violence and
gives litele chance for unwarranted suspicion of brutality
on the part of the management.
4. Prisoners should not be chained when going to work on
the stone pile, Two able guards onght to be sufficient
protection against escape.
5. The washstands and water-closets should be replaced
by mew ones,
6. In some part of the jail there should be a room to be
used for the purpose of keeping prisoners a day or so sub-
sequent to their admission to the jail, in order that they
may be cleaned before being assigned to the jail proper.
7. The placing of two prisoners in a cell shouid be aban-
doned. This practice tends to demoralize.
8. The keys to the female section should always be in
the possession of the sheriff or the matron, and males
should not be admitted to the female section unless the
matron is present.
9. The jail yard should he used to give all the prisoners
daily outdoor exercise. Irrespective of 2 man’s character,
he is always a human being and should be treated as such.
It is horrifying to think of prisoners spending weeks and
months at a time in the dark central corridors or in the
small end corridors. In many casos the possibility of reform-
ing an individual is lost during the long periods which
hhe has to spend in idleness and in the company of persons
of a very questionable character.
10, Straw mattresses with ticks are unsanitary, wacom
fortable, and generally unshapely. Cotton mattresses
should be substituted, or the ironframe bottom of the
bed can be removed and a canvas bottom substituted.
.ed instead of tinware.
A cell of this kind protects
Insrections 359
‘The plan would be to lace the canvas bottom of the frame
to the bed so that it can be frequently removed and washed.
At the time of the inspection of December 11, 1914, 9
survey was made to determine the possibilities for the
employment of the inmates of the jail. At present the
county is working its prisoners in a stone quarry. This
work is a financial loss to any county in which it is con-
ducted. Orange, Ontario, and Nassau Counties are experi-
encing the folly of maintaining the stone-breaking in-
dustry. Section 70 of the State Highway Law authorizes the
Board of Supervisors to seek the co-operation of the town
superintendent of highways in the employment of jail
inmates on the town and county highways. ‘There is much
highway work available in this county and if the stone-
breaking industry were correlated with highway work it
could bemade profitable. Thatis, during the winter months,
stone could be prepared for che highways in the spring.
4. more suitable plan would be to do the stone-breaking on
8 larger scale by installing a crusher at the quarry instead
of relying on breaking the stone by hand. Section 93 of
the County Law authorizes the Board of Supervisors to em-
ploy the prisoners in the county buildings, on the county
highways, ete. Te has been proven by St. Lawrence County
a farm maintained in conjunction with the jail
prosents a feasible and profitable plan of employment.
m in St, Lawrence County has practically paid
itself in the past two years. Oswego County also main-
2 jail farm and in Tioga County the prisoners are
employed on the county poorhouse farm. There is an
opportunity in Niagara County for the utilization of the
id county poorhouse farm. The prisoners could be trans-
ported from the jail to the farm daily, or could be lodged
in bunk houses built on the farm. This is done in Erie
County on the farm at Wende.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The cell
repainted,
2, Shower-baths have been installed in each section,
except in the female section. A bathtub has been put
in one of the cells in the female s¢
used for solitary confinement has been
‘Tus Prison Association or New York
yaal electric light bulbs are being dis-
tributed in the different parts of the jail, especially in the
dark central corridors. Dark corridors’ were repeatedly
criticised in previous reports.
4. A hot-water heater has been placed in the basement,
In the report of Angust 29, 0913, It was urged that the
installation of this hot-water heazer be expedited.
been placed in the jail yard. The
ed out In roport of August 29, 1913,
6. The jail, it was said, is to be enlarged. This will
relieve the congestion and make doubling-up unnecessary.
Doubling-up was criticised in previous reports.
ONEIDA COUNTY JAIL, ROME.
Population
Female
Tnapected
“Adule. Minor. Tota
He 2 :
iy 13, tote
The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Ada males. soals
Adal females H
ior females ‘With Ede
Scat
Ac the time of the last inspection the jail was under the super:
vision of W. J. Byres. ‘The staff consists of a jailer, a matron and
a cook.
‘The jail is a stone structure built onto the sherif’s residence
On the lower floor there is a solid stone cellblock with two tiers on
each side, five cells to a ti are of the vault-like type,
poorly lighted and poorly ventilated. Each is ordinarily: equippe:
with an iron cor bed: sometimes it is necessary to put ovo an:
three beds in a cell. TI ig consists of maeeress and blanket.
The wilet and bathing accommodations are at one end of the com
tidor. The second floor is accessible by means of a narrow wooden
stairway, located in che sheriffs part. On this floor there is a modern-
type cellblock, with five cells on each side. One side of the cell
block is used for juvenile male prisoners and the other for female
Insrections 361
prisoners. There is no way of separating juvenile male prisoners
Serving sentence from the juvenile male prisoners awaiting the
action of the grand jury. ‘The same is true of the female section,
and the conditions are somewhae aggravated by the fact that the
juvenile female prisoners must also be detained with the adule
female prisoners, There is only one coilet in each section on this
floor; unfortunately it is necessary to use buckets in the cells
There are also two hospital rooms on the second floor zbove the jail
office, ‘These rooms are not constructed to insure the safekeeping
of prisoners. There is a jail yard, but ic is not used. This jail is
Sinilar to the one ar Usiea, except that the population of the Utica
jail is usually larger. The inadequate toilet accommodations, the
ibility to properly separate and classify the prisoners, the neces-
sity of placing three and four in one cell at times, the inadequate
bathing facilities, the darkness of the cells, and the inadequate
seatilation of the same, are some bad existing feacures.
‘At the time of the inspection of January 19, 1914, a satisfactory
condition of cleanliness prevailed ‘on the first and second floors
of the jail, also in the kitehen, laundry and storeroom,
At the time of the inspection of May 13, 1914, the undersheriff
vas busily engaged in supervising a general cleaning of the jail.
‘At the time of the inspection of December 15, 1914, a satisfaccory.
condition of cleanliness and order prevailed.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The jails at Utica and Rome are both of similar design
and represent an antiquated type as compared with the
majority of the Jails throughout the State. The county
should have only one county jail.
‘To relieve the present unsatisfactory conditions tem-
porarily the following recommendations are made:
2. The undersheriff should by all means have a paid
assistant.
3. Bathing facilities similar to chose in the Utica jail
should be installed. Two or three people may, to be sure,
be able to keep themselves clean with an equipment con-
sisting of a tin cub and a liberal supp'y of hot and cold
water, but this is impracticable for an institution housing
‘ge numbers of people.
4. ‘The frail wooden stairway on the second floor is located
in the sheriff's section, which is by no means fireproof.
‘The county authorities, in the event of some serious d s-
aster entailing loss of life, would be held responsible.
362 Tue Prison Assoctarion or New York
5. A padded cell is absolutely necessary in every jail.
It may not be frequently used, but when necessary its
merits can be readily appreciated. It prevents the prisoner
from doing himself bodily harm and it removes what
might be uawarranted suspicion of brutality on the part
of the management.
6, Prisoners should be able to receive visitors in privacy.
Unless the management wishes to undertake the unpleasant
task of searching visitors, there is danger of contraband
goods getting into the Jail
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. An assistant jailer was appointed to assist the under-
sheriff in charge of the Rome jail. The need for this was
strongly pointed our in reports during the year.
ONEIDA COUNTY JAIL, UTICA.
Wale, Female
“Rault. Minor. “Aduie, Minor, Tosa
iopes PESe 2 3
ra
Bee iGigg Cae 5
‘The sheriff of the county is W. T. Donnelly who is assisted in
the jail by a jailer, a matron and 2 cook.
‘This jal is similar in design and construction to the one at Rome
and the same objectionable features exist. The conditions ate
somewhat aggravated because of the larger population. This is
quite noticeable in the section which is reserved for prisoners serving
sentences. This section is very small, poorly lighted, and poly
ventilated. The cells contain three or four beds and often there are
more prisoners than the cells will accommodate, The average
population for this section is forty, while the accommodations are
for only thirry. At times the population runs as high as seventy
Inspections 363
in this section, and the prisoners must sleep on the floor, using news-
papers or pieces of blanket as a bed. The atmosphere is made
vile because of the personal uncleanliness of the inmates and by the
fact that they frequently refuse eo permit the windows to be opened
xe night.
‘The only feature which gives this jail an advaneage over the Rome
jail is that the bathing facilities are modern and adequate. A
particularly serious condition exists in the presence of the wooden
stairway leading co the female department. This stairway is old,
frail and worn. Ie was said that the county grand jury has con
demned ie several times.
‘At the time of the inspection of January 20, 1914, despite the
congested condition of the jail, a satisfactory state of cleanliness
prevailed in every part. The question was raised at the time as
to the advisabiliey of permitting grand jury prisoners to keep food
in their cells. Ie wat noted chat erumbs and other food matesial
was strewn about on tables and this perhaps would tend to draw
roaches,
‘At the time of the inspection of May 13, and December 16, 1914
1 satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed,
The freedom with which the female prisoners commingled and
roamed about was quite noticeable. "Adjacent to the female section
of the jail there are two rooms, one known as the hospital room,
and the other used by the cook and his assistant. In view of the
fact thae the female prisoners ase not under the constant supervision
of the matron, ie would be an easy matter for the male prisoners
ceccupying either one of the two rooms adjacent to the female section
to annoy the female prisoners. ‘The female prisoners also have
free access to the windows, making communication with people on
the outside possible. The seriousness of this situation was brought
to the attention of the Board of Supervisors by a special letter in the
form of a preliminary report.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, A jail, sufficiently large to care for the prisoners who
are now sent to both Rome and Utica jails, should be built
midway between Rome and Utica, near the State road.
In conjunction with this jail there should be a farm
which will afford work for the prisoners. With proper
supervision, the farm product can be such as will ald in
reducing the expenditures of the jail. For prisoners who
cannot be trusted on the farm, stone work should be avail-
36 Te Prison Associarton or New York.
able. Together with the stone work, road work can be
undertaken. Onondaga and Franklin’ Counties have had
considerable success with this kind of work. ‘The county
authorities should insist upon every prisoner doing his
share of good hard ‘The faws require that the
prisoners should work, and Section 93 of the County Law
authorizes the Board of Supervisors co provide employment
for the inmates,
In order to improve the conditions at the Utica jail until
the county establishes a better jail and a more intelligent
system of dealing with ies prisoners, the following recom-
mendations are made:
2. A safe means of getting to the women’s section of the
jail should be provided. The present wooden stairway
is a menace. Fize protection should be assured in the
‘women’s section.
3. Am adequate laundry ea)
4. A'padded cell should be installed.
5, New bedding should be distributed among the prisoners.
6. At all times every precaution should be used to keep
juvenile prisoners separated from adult prisoners.
7. The jail yard should be used. Prisoners should receive
daily outdoor exercise in the yard. If an additional guard
were employed it would be possible to furnish some means
of employment ia the jail yard, in the way of stone-breaking
or wood cut The fact that one would have to work
for his meals and keep would probably serve as a means
of discouraging unprincipled men who use the jail as a
place in which to spend the winter months. Under the
present scheme the jail is undoubtedly often serving as a
demoralizing agent, whereas it should, to a large extent,
be a correctional one.
8 The female prisoners should be kept under closer
supervision. ‘The key to the female section should be
in the possession of the matron or the sheriff. It is
extremely inadvisabie for male prisoners to enter the female
section unless accompanied by 2 matron. It is the duty
of the management to exercise every precaution to protect
the female prisoners, and, furthermore, the management
should exercise every means to avoid the possibility of
unwarranted criticisms of abuse from either employees of
the jail or prisoners incarcerated in close proximity to the
females,
Insrscrions 365
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. There has been considerable agitation to cause the
authorities of Oneida County to construct a new jail.
2. A new hot-water boiler has been installed on the first
floor, cast side.
3. The cells and walls in the east and west sides of the
second floor have been painted.
ONONDAGA COUNTY JAIL, SYRACUSE.
Population
Female
Inspected
Mears igig ER. Co
The sheriff of the county is J. F. Matthews. He is assisted by a
jailer, a janitor and a matron.
This branch of the county jail is within a block of the county
courthouse and is only used ar a temporary place of detention for
pritoners awaiting the immediaee action of che grand jury, or for
prisoners awaiting sentence or during investigation of their case by
probation officers. When the grand jury or the county court is
hot in session prisoners taken into custody are immediately trans-
ferred to the principal part of the county jail which is located in
the east wing of the Onondaga Penitentiary at Jamesville
The jail is a freproof structure, heaced with steam and lighted
by electricity, and cam be well ventilated. It is equipped with a
standpipe and hose connections. The building runs north and
south and is divided into two sections. The front section is again
divided into two parts which are separated by a utility corridor.
In each part there is a cellblock, ewo tiers high, wich four cells on
a tier, The cells are large, equipped with two iron hinged beds,
toilet and washbasin, In the rear section, which is divided from the
front section by a wall with a doorway in it, there are also two parte.
Each part consists of two separate floors, with three cells on a floor.
‘The cells are similar in design and equipment to those in the front
section. ‘The bedding consists of mattress and blanket.
366 Tur Prison Association or New York
‘At the timo of the inspection of March 11, 1914, a seventeen-year
old boy, who had been in the jail since January, was seill awaiting
disposition of his case which was being investigated by a probation
officer. Although there were plenty of available empey cells, the
inspector was very much surprised to find this boy assigned to the
section which was occupied by male adule prisoners. The jailer
gave as a reason for this, that the boy became lonesome when i the
juvenile section of the jail and at times was on the verge of hysterics,
In a case of this kind, minor males should not be associated pro-
miscuously with adults
A satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed in all parts of the
jail.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADR.
4. It is urgently recommended that more adequate
bathing facilities be installed. ‘This jail is not a small
one and one bathtub is ridiculously insufficient. In all
events, there should be added bathing equipment for the
female department and for the juventle department.
2. There seems to be need for an additional session of
the grand jury. An insufficient number of grand jury
meetings works serious hardship and injustice and serves
as a great detriment in the path of reformation. The
legal machinery of Onondaga County should work with a
reasonable amount of speed to ensure quick disposition
of all cases,
3. The rules of the Prison Commission relative to the
separation of prisoners should be observed at all times.
ONTARIO COUNTY JAIL, CANANDAIGUA.
Minor. “Adule
Inspected —
Widh Zasee
Inspections 367
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, R. M. Lee, who
is assisted by a jailer, am assistant jailer and 2 matron,
‘The jail is a brick structure built onto the rear of the sheriff's
residence and consists of three separate floors. On the first floor
there are two sections. The main one contains a stecl cage with
six cells on a side, the front of the cells facing into a dark central
corridor. On the west side of the same floor is a separate section in
which there is a cage consisting of three eells. Access to the second
floor is by means of a frail wooden stairway. The plan of con-
struction of this floor is the same as that of the first. On the same
oor, but in the sherif’s quarters, there are two rooms available for
use, Sometimes for female prisoners, sometimes for civil prisoners ot
juvenile males. The third floor, case wing, is used only in part
for storing clothes, and in the west end section it is not used at all,
Quite frequently che jail is overcrowded and it is a pity that this
Condition should exist when there is much available floor space in
which additional cells could be constructed. The eells are equipped
cach with two iron hinged beds, watercloset and a set washbasin
with running water connections. ‘The bedding consists of tick
mattresses and blankets.
‘At the time of the inspection of March 16, 1914, the jail was found
w be in an orderly and clean condition.
‘Ac the time of the inspection of November 14, 1914, the general
ition of cleanliness was not satisfactory.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, That new fire hose be purchased and additional fire
extinguishers be installed in the jail.
2, That a new stairway be erected in place of the wooden
one which now serves as the only means of getting from
floor to floor.
3. That a cage, or celtblock, preferably a celfblock with
the cell fronts facing the windows in the side walls, be
erected in the vacant room on the west side of the first
floor, Making use of these two rooms will obviate the
congested condition on the second floor and make it possible
to have a separate compartment for juveniles. It will
also obviate the necessity of assigning more than one
Prisoner to a cell. With the present construction it is
impossible at times to observe the laws relative to the
separation and classification of prisoners,
368 Tue Prison Association of New York
4. Sheets and pillow cases should be provided for all
prisoners. These, together with clean blankets and ticks,
should be given to every prisoner on admission and faun.
dered regularly at lease once a week.
5. The present laundry facilities should be increased,
6. A umigator should be installed for disinfecting the
prisoners’ clothing which they lay aside on thelr admission.
7. The ‘leanliness of the tier used for court prisoners
should be improve
8. Records should be kept by the sheriff that will show
the proportion in the daily prpuiation of prisoners serving
sentence, prisoners awaiting (rial, awaiting examination,
witnesses, male and female, minor and adult, ete.
At the time of the inspection of November 14, 1914, a. sur
was made of che possibilities of eiployment of the inmates of
jail, and the stone industry: was studied
The following plans are offered as a substitute for che system of
‘employment that is now 2 financial loss to the county:
9. The prisoners can be employed on road-building during
the spring, summer and early fall, and at stone-crushing
on a large scale during the winter months to prepare road
material for the open season.
As to the roads, Ontario County has about 1,229 miles
of unimproved town highways within the county, for the
improvement of which the sum available is raised as a
highway tax and Is supplemented by State aid. For road
work proper on hese highways there was expended during
1913 the sum of $100,399.51, of a Httle in excess of $81.00 per
The importance of good roads and the need of their
improvement need not be emphasized. it is @ truism to
say that for the prosperity and development of a county
Rood roads are of absolute importance.
About 80 per cont of the tocal expenditure for improve-
ment on the town highways goes into labor. It is self
evident then that the application of prison labor toward
the improvement of town highways would mean a tre-
mendous saving. The law authorized the county — that
is, the Board of Supervisors — to employ its prisoners in
Such 9 manner. Section ninety-three of the County Law
reads{as follows:
|
Insrrerions 369
“. 2. 4 4 + The board of supervisors of the several
counties are authorized to employ convicts under sentence
to confinement in the county jails, in building and repair-
ing penal institutions of the county, and in building and
repairing the highways in their respective counties or in
preparing the materials for such highways for sale to and
for the use of such counties or towns, villages and cities
therein; and to make rules and regulations for their employ-
‘ment; and the said board of supervisors is hereby authorized
to cause money to be raised by taxation for the purpose of
furnishing materials and carrying this provision into effect;
and the courts of this State are hereby authorized to sentence
convicts committed to detention in the county jails to such
hard labor as may be provided for them by the boards of
supervisors.”
In addition to this, Section 70 of the Highway Law pro-
vides as follows:
“After satisfying himself that proper quarters can be
secured, the town superintendent may, with the con-
sent of the town board, request the supervisor of the town
under the provisions of section ninety-three of the county
law, to procure the services of prisoners serving sentence
in the county jail, for general work upon the public high-
ways of the town,
In other words, the town could, by arrangement with
the county authorities, obtain the labor in Ontario County
of, say, 25 prisoners throughout the road season in return
for che expenditure of a comparatively small sum for main-
tenance, guarding, and, perhaps, transportation expenses,
while the county would profit by having its prisoners
employed more satisfactorily than at present and would
not only not be the loser to the extent that has been shown
to be the case in this respect, but would even be indirectly
benefited by having the maintenance partly covered by
the town, This during the spring, summer and early fall.
For the winter season stone-crushing is the best employ-
ment; not, however, as is done at present in the stoneshed,
with the inefficiency and financial loss shown above, but
regular stone-crushing at a stone quarry, with machinery,
such as is carried on for example in Onondaga County and
in the State prisons.
‘Tite Prison Association or New York
the definite plan that we propose to the Board of Super-
visors is as follows:
Let the board direct ite jail committee, or such other
committee as It chooses to deputize for this work, to con-
fer with the sheriff, the county superintendent of highways
and other interested officials on a plan by whiel
(@) Certain highways in certain towns would be selected
every year by the county superintendent of highways
for improvement by prison labor. Arrangement for the
payment by the town of maintenance, guarding and trans-
portation expenses should be made through the county
superintendent of highways with the Board of Supervisors,
The actual highway work should be carried on under the
direct charge of the county superintendent of highways,
and the guards appointed by the sheriff but pald by the
town.
(b) The county superintendent of highways should be
directed and empowered to locate quarry conveniently
situated in reference to the jail and railroads, such quarry
to be purchased or leased by the counts
‘When the season for road work is closed, prisoners should
immediately be turned to stone-crushing at this quarry.
Enough stone can be crushed during che winter months
for use on the town highways or other highways to be
built during the next road soason. Such stone should
therefore be solé through the county superintendent of
highways to the town, county or State, for highway or any
other purposes.
This double plan of employment will not only prove
capable of supplying employmont for all prisoners of the
{nil bu wil, instead of being a financisi burden to the
‘county as the present system is, result in better
better finances, diminution of the number of jail prisoners;
and, perhaps more important chan ail, In better chances
for the rehabilitation and reformation of the jail prisoner.
We further suggest, In this connection, that the county
‘superintendent of highways be directed to get in touch with
counties where such work has previously been done and
confer with thelr superintendents in the matter. We
especially advise chat Mr. Frank E. Bogardus, County Super-
intendent of Highways, Syracuse, be consulted.
Insrrcrions 370
‘The following is a study of the stone industry from
January 1 to November 1, 1913:
beige
id sg
Gaming res
‘itech haley Banaliion Gs ss
Gonandsgua ce neat
Gop toons 00.7
oye a0
Leer es
tc is clear, of course, from the above figures, that nearly
the whole amount sold during that period was stone that
had been purchased prior to January Ist, and probably
partly broken prior to that date, At any rate, if the amount
sold was 609.19 tons at $1.15, and the cost of the same at
$1.40 was $670.11, the total profit was only $30.46, In
this calculation no allowance has been made for the loss
of stone in breaking. That may be entirely disregarded.
As against this profit of $30.46, there should be charged the
salary of the guard at $600, making a total loss of $569.54,
not couating the rental of the stoneshed and the deprecia-
tion of tools, the lighting and heating of the stoneshed, not
to mention the value of the prisoners’ labor and the cost
of maintenance. If these items were added, the approxi:
mate Ioss would include the value of prisoners’ labor+ at
an estimated sum of 75 cents per day, taking a daily average
of 18 prisoners for 250 days, or $3,375, and the cost of mali
tenance at $1.20 per week for 39 weeks, with the same daily
average of working prisoners assumed, or $842.40. Add
this to the $569.54, as above, and it will make a total loss
of $4,786.94,
‘The figures for the fiscal year of November 1, 1913, to
November 1, 1914, are as follows
Brash a 8.20 ger Sig-t2 tgne $675.59
28115 parton sabsrs 30.87
Ecce of expenditure aver eecipts. o.oo pes
We berth call the attencion of the Board of Sopervage to dh fac that the
tale of tren stone ta privae percons i a vlan of the Prion Lay and sho
‘ieee be dsconenied
On th bas of edz of lakar'on she day of te inaction, ease
uc tvoricds of che average daily number of prupnere ste etcgpedy dhe gues
te tauen from the record of October, e913. 0 September, 1914 inclusive.
372, Tat Prtsow Association or New York
Taking the whole period of 21 months covered by the
figures, we have the following:
Boughe Ho-72 1s
Sol Ba
‘Excess income over expenditure ven
for 21 months. The profits on the sale by comparison
of cost price with sale price for this period would be as
follows:
Soldat $1.15 per ton,
58-185 tape e998
ReeT BE ba on i
Apparent prof ar
‘Taking the best view of the case, that is, considering
purely the difference of cost price and sale price, there is
a profit of §37.5¢ for 21 months, Charge against this
“The slay of the pase far 24 spon
Th Slot te tpenoen fb dy avin
(Cone of maintenance of che ame average mimber a
‘isomers for at onthe, at B20 per meek 15133.20
Less pro of
$5,598.35
758
$9,560.64
‘This gives a total Joss, on that basis, of stone-breaking
by hand in Ontario County, of $9,560.64.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, Several fire extinguishers have been installed in the
jail. The need for fire extinguishers was pointed out in
previous reports.
2. Three meals a day are now given to all prisoners.
3. In the two rooms above the sheriff's section om the
second floor, additional washing, bathing and toilet facili
ties have been installed, so that new the two rooms can be
used independently of each other. ‘Two new beds have
also been installed in these rooms. This will make better
classification possible, The need for such was pointed out
in previous reports.
4. New brass faucets and other pipe fixtures have been
installed throughout the jail.
5. New wooden seats have been securely fastened onto
the‘tollets in each cell.
Insrections 373
6. The ceiling and walls of the sheriff's room have Leen
lined with a metallic covering. This will tend to retard
the progress of fire, The need for such improvement was
pointed out in report of August 23, 1913.
77. A steel stairway has been constructed to take the place
of the old, frail wooden stairway which gave access from
floor to floor. The need for this improvement was also
pointed out in report of August 23, 1913.
ORANGE COUNTY JAIL, GOSHEN.
Population
Inspected — By . ‘Minor “Adule Minor. Tota
3
uy 35,1984 Philp Klein
Sa 16,1904 Php lem ond
oe a Om.
The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Mute males,
Ade Feats.
Sino mses
st.
The sheriff of the county is William F. Sayer. He is assisted
by to jailers and a matron.
“The jail is a fireproof brick structure built directly onto the
rear of the courthouse. Te consists of three separate floors, each
accessible by an iron stairway located in the center of the building.
th floor is divided into sections, which gives splendid facilities for
classification and separation of the prisoners.
‘The cells in each section are of steel and are equipped with two
fron hinged beds, water-closet in a niche, and set washbasin with
running water connections. ‘The bedding consists of mattress and
blankets for males, and, for females, mattress, blankets, sheets and
pillow cases, ‘There ig also 2 covering in the form of a large pillow
slip for the mattress. ‘There is no padded cell. The building is
lighted by electricity and heated by steam and can be well ven
Eleceric fans are located at the top of the utility corridor which runs
between the backs of the cells in the various sections.
‘There is a jail yard. In conjunction with the jail the stone-
breaking industry is carried on. ‘This industry is not altogether
satisfactory from the financial side. The main trouble seems to
374 Taz Prison Association or New York
be in the disposition of the cracked stone. If the highway authori-
ties could be persuaded to cooperate with the jail officials for the
positive disposition of the stone, the results would be much better
and the industry could be further developed and maintained on
a large scale.
At the time of the inspection of July 25, ror4, a satisfactory
condition of cleanliness and order ws found. ‘The same can also
be said for the inspection of Seprember 11, 1914.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. A laundry should be installed so that the prisoners
can do all the laundry work for the Jall.
‘The clothing fumigator in the attic should be used,
3. The fans at the top of the utility corridors should be
4. The whole interlor of the jail should be patated a
whitish shade.
yyment for the Inmates of the Jail
yped. The stone-breaking industry
should be correlated with the highway work.
6, The key to the women’s department of the jail should
be in the possession of the matron or sheril,
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The uniforms for prisoners serving sentence, made of
striped ticking, are gradually being replaced by khaki
sults, In previous ceports the use of these striped sults
in this county was criti
ORANGE COUNTY JAIL, NEWBURGH.
Population.
—
Inepeced — ‘Minor “Adule Minor Tota
lr 26 one Php Kin, te eB
Sep8, 180) Php Klein 3s 8 &
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Adute males.
‘Aut Females roe
‘Minor fem. Win diae
alee 2s
Inspections 375
‘The jail is under che supervision of the undersherif, Issac B,
Loaiet, and under the general supervision of the sheriff, W. S. Sayer,
who has his headquarters at the county jail in Goshen.
‘The jail is buile direcely onto the rear of the courthouse and
north and south On che south end there is cellblock three
ties high and a similar celbock on the north end. ‘The tiers are
sible by an iron stairway which is buile in the cencral pare
of the jail. The backs of che cells are buile againse the walicy
corridor which runs parallel to the eastside wall. The fronts of the
tall face the windows on the west side wall. There are five cals
Each cel is equipped with a water-closet and with
one iron hinged bed with a wize spring bottom. There is also a set
washbasin with cunning water connections in each cell, and 2 shower-
lath compartment on each tier. The bedding consists of mattress,
Llankets, sheets and pillow cases. The mattresses ate protected by
1 kind of large pillow case made of leather.
On the thied floor, north end, ehere is « hospital room, sufciently
The building is fireproof and is
lange t0 provide for two beds.
equipped with seandpipes wich hose connections on each tier. The
building is heated by steam and lighted by electricity. The kitchen
js im the basement and the cooking is done by the prisoners. ‘The
Kitchen equipment consists of the usual household outf,
At the time of the inspection of July 26, 1914, the floors on all
the tiers and in all pares of the jail were dirty. ‘They evidenced
eglectful service on the part of the jailer. Similarly, it was found
chat the mattress and pillow cases were cither not supplied to the
prisoners, oF if supplied, were not actually placed upon the mattresses
or pillows. This action shows unsatisfactory supervision on the
part of the jailer. The undersheriff promised to have this con-
dition remedied.
« the time of the inspe:
jon of September 23, r914, it was found
that the bedding in unoccupied cells was left in the cells. This is
not a good practice. Some of the beds were not made up. The
se cans had no covers. Nor were all of the mattresses provided
with the usual slips. The cleanliness was found to have improved
considerably since the last inspection.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The screen on the window in the hospital room Is
attached to the inside of the window and is open. This
should be locked at all times, and if the window construc-
tion does not permit this while the window is open, then
the screen should be attached to the outside of the window.
376 ‘Te Patson Assoctatton or New Yor
2, There is direct access from the outside to the windows
on the west side of the jail and frequent disturbances are
caused, and are likely to be caused by friends or prisoners,
or by the curious. ‘There should be a fence at least eight
feet high, built at a distance of at least ten feet from this
wall of the jail, to prevent communication. This recom-
mendation is particularly urged as extremely necessary.
3. The jail has not yet received the coat of paint that
hhas several times been recommended. I¢ should be applied
as soon as possible to prevent deterioration of the steel
work,
4. Garbage cans should be kept covered all the time.
5. Occupied beds should be regularly made up at all hours
of the day.
6. No bedding should be loft in unoccupied cells. Each
prisoner on admission should receive a clean set of clothing
and bed clothing which he should take along with him
in the supervision
slips are properly
stalled where the prisoners
would do all the laundry work for the Jail. At present
the laundry is sont out and costs the county a considerable
sum weekly.
9. There should be s mate cook employed.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, The uniforms for prisoners serving sentence, made of
striped ticking, are gradually being replaced by Khaki suits.
In previous reports the use of these striped suits in this
county was criticised.
ORLEANS COUNTY JAIL, ALBION.
Population
“Mate a
Tnwpecesd— By —
Marts. 914 ER. Cas
Bec thing ER Ge
Inspections 377
TThe capacity of the jail is as follows:
aocgle
With Raut
Minor males
The jail is under the supervis CM. Bartlett,
He is assisted by an undersheriff, a jailer, a cook, and a matron.
The jail is a modern three-story fireproof structure built onto,
and at right angles with, the shevif’s residence.
‘On the first and second floors there is a steel cellblock, divided
in the center by a utility corridor. ‘There are five cells on a side.
The cells are of fair size and are equipped with ewo iron hinged
beds, a water-clorer in the niche, and a set washbasin. Unfortu
nately, one side of the jail is somewhat dark because of the adjoining.
buildings.
(On the third oor there is @ small steel cellblock, similar in design
to the one on the Roar helow, except that there are only three cells
on each side. The rear part of che third floor consists of two separate
haspital rooms, In the basement, there is a tramp room, equipped
with iron hinged beds and a water-closet. This room is used as
2 police lockup.
Grand jury: prisoners, female prisoners and juvenile prisoners are
supplied with mattress, blankets, sheets and pillow cases. Adult
male prisoners serving sentence receive only mattress and blanket.
At the time of the inspection of March 13, 1914, a highly satis-
factory condition of cleanliness and order prevailed throughout the
jail
At the time of the inspection of December 11th similar conditions
prevailed.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. The wooden stairway, which is the only means of access
from floor to floor, presents a serious situation in the event
‘This condition is highly aggravated because of 2
ft which runs upward from the basement to the
roof and forms one side of the stairway. If fire started in
the basoment and broke through the glass in the airshaft,
it would quickly spread to the stairway and in a short
e destroy it. This wooden stairway should be replaced
by an iron one, and fire extinguishers should be installed
In the jai
2. The light shaft does not satisfactorily perform its
function and occupies much available space. ‘The window
‘Tue Prison Association of New York
378
sashes in this shaft on each floor are stationary. T!
scheme was no doubt devised so as to prevent draft in case
of fire, but it would not take much heat to break the glass.
ttle danger would be incurred if the gush in the basement
‘windows were made so that they could be put up and down,
This would help decidedly in bringing about better ventila-
tion and at the same time prev.
from the kitchen coming into the jell, the sheri
and the sherifi’s tiving quarter:
3. The toilet seats are in a viretched condition and unless
this condition is remedied immediately
the county a lange amount of mon:
In many counties the sheriffs have success
the toilet difficulty by
work around the toilet seat,
lead, and, lastly, placing a layer of cement 0
surface of the ironwork, taking care to have it high on the
ends so that the surface will gradually slope Into the opening
of the toilet. This scheme is inexpensive and will add
considerably to the sanitary condition and appearance of
the toilets. Gasoline is about the only thing known to
terior of the toilet bowls free from foreign matter,
frequently. The iron
slide doors should be removed from the niche,
4. The present drainage difficulty should be remedied by
relaying the pipes with a proper pitch.
vashing machine should be installed
$0 that the blankets znd the clothes of the prisoners can be
properly washed.
6. The county authorities should realize that the deplor-
able idleness which exists in the jalf does everything but
help a man reform or keep him from getting into the jail
again, It is to the interest of the people of the county,
both financially and for the public safety, that a prisor
should leave the jail a better man morally, physically
and mentally. Ie is not fair to expect this if the men
are to spend weeks and months at time in total idleness.
Several counties have met with success with their county
jail farms. ‘These farms are the means of saving money
for the county, and also keeping the jail population at a
minimum. In conjunction with the jail farm, highway
work and stone-breaking can be carried on.
Inspections 379
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YBAR.
1. The interior side walls throughout the jail have been
repainted a bright serviceable color.
2. The interior of the kitchen, boiler-room, tramp-room,
and the corridors in the basement have been repainted,
and the ceiling in the tramp-room has been kalsomined.
New mattresses have heen distributed.
3. All prisoners now receive three meals a day. (This
was recommended in report of August 31, 1913.)
OSWEGO COUNTY JAIL, OSWEGO.
Population
Mae Fenn
Ipectod— By — Baik, Minor. “Adsk
tsar E.R. Css eS
Roe gigrg ER Cen a4
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Minor males
‘The sheriff of the county is M.A. Stranshan who makes }
headquarters at the Oswego jail. He also has general supervision
ver the jail at Pulaski. Hle is assisted by an undersheriff and two
jailers, a guard and a matron
‘The jail is a three-story brick structure of two separate wings.
‘The two wings face north and south. The building is located upon
2 bluff, with plenty of open ground on all sides. It is fireproof,
fas standpipes with hose connections on the different floors, and
a steel stairway gives access to each floor. In each wing of the first
and second floors there isa large steel cellblock. Each eel is equipped
‘vith one iron hinged bed. The bedding consists of a mattress,
blanket, sheet and pillow case. The mattress is protected by tick
covering which is removed once a week and washed. In each cell
there is also a toilet in the niche and 2 set washbasin with running
water connections. Shower-baths are available.
“The third floor is the same in both wings. Each wing is divided
into two parts. One half is occupied by a small steel cellblock with
four cells on a side and the other half consists of two separate hospital
380
Tus Prisox Association of New York
rooms, The building is heated by steam and lighted by electricity,
and the very large windows, which run practically the full height
of the building, give plenty of light and ventilation. Thete is 2
jail yard, bur unfortunately ic is not frequently used for exercising
the prisoners.
Idleness is the most noticeable factor in the daily life of the jail
So tong as this condition exists, the prisoners will be a big financial
burden to the county and the possibility of reformation will be
greatly handicapped. Section 93 of the County Law authorizes the
Board of Supervisors to employ jail labor on a county farm, or on
the highways and in the county buildings.
Section 29 of Article 3 of the State Constitution prohibits che
employment of jail labor for the benefit of a private corporation
for an individual. There are two splendid opportunities for the
‘employment of jail Iabor in this county. One is on the jail’ farm
and the other at scone-breaking. The jail farm has been in operation
now for some time, but the results show that jail labor has not been
advantageously utilized. This is probably due to the present plan
which puts the jail farm under separate management. In the past,
the tack of cooperation between the sheriff and the superintendent
of the farm no doube has recarded progress. The farm is used
chiefly for obtaining dairy products. There are about 94 acres,
small part of this being woodland.
The total receipts from December, 1913, to November 7, 1914,
approximate $847.63. Most of this represents the sale of milk and
soime live stock, and includes a small amount received from the sale
of hay and potatoes
Se Lawrence County, at Canton, has a Go-aere farm which is
managed for the county under the direct supervision of the sherif.
Lirtle attention is given to dairy farming. The value of the vegetable
product, which includes the sale of hay and comstalks for the year
1gt4, amounts co $1,518.00. This is almost twice as enuch as the
amount obtained from the big farm in Oswego County. ‘The sheriff
employs nothing but jail labor, and, because of the large proceeds
from the jail farm, he has been able to reduce the weekly per capita
cost of maintenance during the last year from 81.46 to $1.27. ‘The
value of the farm products for the year 1913 amounted to $1-392.25
Including che cost of equipment, and allowing for the construction
work done by prisoners, the products of the farm have practically
Paid for it in the past ewo years.
‘There seems to be no good reason why Oswego County cannot
hhave as good, if noe better, resules from their big farm. In order
Inserctions 381
to do s0, it is fundamental to put the farm under the supervision
of the sheriff and hold him responsible for the result. ‘The sheriff,
in turn, can employ an expert farmer who will direct the work of the
prisoners, with the assistance of a guard, and be solely responsible
tw the sheriff. The produce of the farm should be used in the iil,
ais the case in Se. Lawrence County.
Ac the present time the storeroom in the basement of the Se. Law
rence County courthouse is stocked with a sufficient supply of vege-
tables for the jail to lase until the nexe crop.
In order to bring che farm up to a satisfactory standard, sufficient
work is at hand in the removing of stones and the clearing of the
fields, This work can be undertaken at once, and with the opening.
of the next farming season the condition will be far more satisfactory.
In conjunetion with the farm work, the stone gathered from the
felds can be brought to the jail yard and broken.
It will be necessary for the supervisors to establish some means
cof employment beside the jail farm, in order to have available
work during the late fall and winter months. It would be well to
consider the opening of a quarry somewhere near the jail, in order
to catty on stone-breaking on a large scale, as is done in Onondaga
County. Sufficient stone could be broken here to supply all of the
towns throughout the county. The present stone-breaking, which
Js done at intervals by the prisoners, is not at all satisfactory. Te
is possible to do the work om 2 much larger scale, and it is suggested
that the county superintendent of highways be consuleed relative
o securing a quarry, and, furchermore, to employing the prisoners
fon the highways in some of the neighboring towns. In the towns of,
Oswego, Scriba and Richland, there is plenty of available work.
Jail labor could be used in laying the sub-bases on some of these
toads. Section 7o of the State Highway Law permits the Board of
Supervisors to ask the cooperation of the town superintendent of
highways.
Ac the time of the inspection of February 1th, the entire jail,
including the bedding, toilet, corridors and stairways, was in a
highly satisfactory condition of cleanliness. The prisoners had no
complaints to offer relative to the treatment accorded them and
to the quality and quantity of food.
‘Ae the time of the inspection of November 14th, 2 highly satis
factory condition of cleanliness existed in all parts of the jail. There
was a violation of Section 92 of the County Law, relative to the
separation of adules and minors. A young lad of seventeen was
awaiting examination and was being held in the west section of
382 Tar Prison Association or New York
the second floor with adult prisoners. This was brought to the
attention of the turnkey who explained thar while there was plenty
Gf available cellzoom on the chitd floor of che south wing the juvenile
prisoners were not detained there because they complained of
Tonesomeness. This is not a good reason for keeping minors and
especially designed for the protection
adules cogether. The la
Of minors, on the presumption that it is inadvisable when dealing
specially wich 2 jail population co mix minors and adults
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. Te is strongly urged that the Board of Supervisors give
special attention to the recasting of the jail farm manage-
ment. It is evident that the present plan of working the
‘of beneat financially to the county or
act as an agent f fare of the prisoners. The plan
of renting the farm to the sheriff for a per annum con-
Sideration, and giving to him the full use of the jail Iabor,
isa violation of Section 29 of Article 3 of the State Consti-
tution. It 1s urged that the Board of Supervisors adopt
the same plan that is fa vogue in St. Lawrence County.
‘Phat is, the sheriff should be in charge of the farm and
work the same for the interests of the county and asa
Teformative agent in dealing with the prisoners.
‘The present plan of allowing the sheriff $2 per prisoner
per week for board should be abolished and the system
Used in practically all of the other counties should be
established, ‘Thirty-three of the counties are feeding
their prisoners for fess than §2 per week.
4. Prisoners showld be exercised frequently in the jail
yard.
3. The laws relative to the classification and separation
of prisoners should be strictly observed.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. Prior to receiving the last report of this Association,
the Board of Supervisors made a contract with the sheriff,
renting to him the county farm and the labor of the
prisoners for $400 per annum. In the recommendations of
Our last report it was pointed out that this was a violation
Of a section of the State Constitution. The supervisors
conferred with the county attorney and the contract was
cancelled.
Insrections
OSWEGO COUNTY JAIL, PULASKI.
jetta RM, lard and Population,
A ines, Mom
The staff consists of a matron and a turnkey. —
‘There seems to be no good reason for maintaining the Pulaski jail.
pe deleee edt erg tng arlagelns
384 Tae Prisow Assoctarion or New York
mattress and blankets. Because of the inadequate light and venti-
lation, this room is unsanitary and presents a wretched condition
which should not in the least be tolerated
Tn a dark, ill-ventilared section of the basement on the north end,
thete is a stecl cell buile up against the foundation wall. The cell
is locared below the ground level and is not a fit place in which to
keep human being.
The women’s quarters consist of one small oom on the main
oor, west side. Iv is fairly well lighted and is equipped with an
iron cot bed and modern plumbing. It is not customary to hold
female prisoners in this jail.
‘The condition of cleanliness at the time of the above inspection
was fairly satisfactory. ‘The inspectors were decidedly displeased
with the physical conditions, especially the dark room
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Ie is urgently recommended that necessary steps be taken
by the Board of Supervisors to discontinue the use of the
jail at Pulaski even for short-term men. There seems to
be no need for this antiquated jail, in view of the fact that
the county has @ very good jail in Oswego.
If it is found necessary to continue che use of the Pulaski
jail it is strongly urged that It be put in a condition which
will make it a fit place to house prisoners.
OTSEGO COUNTY JAIL, COOPERSTOWN.
Population
By— Adult. Minor. “Adule: Minor. Total
a oe 4
ospected
Jan. 20,1914 E.R. Case
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Advte males ro gl
Abul females :
‘Minar females.
Minor malen
‘Wink sul females
sell
‘The jail is under the supervision of Sheriff Ziba Holbrook who
receives no regular salary but works under the fee system. He is
assisted by a jailer; Mrs. Holbrook acts as matron and cook,
Insrecrions 385
The jail is a stone structure consisting of two separate floors. On
each floor there is a divided cellblock of stecl. There is also
4 hospital room on the second floor rear. Each cell is equipped with
so iron hinged beds. Bedding consises of mattress, blankets,
sheess and pillow cases. Te is usually necessary to pue two prisoners
in each call, with the exception of the juvenile department. Each
call is also equipped with a collet and a set washbasin and running
water, The jail is not sufficiently large to accommodate the needs
fof the county. In the absence of a cown lock-up, the local police
court eases are sent to the jail. There is no jail yard; here is no
means of employment. At the time of the inspection, the con-
ition of cleanliness was satisfactory and the prisoners’ expressed
satisfaction as co treatment and food.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1, Some of the available space on the county grounds
adjacent to the jail should be enclosed by a wall in order
ive a jail yard in which the prisoners can be exercised.
Itis quite necessary that every human being should receive
some daily out-door exercise in order to preserve his health.
A jail should by no means be a hoalth-breaker, irrespective
of che type of man that is confined within its walls.
2, ‘The absence of employment for the prisoners results
in a deplorable condition of idleness. For many cases the
jail is che place where a law-breaker can possibly be cor-
rected, provided there is some incentive to tura him from
his path of wrong-doing. Work for the prisoners not only
serves as a correctional agent for many, but also as a deter-
rent for unprincipled men who prefer to spend their time
in idleness as fong as they are assured of their daily meals
and a place to sleep.
Section 93 of the County Law authorizes the Board of
Supervisors to provide means of employment for the inmates
serving sentence in the jail, on the county buildings, high-
ways or otherwise. Section 70 of the State Highway Law
‘opens the way for the Board of Supervisors to obtain the
co-operation of the town superintendents of highways for
employment of prisoners on the highways. In Franklin
County the jail prisoners were successfully employed on
the town and county highways. In St. Lawrence County
the authorities maintain a jail farm in conjunction wit
the jail. A farm consisting of 60 acres was purchased for
as
386 Tue Prisox Assoctarton or New York
about $40 an acre; it is situated a mile from the jail. The
prisoners are brought to and from the jail in a wagon. In
two years the value of the farm products, and the value
of the improvement and construction work on the f
have practicaily repaid to the county treasury the cost and
maintenance of the farm. Oswego County also m:
a farm. ‘Tioga County employs its prisoners on
ways and also on the county pocrhouse farm. During the
fer months, as a substitute for farm work, stone
Dreaking is carried on. Stone-breaking as the oaly industry
for a jail is a failure financially and otherwise. {f-conducted
on a large scale and correlated with highway work, it can
‘be made profitable.
3. The necessity of doubli
all of the time makes it imperative the:
enlarged.
4. padded cell is needed in every jail. A celi of this
kind guards an inmate from injury and reifeves the manage-
ment from unwarranted suspicions of brutality.
5. Otsego County Is one of the few counties still working
on the fee system, This plan has many objectionable
features and should be discontinued. The sheriff and hls
assistants should be paid a regular salary.
\-up the prisoners practically
Phe jail should be
PUTNAM COUNTY JAIL, CARMEL.
Population.
s aul
Towpected— By —
July 1914 E.R. Cas
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Adele mal roel
ese female
Minor females u
‘The sheriff of the county ie H.R. Winship who resides in a town
some distance from the jail. The business and supervision of the
jail are practically in the hands of the undersheriff who is als
Known as the jailer and resides at the jail. There is no permanent
matron. Wornen are not frequently detained at the jail, but in
this event it was said that they are cared for by the janitor and
occasionally by ehe undersherif’s wife
‘The jail is a two-story brick structure built onto the rear of the
courthouse, ‘The intetior is finished in brick. ‘The floors are of
Ixsrections
387
stove andthe stairway leading tothe second foor is of ron. Electric
Tighe are in the corridors and the building is heated by steam. On
the fast foo: there isa civided sted cellolock; exch cell equipped
2 see washbasin, 1 tolee and ew0 ion hinged boda. The
ding, wbich isthe tame throughout the jai, cones of mattress,
paket sheets and pillow cases. On'the second Gaor shere are
rsa seoreroam and the other aaa juny room. The room used 8
dloreroom and the one used as a pry room cannot be entered from
the jal The tooms ate equipjed, with iron hinged beds, sollet
Si wathbasin. There iso jail yard. In the absence ofa wall
fence around the jail eis an eany matter for persons on the
mtsde Wo pose coneraband goods ints the ik Thivepplcs pecially
3 Scho are decamned in the Mpper toons Where Neco
The janitor was in charge at the time of the inspection, The
qucstion is raised whether the janitor, who is not a deputy sheriff,
naa the right +0 carry the keys and represent the sherif or the under-
sheriff in their absence
\c the time of the above inspection, prisoners serving sentence
lhud che full ran of the ground floor. Because of this, grand jury
pviwners and prisoners serving sentence could easily converse with
cach other. This is a violation of Section g2 of the County Law.
A satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed throughout the
jnil and the prisoners expressed satisfaction as to the treatment
accorded them,
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. The laws relative to the classification and separation
of prisoners should be strictly complied with.
2. Heavy wire screens should be placed on the outside
of the windows of the jail so as to prevent the smuggling
of contraband goods into the jail.
3A more adequate and niodern laundry equipment
should be installed. If stationary tubs with running water
were installed in the basement, conditions would be greatly
improved.
4. The system now in vogue, which pays the undersheriff
per prisoner per week for board, should be discon-
tinued. This is, in part, a survival of the old fee system
Which carried with it much abuse.
‘Women prisoners should be looked after by a matron.
The keys to the female section should be in possession of
388 Tue Prison Association or New York
the sheriff or matron only. It is inadvisable for male
employees to enter the female section if unaccompanied
by the matron.
QUEENS COUNTY JAIL.
(Civil Prison only.)
Insreeren wy Pati KEIN, Juuy 30, 1914.
‘The sherif is George Emener, the under sheriff, Samuel Micchel
This prison is under the direct jurisdiction of the sheriff and is
intended for civil prisoners only. Iris located in a building connecting
the Queens County Coure House with the City Prison, Queens, on
the second oor of the building. The other foors of the building
are either not used at all or used pardy as workshops under the
Borough President of Queens. The jail consists of what may be
called a five-room flat. The entrance is through a room, the second
from one end, To the right of this entrance, or vestibule, is the office
of the Keepers to che left, are three rooms, of which the nearest is
used as dining-toom and kitchen, the one following as bathroom,
land the last as bedroom for prisoners, containing two iron beds,
"The average population of the jail is about one. During the months
of May, June and July there were a total of five prisoners admiteed
Judging by the number of meals taken by these five prisoners during
the three months, which totaled 246, there were 82 days spent by
the five prisoners during the three months, ‘This means a little
over fifteen days per prisoner (or a daily average of one-half prisoner
per day). Considering the small aumber of prisoners, it appears
that the lack of facilities for classification is not dangerous. More
serious is the fact that there is no provision for female prisoners.
There are generally orders for arrest against women outstanding
which cannot be executed by the sheriff because he has no facilities
for their detention. Arrangements are generally made between the
sheriff and the judge for disposition of these cases without arrest
The jail is heated by steam, lighted by electricity, and has sufficient
window ventilation, The floor is of wood and probably rests on
fireproof tiles. Where the ceiling shows, on account of repairs in
the lighting system, this fireproof tle is observable. Ie is, of cours,
only conjecture that the material separating the floor below is the
the floor above,
same as that separating the rooms from
The keepers, as well as the prisoners, are entitled to all meals
while on duty. This means, in most cases, a total of three meals
per day for the keepers. In the office of the keeper there isa bed.
Inspections
389
The staff consists of the warden and two keepers. ‘The warden
is Frank Schulte, at a salary of $1,200 per annum. The keepers are
William Syches and John Goff, exch at a salary of $900 per annum.
‘The cleaning is done by a woman employed for that purpose at a
salary of $600 per annum. ‘The food for both keepers and prisoners
is obtained from the City Prison, Queens, which is situated in the
adjoining building. The necessary financial arrangements for this
purpose are made between the sheriff and the Department of Correc-
‘A paradoxical situation obtains at this prison, ‘The average
number of inmates is not sufficient to justify the maintenance of
4 prison on the one hand, and on the other hand the prison as main
tained is inadequate for its purposes
Because of the unsuitable nature of the quarters for the purposes
of the jail, it gives the impression of disorder and neglect, although
25 2 matter of fact, the cleanliness of the jail seemed to be sati-
factory,
RECOMMENDATION MADE.
It is recommended that the civil jail for Queens County
be done away with, and that the county make arrange-
ments with some neighboring county —and if necessary,
obtain legislation for the purpose — for the safe-keeping
of civil prisoners from Queens County. It is suggested
that such arrangements be made through the proper
authorities, namely, the Sinking Fund Commission and
the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, and that the
ings County Civil Jail be designated as the efvil jail for
the use of Queens County as well.
RENSSELAER COUNTY JAIL, TROY,
Population
By Teal
fete EB Con 5
Hay ois ER Gan
‘The capacity of the jal is as follows
Adat ales 2 fo ole
‘ut fens,
floor females He
Miter males 4
390 Ta Prison Association or New York
‘The sheriff of the county is H, W. Snell. He is assisted by a jail
seaff, made up of an undersheriff, a jailer, am assiseant jailer, a night
watchman, ewo janitors, a matron, 2 cook, three firemen, and two
supervisors for the loom work in the shop.
‘The jail is a brick fireproof structure, consisting of two wings,
tone to the north of the sheriff's residence and the other to the south
Each wing consists of three separate Hoors and a basement. On the
first and second floor of each wing there is a modern type of eel:
block, and on the third floor of each there are two separate sections
‘one section consists of a small celblock and the other section is used
‘asa hospital and for witness's eels are equipped with 3
toilet, set washbasin, with running water connections, and one ie
hinged hed. ‘The building is heated by steam and lighted by ele
tricity. The large windows in che side walls, which eun practical
the full height of the building, give an abundance of lig
possible good ventilation. jail
in which loom in the
fa mattress and blankets, with the addition of
ard and slso
ells are furnished with
cers and pillow case
for the female prisoners, and for the male prisoners a pillow cxse
There is cell, and shower-baths sre available
‘At the time of the inspection of January 14
violation of the laws relative to the
of prisoners, A minor was with adult p
jury prisoner was in the same section with
Sentence. The toilets, bathtubs and wash
clean and in working order.
in many cases the bedding was carelessly throws
A fair condition of cleanliness. prevailed
fon some of the cooking utensils, The utensils used in serving food
to the prisoners were clean. A fair condition of cleanliness prevailed
jn the store-closets. Gn the whole, cleanliness was not so good 2
that of the previous inspection.
‘At the time of the inspection of May 11, 1914, 2 much improved
and satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed throughout the
entire jal
At the time of the inspection of September 17, 1914, 2 violation
‘of Section 92 of the County Lave existed; grand jury prisoners were
‘The cleonliness and ores
At the
time of this inspection a survey was made of the system of employ
ment now in vague and also of the possibilities for the establish
ment of some other kind of employment.
rong, there was 9
soners, and an adule grand
adult prisoners serving
owls throuighout vere
The beds and bedd
the kitchen.
‘confined with prisoners serving sencence.
and the general management of the jail were satisfactory’
Inseecrions
The records of the jail from April 1st ro Sepeember 2ot
show a daily average populacion as fllows
a 68.6
ir Ss
ity 3
Ages, a
Srpucmbue 7
A daly average of approinately 0
Judging from the number of admissions per annum, and by the
‘omposition of che population on the day of inspection, we may
sesume that some 6o per cent. of this population consists of prisoners
serving sentence. (There are no records in the jail from which co
sere absolutely teliable information on ehis point.) In other
words, there is an average of from 3§ to 40 prisoners serving sentence
the Rensselaer County Jail, presumably condemned to hard labor.
Up to abour a year ago there was no provision whatsoever for
their employment. Recently, however, there have been installed
some ten looms in the weaving shop, situated back of the jail yard.
The looms are said «0 have cost $85 each, or a total of $350. Two
instructors are employed at $75 2 month. Blankets and towels
re manufaccured, Up eo the time of the inspection there had been
some 400 yards of toweling and 350 blankets manufactured, to be
old at the rate of 15 cents per yard for the toweling, and $3.15 to
55.g0 per blanket. ‘There was a large accumulation of this material,
i t0 be some 300 yards of toweling and 309 blanket
of che inspection. Only 4o blankets and 100 yards of toweling had
been sold up to that time. In other words, disregarding the amount
{ the investment in the construction of the shops and the purchase
of the looms, there was an income of approximately $150, as against
1m expenditure on supervision alone of $1,800 per annum. The
cost of the material, and other matters that it would be necessary
to know in a proper estimate of the cost price, were at that time
not available. There is information chat at che time of che writing
Df this report (December, 1914), a considerable amount of the
lankers and toweling manufactured has been sold.
Ie is beyond question, and is admitted by the authorities, that
this weaving industry ae the jail is a considerable financial loss.
For the sake of the teformation and rehabilitation of the prisoners,
however, this would be of minor importance if the industry were
of a kind best ficted for making men; bur as a matter of fact, che
number employed at the looms is very small. On several visits
ducing the two days at the time of the inspection, the inspector
at the time
‘Tue Paisox Association or New York.
392
never found more than 3 prisoners at work on the looms, although
ie is said that there are at times 6 or 8, But it is not enough that
this 6 oF 8 out of a population of 35 to 40 can be properly employed,
and it is important that they all he employed at hard, but healthful,
labor, the kind that will serengthen their bodies and fit th
as possible, for labor on their discharge from the jail,
‘The record of the weaving industry at the Rensselaer County
Jail does not justify it is a means of occupation, either from the
standpoint of quality of labor, che financial side of it, or the amount
fof work that can be furnished.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. After prisoners detailed to the kitchen and other
parts of the jail have. finished their work, they should he
returned to the corridors, instead of being permitted to
Iounge around the kitchen and baseme:
2. The bedding, after being aired for a sufficient amount
of time, should be folded and placed at one end of the
Prisoners should not be perraitted to lounge on their
1y should be given (o all prisoners.
4. The jailer should insist that the prisoners keep them-
selves and their beds in a clean and tidy condition.
5. All inmates of the jail, including grand jury prisoners,
should have an opportunity to exercise in the jail yard, if
not daily, mes a week. With the
present staff, there seems to be no reason why this cannot
bbe done.
6. The rust is gradually destroying the
rounding the tops of the toilet bowls.
Permanently remedy this unsanitary condition,
counties have been successful wich the followin,
of cement should be aid eround the oval top and gradually
pitch toward the opening so as to insure proper drainage.
7. The window panes In the women's department facing
the yard should be replaced by ground glass, so as to prevent
the prisoners from being seen.
8. A record should be kept at the jail which will show
as a permanent record the aumber confined in the jail
each day, subdivided as to male or female, male or female
minors, serving sentence, awaiting trial, or indicted, await.
ing transfer, etc. It is impossible from the present record
ironwork sur-
Painting will not
Severs
Ixseections 393
{0 tell anything of the total number of prisoners each day.
‘To ascertain from the records the average number of pris-
oners serving sentence is impossible.
9. Prisoners serving sentence and those awaiting court
action should not be allowed to mingle.
10. There are in Rensselaer County upward of 1,100 miles
of unimproved town highways. There is nothing that is
more important for the development and prosperity of
a county than good roads. Yet, from taxation and State
aid there was available for the improvement of this 1,100
mniles of highways in 1913, only $56,198.66, or Tess than
‘0 per mile, expended on road work proper on the town
highways. Most of this money is expended on labor, and
what is more, this labor on the town highways is not always
nallable and not always of the proper kind. Tt will be a
blessing for the town highways to have the labor of upward
of thirty men given to thera, Why not perform a double
Service, both to the county on the one hand and to its
prisoners on the other hand, by turning the county jail
prisoners on the road work for the town highways?
Section 93 of the County Law, which is quoted here in
part, provides for such employment of prisoners:
“. . 4 4 4. ‘The board of supervisors of the several
counties are authorized to employ convicts under sentence
to confinement in the county jails, in building and repair-
ing penal institutions of the county, and in building and
ing the hightoays in their respectioe conntiss or in preparing
le waierials for sale to and for the wse cotties, fo
‘lager and citie ; and to make rules and regulations
for their employment; and the said board of supervisors
is hereby authorized to cause money to be raised by taxation
for the purpose of furnishing materials and carrying this
provision into effect; and the courts of this state are hereby
authorized to sentence convicts committed to detention
in the county jails to such hard labor as may be provided
for them by the boards of supervisors
Section 70 of the Highway Law provides for the requisition
of prisoners for town highways. We quote:
“after satisfying himself that proper quarters can be
secured, the town superintendent may, with the consent
394 Tue Prison Association or New York
of the town board, request the supervisor of the town,
under the provisions of section 93 of the county law, t0
procure the services of prisoners serving sentence in ‘tl
county jail, for general work upon the highways of the
town.”
‘Thus, it would be possible to keep all jail prisoners health-
fully employed throughout the spring, summer and early
fall on highway work.
AS to the particular plan of arrangement of this work,
and for the provision of supplementary labor for the winter
months, we submit the following plan which we have
discussed with the State Highway Department, and wit
Mr. Chas. A, Roemer, county superintendent of highways
of Rensselaer County:
‘The Board of Supervisors should empower and direct
the sheriff to furnish prisoners for Inbor on highways under
the direction of the county superintendent of Highways
If the work is to be done on town highways the cow
superintendent should arrange for che proper towns to
requisition for prisoners in accordance with Section 70 of
the Highway Law. The best finencial arrangement would
probably be to have the town for which euch labor is pe
formed pay the maintenance, guarding and transport
Wn expenses of the prisoners. If this should prove to be
too great, the county and town might share the maintenance
expense, or the transportation expense, but should such
work be performed on county roads, to be built wholly by
the county at county expense, the town sitould be required
to contribute a certain percentage of the expense, as is
done, for example, in Onondaga County. The manoge-
ment of the road work by the county superintendent is
suggested, because he would he in a position to know just
which towns are most in aced of road improvement, and
should, therefore, be £2)
Road work, whether on tows highways or county roads,
is, however, le only during the open season, Yet
there should be employment during che winter to keep
the prisoners equally busy.
We, therefore, propose that the county buy or lease a
quarry, favorably situated from the standpoint of the jail
and the railroads. In this quarry, under the supervision
Inspections 395
of the county superintendent of highways, there should be
prepared, during the wincer months, stone for building, to
beapplied on the highways of che county during the summer
months. Quarrying can be carried on during the winter
exept on the severest days.
iis plan is entirely feustble and has been worked out
as.a whole, or in part, in other counties and in the State
icularly, the experience of Onondaga County is
in this connection,
viow of the si 1 deplorable idleness in the
ner County Jail, of the inadequacy and impractica-
adustrial occupation, such as weaving, in view of
the needs of the roads, and the possibility of combining
the greatest amount of good for the county, towns and the
prisoners by this plan, we herewith strongly recommend
that the Board of Supervisors appoint at its carliest con-
Ie
emer, county superintendent
iff, for the purpose of realizing
ways, and with the sl
ome such plan.
The county may be assured of the co-operation of the
State Highway Deparment, of the officials of other counties
ave had experience ia this work, and of the Prison
ade extensive inquiries into this
ROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
nteriors of the boiler-room, kitchen and Inundry
Were repainted. It was necessary to expend money only
‘or material. The work was done by the prisoners.
2. The condition of cleantiness at the time of the last
inspections was more satisfactory than at the time of
he first inspection. ‘The uncleanliness was criticised in
the first report,
RICHMOND COUNTY JAIL, RICHMOND,
Staten Island, New York City
Population.
‘Wake
Impacted — By —
“Adule. Minor
ny 61914. E.R. Cave 63
396 Tar Prison Association of New York
The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Minor femal.
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, Joseph P. O'Grady
who is assisted by a warden, 4 keepers, 2 macrons, 1 cook, 1 finger:
print expert and 1 farm hand. ‘This jail is situated within che
bounds of Greater New York, but it is not under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Correction. Te is located on a high piece
of land and has exposure om chree sides,
The building is a three-story fireproof struccure, Ie is lighted by
lectricity and heated by steam. ‘The windows are large and afford
ample light for the interior and make adequate ventilation possible.
The first and secand floors are for male prisoners. On each floor
there is a steel cellblock, divided by a utilicy corridor. Each cel is
equipped with an iron hinged bed, a coilet in the niche, a set
washbasin and a drinking cup. ‘The bedding consists of mattress,
Dlankets, sheers and pillow cases. In the feinale departmene there
is a cellblock similar in design and construction to the one on th
floor below. Consultation or visiting booths, in both the male
and female departments, are well consteucted 0 as to give privai
and prevent the smugeling of contraband articles into the jail, There
is plenty of available space for a jail yard, but in the absence of
a wall it is not used. A small garden is maintained in conjunction
with the jail. Ac the time of the above inspection, a highly satis.
factory condition of cleanliness prevailed in all parts of the jal
The beds were neatly arranged and clean sheets and pillow eases
were very much in evidence in every cell. The prisoners were
‘engaged in thoroughly sccubbing the ironwork and floors.
RECOM
1, Furnish the material for the painting of the interior
of the jail and let the prisoners do the painting under the
supervision of some capable person.
2. Obviate the unsightly and unsanitary toilet con-
dition by filling in the base of the niche in each cell with 3
layer of cement.
3. A jail yard should be provided so that the inmates of
the jail may have an opportunity for outdoor exercise
‘There is plenty of available ground for a yard, which can be
enclosed by a brick wall.
Inseeerions 397
4, The small garden scheme outside of the jail should be
the mucleus of a jail farm. With the addition of some
more land, enough farm work would be available to pro-
vide for many prisoners.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YRAR.
1, The bars and the sides of the cells on each floor have
been thoroughly scrubbed. To some extent, this has im-
proved the appearance very much.
2. The toilet sets in the niche have been painted black.
‘The need for improving the toilet condition was pointed
out in the report of December 6, 1913.
3, Since August I, 1914, a male cook has been employed
the jail. The inadvisability of having a female cook
was brought to the attention of the sheriff in previous
reports and interviews.
ROCKLAND COUNTY JAIL, NEW CITY.
By Population
31,1914. E.R. Cos
16 adule ales
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Minor males ‘Sells
The jail is under che supervision of the sheriff, L. W. Servin.
He is assisted by a jailer and a matron.
The jail is an old structure buile directly onto one side of the
courthouse. The courthouse is not a fireproof structure, and in
the event of fire there would be very litele chance of protecting the
inmates of the jail. The plan of construction in the jail does not
permit the proper separation of prisoners. The celle are arranged
fon the cage plan, two tiers of cells on a side, five cells on a tier
‘The prisoners on’ the first and second tiers can communicate with
each other by voice. The cells are not equipped with water-closets,
but one water-closet is at the end of each corridor, and ae the same
place 2 washbasin with running water is located. The bucket
system is used in each cell. There are two iron hinged beds in each
cell, The bedding consists of straw mattresses, sheets and pillow
‘Tar Prison Association or New York
398
cases and blankets. There is no padded cell. The women’s seetion
consists of three rooms on the second floor and is accessible by
‘The Roors and partitions of this section are
of wood, ‘The windows are heavily barred. The raomis are small
and it is necessary #0 place 94 many ss four hede clasel together
in one room ar times to accommodate the number of prisoners.
There are no bathing accommodations for the women, it being
necessary to carty tubs of water from the oueside
On the first floor there is a large room in which there are to
small cages, two cells ta.a cage, Each cell is equipped with evo iron
hinged beds, an antiquated wpe of iron e WJ a washbasin,
At the time of the inspection of June 2t, 1914, the toilets in the
The condition of cleantiness
cells of chis room gave forch : foul odor
throughout the jail was faithy satisfactory
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Rockland County should have # new jail, built along
80 as t0 prevent the doubling-up in the cells
and fireproof living quarters and
© proper separation of prisoners
according co age aad the nature detention.
In order to improve temporarily the present conditions,
the following recommendations are made:
of a modern design should be placed in
the main section of the jail, one in each cell, in order to
obviate the unsanitary bucket sys:
facilities shontd be installed.
Amore adequate water-heating aystem should dis
place the present one.
5. A small supply of necessary clothing, such as shoes,
socks, underwear and overalls should be Kept on hand
and distributed, with diseretion, among the prisoners.
. Rubbish, boxes and barsels should be taken out of the
lors and emptied daily.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
‘The condition of cleanliness at the time of the above
inspection was much improved as compared with the
eneral condition at the time of the inspection of December
13, 1913.
ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY JAIL, CANTON.
Pplaton
Fonte
Inpesei— By Ris ioe “Rieke Mion Tor
ieee BREE a
The capacity of the jail is as follows:
date male
Adit mates io
ve fra ‘Wiel deter
Mlb ene. Seal
The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, Thad. B. Day,
who is assisted by an undersheriff, a jailer, a salaried matron, and
1 salaried cook
The jail is a stone structure buile onto the sherif's residence.
On the first floor there are seven cells on the north side and seven
calls on the south side of the cellblock. The south side is divided
into ewo sections, five cells in one and two in the other. ‘The cells
‘not equipped with toilet or washbasin, bur in each section there
is one toilet and a washbasin in the corridor. ‘The second floor is
ccessible by a wooden stairway. On this floor, to the east of the
divided hallway, there is 2 large room which is divided into two
parts, The celiblock in this room has soven cells on each side, There
~e two iron hinged beds in each cell; no toilet or washing accom-
modations, The eoilet and sink are in the corridors. On the west
side of the hallway there are five rooms which are reserved for female
prisoners. Some of these rooms are equipped with to iron cot
beds. There are adequate bathing facilities for the women. ‘The
ling consists of a straw mattress and blankets for the men, and
1 the women there are straw mactresses, blankets, sheets and pillow
cases. In the basement, in an almost totally dark room, there is
a cage containing two cells. These cells were formerly used a8 a
police leckup. There is no jail yard. The inadequate cell eapacity
‘hich necessitates doubling-up always brings about a serious and
‘lcmoralizing condition. This can only be remedied by enlarging
fhe jail, The inadequate number of toilets is also unsatisfactory.
The lack of accommodation for juvenile prisoners is perhaps the
Mose serious criticism. Te is practically necessary at all times
tw violate the law in this respect. As a matter of fact, there are
0 facilities which will enable the sheriff entirely co separate the
‘Tue Prison Association of New York
40
adults from the minors. In view of the face that the sections ate
lose together, communication cannot be prevented
The county authorities are to be highly commended for their
unillingness to experiment with the employment of jail prisoners on a
jail farm, In this respect, St. Lawrence County stands a8 a criterion,
So far as can be determined, the experiment has cerminated in
success and it is hoped that the plan will be further de
veloped.
Te was highly gratifying t0 inspect the storerooms in which
products of the farm are kept.
‘The farm is located about a mile from the jail
Te consists of
a tract of land comprising about 60 acres, and was purchased for
about $2,400. Ie took some time during the first season to get the
Jand in a smooth and fertile state. While no records are kept, it
is estimated that about twenty-five prisoners are employed
There is always available wotk for
This means that, especially during
the entive population of the jail is
employed. Dating the lace fall and winter months most of the
inmates are employed at seone-breaking. On the farm site a splendid
barn has been constructed. It would have cost approximately
b air to assume that the inmate
0 the county on this one par
fon the farm during the season.
about nine men around che jal
the farming senson, practical
$1,300 t0 construct this barn; itis
Tabor was wore from
ticular piece of work.
“The total value of the products of the farm for the fscal year of
191g was $1,537.65. The broken stone sold for $36.96. Concrete
work and repaiting of the jail bam with inmate Tabor is valued
at $40. The jail has been painted by the prisoners and the estimated
cost of the material is S100. If outside labor had been employed
ie would have cose, approximately, $230 to do this work
During the first vear no cateful account was kept of the expente
acrached ro the jail farm, although it is given in the 1913 report
that the value of the products was $1,593.23. This alone practically
covered moze than one-half the cost of the farm. The total expendi-
ture for the farm for the year 1914 amounted to $1,799.05. The
total value of the farm products for the same yess, eo which i is
fair wo add the approximate amount saved by the inmates in com
structing the barn, would bring up the total to $2,174.61. Sub
tracting the total expenicuce from this amoune gives an approximate
atin for the year 1914 of $375.66
‘The general condition of elesnliness at the time of the inspections
was satisfactory
Insrections 4or
ly developed so that the
most satisfactory results, both for the county and the
prisoners, may be obtained.
2, Some attention should be given to the necessity of
providing proper accommodations for minor prisoners.
3. The room in the basement, formerly used as a lockup,
should be permanently closed so that it can not be used
for the detention of human beings.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, The ironwork and interior of the jail have been painted
1 bright color; prison Iabor was employed. The need of
painting was pointed out in previous reports.
2. The room in the basement is no longer used as a village
lockup. The wretchedness of this room was pointed out
in previous reports.
. A large refrigerator has been
stalled.
BALLSTON SPA.
Population
SARATOGA COUNTY JAIL,
Tmpecd— By — Raul Minor “Adule. Minoes Towa
ln 17194 E.R. Case Bose
i ik Bato 3
Rev. 893
agile
with Saute
Minor males pede
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, C. 1. Griffin, who
is assisted by an undersheriff. The county allows $20 per month to
defray the cost of preparing food for the prisoners. This money
js used during the winter months to hire a regular cook, and in the
summer it is divide among the prisoners who work as cooks, Ie
was eaid that ie is impossible to get 2 regular and satisfactory cook.
for the sum of $20 per month. ‘The undersherif?'s wife acts as matron
but receives no salary.
4o2 Tur Prison Associarioy or New Youk
‘The jail is @ brick structure buile directly onto the courthouse
and is divided into evo sections. The main section has on the frst
Roor a modem type of steel cellblock, and on the second foor
The rear section of the second floor
fare used for witnesses and sick
‘on the east side of the courte
similar but smaller cellblock.
is made up of lazge rooms which
prisoners, The other section is bu
house. On the first floor used for women there are theee cells, +
washroom and a detention room. The second floor is similar to the
first and is usually used for the detention of bors. Access to this
section ix had only by means of x wooden stairway which is located
in the courthouse, ‘There is a serious fre danger because of thie
wooden stairway and the limited means of exit, ‘The cells are
equipped with two iron hinged beds, a set washbasin and a toilet
the niche, ‘There is a cell in the basement but it war
said that it is not used,
AA pitiful condition exists on the first floor, noreh side of the main
ection of the jail, due to the fact that and vagrants
are kept in this section. It is poorly lighted and ventilated, and to
keep the cells and bedding free from dire and vermin is 2 difficult
task, It is necessary to doubloup in these cells practically all the
time. ‘These is no jail yard,
‘Ac the time of the inspection of January 17th, the cells,
bedding, corridors and washbasins were in a fair state of cleanliness,
While the toilets were in working order, because of the rusted con
dition of the iron surrounding the tops of the same, an unsanitary
condition existed. A satisfactory: condition af cleanliness was found
at the time of the inspection of July 18th. At the time of the inspec
tion of November 6th, the hedding in the section on the east side
of the lower floor wns dirty and not properly arranged. The shower-
bath at the end of the cellblock was not clean. ‘The prisoners on
the west side of the lower floor were engaged in mopping; the equip-
mene of the cells wae somewhat disarvanged because of chis cleaning,
‘The padded cell was used for the storage of potatoes. The section
in which the female prisoners were detained was not orderly,
drunks”
is and
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
EL. The windows in the cast side wall should be enlarged
fo permit a better supply of light and air to enter the cor-
ridors and cells on the first and second floors of the jail
proper. By enlarging the windows it would not necessarily
weaken the side walls, because that could be semedied by
afsteeljframe. ‘The windows could be guarded with tool-
Insrecrions 493
proof barring, and to prevent people from coming into the
alleyway which separates this side of the building from the
courthouse, gate could be placed at one end. Something
along this line must be done to make this side of the jail
sanitary and healthful.
2, We have soveral times called the attention of the Board
of Supervisors to the fire danger which exists when prisoner
either female or juvenile, are detained in the wing that
jocated to the right of the entrance to the jail proper. To
slightly minimize this danger, prisoners are_no longer
detained in the upper floor of this section. ‘This means
that in lieu of only a small outlay of money, the county is
sscrificing the use of the upper floor for prisoners. As
a matter of fact, the danger is not only to this wing but
to the whole jail proper, because a serious fire in the court-
house would probably prevent escape of prisoners. The
danger of this situation will be desperately realized by the
county officials if they are some time called upon to answer
for che harm or loss of life which comes to some of the
inmates as the result of a fire. It is urgently recommended
that fron sheeting be placed om the bars directly in front
of the entrance to the jail on the first floor and in the cor-
ridor of the second floor. The object of the sheeting will
be to retard the progress of fire so as to give more time for
the opening of the doors and for the exit of the prisoners,
Of course, if a fire destroys the stairway in the courthouse,
there will be practically no chance of getting the prisoners
out of the upper story of zhis wing, located at the right of
the fall proper. Ic is therefore necessary £0 have an entrance
to the alleyway from the second floor and a stairway out
into the alley.
3. The duties of a matron are sometimes very disagreeable,
wa eta eae #10 Ola (Coa tlt
em this work without some compensation. A matron,
Enbvotucely mecossary for the protection of female prfeonore
and to safeguard the jail officials from unwarranted criti-
4, Teis undesirable to use this jail as a city lockup, because
it Is not only bad on general principles, but the jail Is inade-
quate to care for the number of county prisoners which
are sent to it. ‘The town of Milton should have a‘lockup
of its own.
404 Tue Prison Association or New York
5. Recharge the fire extinguishers in the courthouse.
6. Remove the iron sliding doors of the toilet niches.
7. Distribute new mattresses, especially in the east side
of the lower flo
8. Install a mor
basement of the jail.
9, It is strongly urged that the Board of Supervisors, in
the interests of the people whom they represent, and also
for the welfare of the unfortunares in che jail, take the
necessary steps to abolish the deplorable idleness which
exists in the jail at present. Section ninety-three of the
County Law, pertaining to food and labor, reads as follows:
“Such keeper shall cause each prisoner committed to
his jail for imprisonment under sentence, to be constantly
employed at hard labor when practicable, during every day,
except Sunday, and the beard of supervisors of the county,
or the judge of the court, may prescribe the kind of labor at
which ‘such prisoners shall be employed; and the keeper
shall account, at feast annuaily, xo che board of supervisors
of the county, for the proceeds of such Iubor . .. . . and
the boards of supervisors of the severai counties are author-
ized to employ convicts under sentence in the county jails,
in building and repairing penal institutions of the county,
and in building and repairing the highways in their respec-
tive counties and in preparing the materials for such high-
ways for sale ¢o and for the use of such counties or towns
villages and cities therein, and to make rules and regu-
lations for their employment: and the sald board of super-
visors is hereby authorized to cause money to be raised
by taxation for the purpose of preparing materials and
carrying this provision into effect: and the courts of this
state are hereby authorized to sentence convicts com-
mitted to detention in the county Jalls co such hard labor
‘as may be provided for them by the boards of supervisors.”
From this law, It can be seen chat it is within the juris-
diction of the Board of Supervisors to employ jail prisoners.
There are many reasons why inmates of the jail should be
‘employed. To deal with prisoners intelligently, che county
authorities must abolish idieness, because it is impossible
ny man to develop into something better than his
inal state— that is, at the time of his commitment —as
Jong as he is permitted to go through long hours with
adequate Iaundsy equipment in the
Insrecrions 495
nothing to occupy his mind or to necessitate the use of his
limbs. Idleness tends toward physical and mental deteriora~
tion.
Tt must be understood that the normal man finds it very
to get into trouble when he has nothing in particular
oceupy his mind.
fe fact that a man is to be released after a fixed period
I too frequently Tost sigh ler what
eect is produced upon the individual by idieness and
improper association and upon society, subsequent to his
celease, Therefore, for the benefit of the individual, which
liltimately means the benefit to society, work must be
provided.
or a moment let us forget the man inside of the jail
.d think of the man working in the field, Must he not
contribute toward the support of the prisoners as well
Ss che man riding in his automobile? Is it fair that the
‘xpayer should be asked to pay $1.10 ver week per prisoner
id not find any attempt made by the representative body
ol the people to cause the prisoners (o be deait with intelli-
gently, or even in a way that will make them somewhat
self-supporting?
‘There are two highly desirable ways for employing jail
inmates. One, ina jail farm. The authorities of St. Law-
rence County, Canton, N. ¥., are highly satisfied with their
jail farm which has been working for two years; during
that time it has practically paid for itself. Te wa
purchased for $40 an acre, sixty acres in all.
splendid barn has been erected on the farm which is less
than @ mile from the jail, this work being done by inmate
labor and the cost defrayed by money credited to the farm
products. At the present time the cellar of the jail and
arts of the cellar of the courthouse building are stocked
with all kinds of vegetable products, more than sufficient
to supply the needs of the jail until the next farming season
opens. Since the farm has been in operation, the per capita
weekly cost for the prisoners has been reduced from $1.46
to $1.27, This reduction would be greater if it were not
for the fact that the farm had to be developed and the
equipment purchased.
It is necessary to hire the services of only one guard who
thoroughly understands farming, and with an average of
406 Ta Prison Assoctarion or New York
25 to 30 men working u
‘the farming season, the
During
available,
der his supervision, daily, during
wults have beon highly gratifying,
sat fazm work is not
$0 that practically
ners are employed,
taxpayer,
ileness aad
ty
mers on the
ed August
izing the cown st sy conviet labor
town of Milton cannot
manent nature,
i approprinti county treae.
ury, much needed Improvement could be started on thi
roads in the tow town itself is nor able
to false enough money io undertake work which is sceually
Gy ent could be under the super-
wa highway superinten-
e same could be done,
vision of bot
dents, and if the
eventually, for all towns is
‘The count
of available
the town of Ha
eed of permanent fixing.
t HIE not be as attractive finan-
the State Prison authori
the benefit of the
proposition offered by
bad roads will still be a great handicap to the county.
Ultimately, the employment of
pay as well as the State prisoners, because the county will
have full supervision of the work and will be able to depend
Inspections 497
upon it indefinitely. That is to say, under the present
plan it is hard to tell whether or not the county will be
able to secure State Prison labor next year, whereas if the
county jail Iabor is once well established, it could be
depended upon from year to year.
ir might be contended that jail Iabor will displace free
or. Highway officials throughout the State say that
this is not true, on the ground that in many cases there is
insufficient free: labor available, and, secondly, that the
towns are not able to raise sufficient money to have the
improvements made which are of the utmost importance
to them.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The ironwork in the various parts of the jail has been
painted white. ‘The aeed of painting was pointed out in
the report of January 17th.
2. A layer of cement has been placed in the base of each
toilet niche. A recommendation to this effect was made
in the report of January 17, 1914.
SCHENE
“TADY COUNTY JAIL, SCHENECTADY.
Population
nee a7! :
pesto ea 4 s
oe éi.3 8
ole
With Sdutes
‘alls
The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, L. A. Welch, who
is assisted by a matron, two jailers and an undersheriff
AAc the time of the first four inspections of this year, the old jail
vas still in use, This wretched structure was described in de ail
fn the annual report of lase year,
408 Tue Prison Assoctarion or New York
‘The new jail is a four-story brick structure built onto the rear
of the sherif’s residence, Te has exposure on three sides and a
jail yard on the west end. ‘There is a doorway in the north wall of
the yard which opens into the yard of the courthouse.
‘The windows in the side walls run almost the full heighe of che
building and the sections on each floor work on the slide sash arrange.
ment. There are also wire screens.
Entrance to the basement can be had through the sheriff's resi
dence and also from a passageway on the north side of the jail.
“The basement consises of one large room which runs che full
length of the jail on the north side and has in it toilet and bathing
accommodations. On the west end of this room there is a door
way which leads into the jail yard. This room will probably be
used as a garage or storeroom, On the south side of the jail is the
laundry room, not yet fully equipped, and the kitchen. Access to
each floor of the jail is by means of an icon stairway, situated in a
space about § feet wide, between the sheriff's residence and the jail
On the firse floor chere is a steel celiblock, divided by a utility
corridor, with ten cells om each side. The dimensions of these cells
are 8 feet by 6 feet by § fect. Each cell is equipped with one iron
hinged bed, » washbasin with cold water attachment, and a water.
closet in the niche, Clothes hooks are on one side of the cell walls.
‘The toilets are flushed hy a chain attachment with a wooden knob,
with the end inserted in one of che small ventilating holes in the cop
of the niche, There are no electric lights in the cells, but instead
lights are located in the outside corridor, one beeween every two eels.
The fronts of the cells are made up of bars and the doors work
‘on the slide system with central lock contro! on one end.
‘There is a shower-bach compartment in each corner of the west
end. There are seven windows on the north side, seven on the east
side and three on the west end. Each oor is heated by steam
pipes which extend along the side walls.
The floors of the cells, and the floors inside and outside of the
corridors, are of red concrete. The second, thied and fourth floors
are identical in design with the one just described.
Qn the top floor, directly above the sheriff's residence and on
the east side of the stairway which leads to the differene Roors of
the jail, is a room containing 2 small cellblack and two hospital
rooms. This small cellblock has four cells on each side which are
similar in equipment to the cells in the main section but are con-
siderably larger. Four of these cells are to be used for juvenile
tnd four for female prisoners. The hospital rooms are large, well
Insrecrions 409
fighted and equipped with bathtub, water-closer, and washbasin
‘with running water attachment.
‘The total number of cells throughout the jail is 88. Te is very
unfortunate that more cells are not provided. The population in
the old jail was usually very nearly 100, and there is no doube that
oubling-up in the cells or placing cots in che corridors will be
necessary, especially in the winter months.
While there is a jail yard aetached, its use will very likely be
retarded because prisoners can get over the wall very easily by means
of the bar work on the windows.
On the ground floor of the courthouse there is a section set off
for the detention of prisoners prior 10 their entrance to the court
room. ‘The equipment consists of four cells, which will very likely
be used for men only. It was said that women will be detained
in the sherif’s waiting-room
Ar the time of the inspection of January. sth, the condition
‘of cleanliness in the old jail was very unsatisfactory, even worse
than the condition which prevailed at the time of the inspection
‘of June 21, 1913. On one of the floors of the building, the remains
of what must have been a large paper fire were found and the
prisoners stated that it had been used to kill the roaches and vermin,
In another part of the jail a prisoner was found in the ace of lighting
a small pile of paper and when asked why he needed a fire in his
cell he replied that he wanted to heat his food. ‘The bedding through-
‘out was badly worn, dirty and full of vermin. The prisoners com-
plained of rats being so numerous that they could not sleep at
night. The inspector arrived soon after the mid-day meal had
heen served. The corridors were strewn with Titter. It seems
‘hae the practice was, that after dinner che men threw their pans and
the remains of the meal out into the corridor and some time later
one of the men was assigned to clean it up.
[At the time of the inspection of May 12th che old jail was still
jn use but it was exceedingly gratifying to find it in a very clean
condition, perhaps cleaner than it had ever been before. The side
walls, floors, stairways, cells and cellblocks had been thoroughly
scrubbed, in some instances down to the raw material. ‘The manage~
ment deserves to be commended for this improvement. The wrerched
condition of the bedding was about the same.
On July 18th, che condition of cleanliness in the old jail was
satisfactory. The law relative to the classification and separation
‘of prisoners was nor strictly observed.
On September 18th, the condition of cleanliness in che old jail
was satisfactory.
4t0 ‘HE Prison Assoctation or New York
On November 224, the condition of cleanliness in the new jail
was not altogether satisfactory, bust ie was felt that the sheri’ and
his staff were making definite forts to bring about satisfactor
results, Since the completion of the nev jail there has been added
to the cell equipment a table and a stool and in each corridor
long benches. Each prisoner is given 2 picee of soap and a towel
Fumigating apparatus has been installed in the basetnent. ‘The
bods are supplied with materess, blankets, sheets and pillow cases
Ac the time of the inspection of December 17th, 2 satisfactory
condition of cleanliness prevailed throughout oll parts of the jail
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The cleanliness and proper administration of the jail
can not be kept up to the proper standard with the present
force of but one keeper on duty at a time. The duties of
the sheriff and deputy sheriff make it Impossible for them
to devote the proper amount of sttention to the adminis-
tration of the jail. The cool, ing a salacy of $30
a month, should aot be required to deal directly with the
prisoners in any other capacity thaa that of chef. At
Present there are three keep eight-hour shifts. For
jods their serv For the
M. and 4 P. M. when ail
the court and other transactions are carried on, chere
should be another keeper whose particular business would
be to look after the cleaniiness and general management
of the jail. We urgently recommend the employment of
an additional keeper.
2. Proper brashes and cleansing Instruments should be
bought to enable the administration to keep the toil
bowls clean. These are, even now when the jail is still
new, in poor conditi immediately
will turn black,
3. Special precautions should be taken to safeguard the
ironwork surrounding the top of the toilet bowl in che
niche, Although these toilets have been used only a sho:
time, there is evidence that rust is beginning to attack the
ironwork. it has been proved that paint will mot check
this rust, which cannot be kept out of this type of tollet
with the present arrangement. The only satisfactory way
of overcoming this is to fill in the base of the niche with
a layer of cement. A composition of one and one-half
Inspections au
parts of moulding sand and one part of Atlas or Portland
cement should be used. ‘This layer of coment should be
properly sloped toward the center of the bowl so that
proper drainage can be lind, The sliding doors in front
af the niche had best be removed. in almost every case,
y prove {0 be more of a detriment than an advantage,
first, because they retain moisture in the aiche, and,
secondly, hecause the groove in which the door slides retains
dirt and molsture and eventually pormits vermin and
dirt to accumulate.
. Ht is recommended that
1g all in creases.
of paint be kept
in the jall to retouch parts spoceed by water and other
substances,
6. Also that
clothing be sti
cell the blanket
ie te another m
he present satisfactory condition of the bed
proved by removing from the
of a man upon hfs discharge and not giving
thorough cleaning, and tion by the jail physician.
8. The suggestion made by the jail authorities to make
the garage serve as a dining-room to feed the prisoners
Je is upproved and recommended.
. Food should not be served to the prisoners cold, as
found to be the case on one inspection.
10. ‘Three meals shou! Schenectady
County is one of the very few counties of the State still
stigmatized by feeding their prisoners but twice daily.
It is not aumane to keep men without food from noon
until the moraing of the next day, ‘The relative expense
of increasing the number of meals has been found in jails
where it has been iried to be very small and it would surely
be justified even i
but the quality should be improved.
prisoners have complained of the poor quality, especially
41 ne Prison Association or New Yor
of the meat. While statements of prisoners on this matter
can naturally be discounted, their claim in respect to the
food was largely corroborated by the officials of the jail
We suggest that the Board of Supervisors direct the pur-
chasing agent to make his purchases for three meals a
day and in such a way as to provide more acceptable quality
of food stuffs
12, The top of the wall surrounding the jail yard should
be fitted with iron barring so that the prisoners cannot
get over the wall easily. ‘This will make possible daily
outdoor exercise which is absolutely essential.
13, Heavy steel wice mesh should be placed on the barring
of the windows in the basement. At present It is easy for
people on the inside to communicate with those on the
outside.
14. At the time of the inspection of November 22, a survey
was made in order to determine the possibilities of employ-
ment for the convicted prisoners in the The following
plans were submitted to the Board of Supervisors for con:
sideration
‘The forms of employment that preseat themselves as
most practicable for the male element of the population,
are:
(a) Labor on the highways d
and early fall, and
(b) Labor at stone-crushing during the season of the
year when work on the roads 4s impossible.
Thus, by employing the prisoners in crushing stone on
fa large scale during the winter, it will be possible not
only to keep them busy, which is the main purpose of the
plan, but the county will be able to prepare a large amount
of road maieriat zo be used both by the prisoners and on
other county and town work on the highways during the
‘highway season.
‘The advantages of thi
lng the spring, summer
combination, as is easily seen,
jest, the supply of work throughout the year, and
Secondiy, the nature of the work, which is largely in the
open and therefore will make for the upbuild and regenera-
tion of the prisoners, both physically and in habits of Iif
However, it is advisable that the organization of this
labor shall be profitable to the county as well as ¢o the
Inspections 43
soners. We therefore propose, definitely, two alterna-
tives for the organization of this work. With the experience
and good judgment of the county superintendent of
highways, it will be easy to decide upon the preferable
plan.
Plan A.
Section 70 of the Highway Law reads as follows:
“ After satisfying himself that proper quarters can be
secured, the town superintendent may, with the consent
of the town board, request the supervisor of the town under
the provisions of ‘section ninety-three of the county law,
to procure the services of prisoners serving sentence in the
county jail, for general work upon the public highways
of the cown.””
in other words, the county jail prisoners can be worked
on town highways after proper arrangements between the
county and the towa authorities. Tt is well known that
Schenectady county contains 347 miles of unimproved town
highway, and that for the improvement of these town
highways there is the very limited sum composed of town
taxes and State aid. In 1913 the amount expended on road
work proper on these highways has been $23,544.99. Not
only is the money available small, but labor #s scarce and
unsatisfactory and often not at hand when needed. If,
therefore, the labor of prisoners were turned over to these
towns, they could make the amount at their disposal go
so much farther. Incidentally, the jail prisoners would be
put to practically an unlimited amount of work. Arrange-
ments could be made on some such plan as this:
The county would supply the prisoners, properly guarded,
and if work is done within reasonable distance of the jail,
would also house them within the jail over night. The
town would bear the burden of the expense of maintaining,
guarding and transporting the prisoners while working
on the hight Should the work be done at such a distance
from the jail that their daily return to the jail would be
made impossible, so that portable camps would have to
te isoted. tin credibly the oxnty sad cay towns woul
have to join in this expenditure. ‘Thu: e road
ang of prisoners there would be evillans employed approsl=
mately as follows:
414 Tue Prison Association or New York
Outside of the town superintendent, an engineer, roller-
man, teamsters, who are hired with their teams per diem,
and ‘the guard expense, compared with what it
would cost to en free Inborers to do the same work,
would be negligibie.
e part of
ere would
smployed in stone
ey is empowered by
such Work and c
‘crushed would
vays to be bulit by the
same prison fats:
viork uadertaken within the
ty for the county, State, or
pete is the one
a county undezta
carried out ia the j
daga County by Go
In this case
town and 75 ver cent by the coun
work would, of course, be carried
under the othe:
We have endea
available for
impossible te
the two days of
re were 26 and 41
14 sentence, respectively. 1
0 79 pe
‘The average daily population for
the Schenectady
tion on those days,
almost 11 months of the past fiscal yea
County Jaif has been 70.21. About 70 per cent of chis
number would be 49, Taking the summer months, from
Insrecrions as
May to September inclusive, the average population was
59. About 70 per cent of this number would be 41. In
other words, from figures avatlable, there would be an
verage of 40 to 80 prisoners serving sentence in the jail at
soy time, the majority of whom could be worked, making
3 good-sized road gan:
in che former experience of Schenectady county in road
uilding, while the result as a whole was not successful,
tie trouble lay not in prison labor but in other cireum-
A history of that attempt at road work shows
thee or four miles of constructed road, with an average
af 30 prisoners working,
‘The above plans as 2 whole, we are sure, are sound,
gh they may have to be modified in detail to make
them accord with local conditions. The experience of
ozher counties will bear this out.
We suggest that the organization of a definite plan,
the arrangement of its details, the location of a proper
quarry, and other matters appertaining to the work, be
entrusted to the county superintendent of highways, and
hat he be requested fos this purpose to study the work
done heretofore in Onondaga County.
15. The Schenectady County Jail seems to have a daily
average of six to elght women serving sentence. The idle-
ness of these women is no more warranted than that of the
en. Tt ds suggested that some representative of the Board
of Supervisors, of the sheriff, be empowered to make
arrangements with the city or county hospitals, poorhouse,
en's or other institution, to take sewing or other
ar work to be done by the women in their section of
the jail for the respective institutions for little or no com
pensation, with the purpose of supplying them with labor.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YRAR.
‘The condition of cleanliness improved in the old jail
while te was used. In reports made in the early part of the
year, the uncleanliness was severely criticised.
‘The new well-equipped jail is now in use.
3. The Board of Supervisors have appointed a special
committee to consider the possibility of employing the
convicted inmates of the jail. As yet no definite action has
been taken but the matter is a live one among the county
officials,
416 Tae Prison Assoctation of Naw York
SCHOHARIE COUNTY JAIL, SCHOHARIE.
Male
Tguie Minor “Adule Mion Tor
Inepected—~ By —
an 301938 ER. Cae
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
Seg
Minoe mae Wick sues
‘ich s vei smal popalation the minor males <an'be separated fom adules)
Minor femstor, ‘iio dues
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, R. J. Dutton,
‘The sherif's wife acts as matron.
The jail is buile in the rear of che courthouse and is connected
with it by an enclosed wooden bridge. The jail consists of two
floors. On the first floor there is a cage containing five cells. These
are usually used for grand jury prisoners. Each cell has in ie one
jron hinged bed and a toilet. The beds are equipped with a materess,
blanket, sheets and pillow cases, ‘The only means of bathing in the
jail is a bathtub in the frone corridor on the frat Boor. Access t0
the second floor, which is divided into two parts, is had by a staie
way situated in the front corridor on the first floor, One section
of the second floor is used for male prisoners serving sentence and
the other for female prisoners. These ewo sections are separatet
by a partition. This arrangement does not secure women prisoners
From annoyance from the male prisoners. ‘There are no satisfactory
means of providing for juvenile prisoners when there are adult
prisoners serving sentence and when adult prisoners are held for
the grand jury. Furthormore, there ate no bathing facilities or
adequate toilet accommodations in either of the wo sections. The
small windows of the jail do not permit a sufficient amount of light
and air to enter. In the cells of che second Boor there are two
beds in each ell.
Ac the time of the inspection of January 21st a better condition
of cleanliness was found throughout the jail chan was found at the
time of the inspection of September 5, 1913, but many undesirable
features remained. The inside portions of the side walls were
in a dilapidated condition and che absence of plaster in many places
made it easy for prisoners to dislodge the bricks in them. A short
vime previously three prisoners took advantage of this condition
and made cheir escape.
Insrecrions “7
‘The walls of the cells wore dirty and pencil-marked. ‘The concrete
fore were cracked and broken in many places. The wilets were
badly worn and rusted. ‘The practice of throwing papers and
rubbish on the top of the cells continued. Prisoners serving sentence
tree permitted to roam about the entire jail. The inadequate
Bovhing facilities were not improved and the hor-water system
‘as aot in proper working order
Ac the time of ehe inspection of July 215 1914, ic was found that
many improvements had been made and other changes were also in
aoe RECOMMENDATIONS MADE,
1. The old mattresses, which must still be full of vermin,
should be burned, instead of being introduced again into
the cells which have now been cleaned and rid of vermi
by painting. ‘These mattresses are said to have been in
use for seven or eight years. It is strongly urged that
an entirely new set of mattresses be used, now that the
blankets have been washed and the jaif overhauled.
2, Additional electric lights should be installed on the
cast side of the jail,
3. An additional’ session of the grand jury should be
tld each year,
4. The Board of Supervisors should require a more
businesslike and efficient care of the jail by the sheriff.
5. The system of paying the sheriff a per capita weekly
sum for the board of prisoners is a survival, in part, of the
fee system. The many abuses connected with the fee
system finally brought about its discontinuance throughout
the State, escepting In two counties. The plan in vogue
in practically every county in the State, relative to defray
ing the cose of feeding the prisoners, is simple and highly
satisfactory. In some instances, the Board of Supervisors
appoint a purchasing committee and they buy the neces
sary suppiles for the jall, including food stufls, the bills
being submitted to the county auditor for inspection and
ten submitted to the county treasurer. In most of the
counties the sheriff buys the necessary supplies and sub-
mite the bill to the county auditor and then to the county
treasurer for payment. Tn this way there can be no sus-
Picion as to how muuch the sheriff is making from the board
f the prisoners. ‘Thirty-three counties of the State in
1913 were feeding prisoners for less than $2 per person per
week,
418 Tae Prison Association of New Yor
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
‘The records of the Board of Supervisors show that the
following improvements have been made, or are to be mad
in accordance with recommendations made by this Asso
ciation in previous reports:
1, The concrete floors are to be repaired.
2. The whole jail has been painted gray.
3. The inside walls have been entirely covered with sheet
‘4. The toilet howls and plumbing and sinks are to be
replaced.
3, New mattresses are being furnished and blankets are
being washed.
6. Wire netting has been stretched around the top of
the cage of the cells so as to prevent the prisoners from
throwing rubbish om the top of the cells.
7, The whole jail has been thoroughly cleaned.
8, A steel cage has been constructed around the bathtub
fon the first floor so that prisoners cam now bathe with
some degree of privacy.
SCHUYLER COUNTY JAIL, WATKINS,
Inspected By Population
Marty i9tg E.R.Case 2 adule male.
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
sole
Minot females ne
‘The jail is under che supervision of the sheriff, H. J. Mitchel,
who is assisted by a jailer and a matron.
‘The jail is a small and antiquated structure built onto the sherif’s
residence. On the first floor there is a solid stone celiblock, with
four vauledike cells on each side, The cells are not equipped with
toilee or washing accommodations, In the far end of the corridor
fon each side of the cellblock there is 2 small comparement, containing
f sot washbasin and a wacer-closet. In che northwest comer of this
floor there is a bathtub, presenting the only bathing facilities for uhe
pritoners on this floor. The hathtub projects into the corridor
The sheriff says that the prison is converted
InsPecrions.
west end, there are ion partitions of latice-work desi
do not prevent communication becwoen the prisoners
The jul very small andthe sheriff tiesto give the men as mich
cxetin a the construction will perm.
‘The second floor is reached by a wooden stairway. There are
five noomay oro on one side and three on the oxen separated BY 2
Cencral hallway, Thit section js now freprof, bur incarceration is
much more desirable in the rooms on this Boor than in the stone
Cellblck on the St. "These rooms are usually reserved for female
prisoners or juveniles.
“There ate suitable bathing and woilet accommodations available.
The bedding throughout che jall consists of mattres, blanket,
sheets and pillow case, ‘These were found satisfactorily clean at
{he tine of the above inspection.
"With x population of only ewo, the unsatisfactory physical features
of this jail are not so pronounced, hue co have only two prisoners ia
tomewhat out of the ordinary for thin jail, As-a rule, the average
population is from
"The jal was found satisfactorily clean at the time of the above
inspection, in every pare, and it was evident that the management
ie trying to obtain good results with the poor plane at ther disposal
ute ove of che ordinary in county jail numerous signe were
tung on the sidewalls and the fonts ofthe elle, forbidding epting,
wetting and boliterous language. Unfortunately, shere are only
two grand jury. meetings each year in this county. This works
such hardship and injustice on grand jury prisoners and it is not
usual for men to wait eight or nine months before being indicted
or dacharged
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The county authorities are strongly urged to appoint
a committee to visit some of the jails which represent
a modern type of structure, in some of the nearby counties,
for example, Yates, Seneca at Waterloo, and Tioga, in
order to see for themselves how antiquated a structure
the present jail is, and how difficult it is to handle the jail
population according to the laws and to make healthful
living accommodations.
2. A partition should be constructed around the bathtub,
so that a prisoner can bathe with some degree of privacy.
‘The unsatisfactory housing conditions and impossibility
420 ‘TH Prison Associatton of New York
of properly separating the prisoners afford sufficient
chance for immorality.
3. At least one additional meeting of the grand jury
should be held during the "The present system works
much hardship and injustice on a prisoner awaiting the
action of the grand juy. Prisoners have not infrequently
waited eight or nine months for the action of the grand
jury and were thea discharged by that body. During these
long months the prisoner can be well schooled in crime.
4. It is also urgently recommended that the prisoners
nl should act partly as a correctional
001 for developing criminals, The
present system, the main feature of which is deplorable
idleness, does anyzhing but improve a prisoner mentally,
physically and morally.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The interiors of the first and second floors have been
repainted.
ENECA COUNTY JAIL, WATERLOO.
Population
Male Female
Tnspeeted— By — ‘Adule. Mince. “Adult
Mun s6, 1904 E.R Case Pr)
Den ero ER Ga $s
‘The capacity of the neve jail will be 35 eels,
The old jail had accommodations for
stent es sesereseose Meal
{io separate uarters friar mais of minor felon)
The jail is under the general supervision of the sheriff, W. H.
Excell. The undersheriff, who is practically in charge, is assisted
by hie wife who acts as matron,
‘Ac the time of the inspection of March 16, 1914, the old jail
was characterized a5 the most wretched jail in the State for the
detention of human beings, it being necessary to keep a fire in a large
stove every day to dry our the dampness
Inspections war
‘There is one cell room in which there is one stone cellblock with
two tiers on each side. There ate five cells on the lower tier and two
extra large cells on the upper tier. The cells are of the stone vaule
like type, with heavy iron Iatsice-work doors. The cells on the lower
tier were designed to accommodate one or two prisoners and those
fon the upper ties, two, three or four, The bedding consists of
mattress and blanket and was found co be dirty and damp. The
ventilation in the cell house and the cells was inadequate. The
toilets and washstand in the corriders were found in wretched and
dicey condition. There was no evidence that any attempt had been
made to keep the enamel work free from slime. In one of the cor-
ridors a roller towel sas found hung to the partition. ‘This was the
only available towel for twenty-four men and ie presented a dis-
colored appearance, almost as bad as that which existed in the
twilees and the urinals. ‘The prisoners said that the towel was
changed "once in a while.
‘At the time of this inspection it was said that the plans for a new
jail had been approved by che Prison Commission and that the
‘construetion work was soon to begin.
At the time of the inspection of December 14, 1914, the old jail
was stil in use and the condition of cleanliness was slightly improved
‘The new jail was nearing completion and it was said that it would be
ready for occupancy by the 1st of January, 1915.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The town of Waterloo should have a lockup of its own.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
‘The old jail was severely criticised in previous reports.
It is gratifying to note that its use is to be discontinued
and that the county will have at its disposal a jail of modern.
design and equipment.
STEUBEN COUNTY JAIL, BATH.
Popslason
Wake
Tnepected— By —
May tg, 19%4 E.R. Cove,
18, ISt4 Philip Kies
a8 lls
AG
ine fermi ee
The sheriff of the county is William H. Murray. His staff cone
sists of an undersheriff, ewo guards, a turnkey and a matron, also a
male cook.
The main section of che jail is buile on the pit plan and consists
of two parts. The part in which the cells face the pit directly is
for the detention of conviceed prisoners, and tho cells on the upper
part, which are reached by a stairway which leads up from the pit,
are used for persons awaiting the action of the grand jury. The
rear of these cells faces the pit, nd the fronts, the windows in the side
walls, Communication between the prisoners serving sentence and
those held for the grand jury’ is very easy, because part of the rear
of the grand jury cells is open, and through this opening ie is very
easy for them to converse with those in che section below.
The other part of the jail is made up of individual rooms which
are large and well ventilated. They are located on the other side
of the building on the upper floors
This jail is used as a police lockup, but no prisoners are received
unless committed by the magistrate. The floors of the pit section
are of steel. It is impossible to keep chem covered with paint and
as a resule rust is always visible. The cells are equipped with iron
hinged beds, washbasin and 2 toiler. ‘The rooms are equipped with
iron cot beds, washstand and toilet. The bedding consists of mat-
ress and blanket. The jail is heated by steam and lighted by
lectricity. There are electric fans available for forced ventilation.
‘The building is practically fireproof. There is a central iron
stairway which gives access to the vatious parts of the jail and
there is a standpipe with hose connections,
‘At the time of the inspection of May 19, 1914, a satisfactory
condition of cleanliness prevailed in all parts of the jail and the
prisoners had no complaints to offer.
At the time of the inspection of November 12, 1914, the general
condition of cleanliness was not altogether satisfactory and below
the standard found at the time of the previous inspection.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE,
1, A padded cell is badly needed.
2. The prisoners serving sentence should be prevented
Insrections 433
from communicating with the prisoners awaiting trial,
by placing prisoners serving sentence in some other section
of the jail, particularly in the empty rooms.
3, The steel floor in the pit should be replaced by a cement
ftoor, which will be more serviceable and easier to keep
clean.
4, It is of great importance that sheets and pillow cases
be supplied to every prisoner. Also a clean blanket should
be given to every prisoner on admission. It is the duty
of the county Co protect the health of its prisoners and to
prevent thelr exposure to infection. Yet the lack of sheets
fand_pitlow cases, and the necessity that prisoners use the
Sime blanket that has been used by other prisoners and
not laundered, directly jeopardizes their health. We recom-
mend, therefore, the immediate acquisition of the neces~
uy number of sheets, pillow cases and mattress slips,
and the instalfation of a system by which every newly
admitted prisoner shall receive a complete and clean set
fof bedding, of which the sheets and pillow cases should
he laundered every week and blankets and mattress
at least once in two weeks. All bedding should be removed
when a prisoner is discharged and not used by other prisoners
uncil after being laundered.
5, ‘The previous standard of cleanliness
he re-established.
‘6. One of the rooms above the pit should be utilized as
a reception room for newly admitted prisoners.
7, At the time of the inspection of November 12, 1914, the
plan of employment in vogue was studied and also the
possibilities for further employment of the inmates.
Steuben County has tried ro supply tabor for the prisoners,
but so far the results have been very unsatisfactory. Stone-
breaking by hand is slow, arduous labor at which prisoners
can shirk their task very easily. The amount of stone
that can be broken by hand Isbor is very small; therefore
no very Jarge market can be sought for it. The number
of prisoners engaged on the stone pile is not large enough,
and cannot be large enough, to employ all the inmates of
the jail, As a business proposition it is a complete failure.
For the fiscal year ending October 31, 1914, there were
expended on stone-breaking the following sums:
the jail should
424 Tue Prison Assoctation oF New York
Salary of the guards $1,272 00
Purchase of stone, 147 loads at 40 cents 58 80
Rent of stoneyard 50 00
Heating stove and wood 19.5
$1,400 05
‘This is almost 56 per cent of the $2,617.09 expended for
supplies and maintenance during the same year. In return
for this expenditure there was sold to the village 2uthori-
ties a total of 176.4 loads of stone at 60 cents, amounting
to $185.84, making the total loss 91,294.21. If the village
does not pay the bill, which ic has’ so far refused to do,
the total loss will amount to $1,400.05.
Nothing more nced be said about the financial side of
the present situation,
Nor has the stoneyard done very much to decrease the
idleness of the jail or to increase the character and chances
of the reformation of the prisoner.
We suggest, therefore, in the following recommend:
tions a plan by which it will be possible to employ the
prisoners of the jail all the time, co the advantage of both
the prisoners and the commu: ‘The reduction of elimni-
nation of the financial loss on stone-breaking at the prison,
the saving of the amount now paid to the Monroe County
Penitentiary for board of the prisoners removed there from
Steuben County, and the reduction of the expense of
maintenance which is now borne alone by the county,
would seem to us co follow, in addition co the elimination
of idleness, by the adoption of the following plan:
Section ninety-three of the County Law provides a8
follows:
ee ‘The board of supervisors ef the severs!
counties are authorized to employ convicts under sent nce
¢0 confinement in the county jails, in building and repair-
ing penal institutions of the county and in building and
repairing the highways in their respective counties or is
preparing the materials for such highways for sale co and
for the use of such counties or towns, villages and cities
therein; and to make rules and regulations for their employ
ment; and the sald board of supervisors is hereby author-
| soured, the town superi
Inspections 5
ed to cause money to be raised by taxation for the purpose
warnishing materals and cxerving this provision into
Sects and the courts of this state are hereby authorized
eetutence conviets committed to detention in the county
[lis to such Nard labor as may be provided for them by the
Voned of supervisors.”
"pom ee bass ofthis law another law was passed recently,
coupituting Section Seventy of the Highway Lav, which
vend as follots:
Atter satafying himself that proper quarters can be
fendent may, with the consent
{Tike tow ord, request he supers of the fowa under
the provistons of section ninety-dhree of the county law,
te procure the services of prisoners serving sentence in the
Cibsty ja for general work upon the public highways of
the town.” ‘
Vnvother words, berets a chance to use prisoners serving
sentence in the jail on road building, oF preparing materia
ier road work, that ty etone quarrying
Steuben, County has neatly” 3000 raifes of unimproved
som highways. T¢is almost riicutous(o quote the amount
that wa capended forthe inprovernent of these highways
turing the Sear 1013, because the amount per mile hardly
ttaveds $50. “The amount of iniprovement that can be made
fron such a sum fe very litle. Most of chat amount was
tipended for labor.
Town highways, while inferlor in fmportance to county
ai’ States highways, are nevertheless necessary. a5 con
tHhucory roads, and if is common knowledge that the
prosperity of county is Tangely dependent upon the con
Gintay of eeroade., Why not then, une the fabor of prisoners
‘he'improvement of these town highways? At present
the prisoners area cost to che county Prisoners deteriorate
Mtcharscter from the fdlonese at tie fall and no one has
thy ase from them, either she community, they theme
{ahves, or ther faniies,
‘Tn prisoners could, be used for improving. che towa
iihwayar either by transforming them Into gravel roads,
senseicabiyr tna macadamtzing such town highways as
tie rose in iced of improvement..-An average of some
3h prisoners could’ thus, be utilized. during the. spring,
Siobmer and eaely fall,” Probably arrangements could be
426 Tur Prison Association or New York
‘made between the county and the town for which such work
would be performed, by which the towns would bear the
burden of maintenance, guarding and transportation
expenses for the prisoners working on their highways,
They would thus receive the Jabor of some 40 prisoner
at a comparatively low expenditure.
As an alternative, and perhaps a better plan for con.
struction of the town highways, we suggest the construc.
tion of so-called county roads, chat is, the transformation
of town highways into county roads at the county's expense
and under the county's administrat Such a plan has
been satisfactorily followed out in Onondaga County for
a number of years. There, 25 per cent, of the expenditure
for the construction of county roads is borne by the towns
in which such roads are constructed. If this alternative
plan is adopted many of the arrangements will be sim.
plified.
‘The county would gain by the diminution of its mainte-
nance expenditure, by the reduction of the mumber of
prisoners through enforced labor, by the reformation of
the prisoner through labor, and, indirectly, through the
improvement of the highways within its borders,
This would take care of the prisoners during the open
season. Another form of occupation would have to be
Fesorted to during the winter. The one presenting itself
as most advantageous, and the one having the experience
of other counties, notably of Onondaga County, to back
it up, is the plan of employing them in stone-crushing, —
not stone-erushing by hand, but on a large scale with
machinery. By employing all the prisoners throughout
the winter in stone-crushing on a large scale, enough
material could be provided co use in road building during
the following season. The stone thus prepared could
either be used by the county or sold to the towns or State
for highway work.
We therefore propose the following definite plan: That
the county superintendent of highways be empowered and
directed to locate a quarry at a convenient distance, both
from the jail and the railroad, such quarry ¢o be leased by
the county and operated during the winter season, under
the direction of the county superintendent of highways,
in the preparation of broken stone for use on the public
highways of the county,
Inspections 27
Further, that the county superintendent of highways
make arrangements with the town superintendents and
other town authorities in the county for the supply of
the labor of the prisoners on town highways during the
spring, summer and early fall
If the quarry, or the town highway, upon which the
work is to be performed, is not within convenient distance
to the jail, so as to make it possible for prisoners to return
every day to the jail, the experience of other counties and
of, State prisons bas shown that their housing in tem-
porary camps, or in farm buildings, has been fully as satis-
factory as their housing in the jail proper. There should,
therefore, be no difficulty on the score of housing prisoners
for their distribution to more distant towns,
We further suggest that a committee of the Board of
Supervisors be appointed to look into the practicable
details of this plan and £0 confer with the sheriff and the
county superintendent of highways with a view toward
perfecting the plan at an early date, so as to put it into
operation not later than the coming spring.
‘We are sure that the county will be more than repaid
for its efforts in this direction, and when once established,
the satisfaction of the county and of all those concerned
ill probably be so great as to assure its continuance almost
automatically.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR,
1. A two-inch standpipe and 100 feet of fire hose have
been installed. The need for better fire protection was
emphasized in report of August 24, 1913.
2. A laundry equipment and a steam dryer were installed.
‘The need for this was pointed out in report of August 24,
1913,
3. The toilets and washbowls in all the cells, except
three on the court side, were re-enameled. ‘The unsatis-
factory condition of toilets and washbow! equipment was
pointed out in report of August 24, 1913.
4. The stoneshed was moved to within close proximity
of the jail.
5. The interior of the jail has been repainted.
6. A curtain has been furnished for the shower-bath
1 so that now prisoners can bathe with some degree
428 THE Prison Association or New Yor
of privacy. ‘The need of this was pointed out in recom-
mendations in report of May 19, 1914,
7. The labor of the prisoners was used for repairing and
renovating work on the courthouse and in erecting the
laundry building.
8, The Board of Supervisors have become cognizant of
the need of preventing grand jury prisoners from com-
municating with other prisoners. ‘This physical defect in
the construction has been pointed out In previous report
SUFFOLK COUNTY JAIL, RIVERHEAD.
Population
Female
Total
oy
Sept 21,1914. E.R, Coss
‘The capacity of the jal is as follows:
Ate Wee
dul 3
Minot males ae
The jail is under the supervision of the newly clected sheriff,
Charles J. Odell, who is assisted by an undereheriff, a warden, two
keepers and a male cook,
‘This jail is one of the newest jails and is probably the most
elaborately equipped and finished in the State. The main cell hall is
large, well ventilated and ligheed. ‘The first floor is used for the
Aerention of grand jury prisoners and is enticely separated from the
section above which contains a cellblock, three tiers high, with
‘twenty-eight cells on a tier.
The south wing, or small arm, consists of three floors and is used
for the detention of women and juveniles and also contains a large
hospital room and chapel.
‘The cells are large and are equipped with one large ion hinged
bed, a toilet in the niche, and a set washbasin with running water
connections.
‘The bedding consists of materess and blankets for men, and for
‘women the same, with the addition of sheets and pillow cases.
‘The jail is heated by steam and lighted by electricity
‘There is a jail yard, but no regular exercise periods are in the
daily routine,
Inspections 429
[At the time of the inspection of September 21, 1914, the condi
tion of cleanliness was not satisfactory. The law relative to the
separation of adults and minors was not striclly observed. The
foors of many of the cells were dirty and in several instances were
conspicuously strewn with cigarette stubs. Rubbish cans did not
show evidence of having been frequently emptied. Some of the
cells were decidedly overdecorated with pictures taken from maga-
zines and newspapers. Some of these pictures were not altogether
of a proper type. In other cells some prisoners were busily engaged
in removing pictures from the walls and it was said a general order
+0 this effect had been issued.
‘The jail yard was badly in need of cleaning.
‘The scoreroom in the west side of the basement was unlocked;
consequently, access ¢0 it by prisoners would have been very easy.
The toilet room on the west side of the basement was very unclean,
‘The laundry was unclean and in a disordered condition. A very
thick layer of dust covered asbestos on most of the pipe lines in
the basement.
Te is very unfortunate that such a new and splendid jail should
be found at any time unctean.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1, The standard of cleantiness for this jail should be
beyond the range of criticism. Prisoners who do not
appreciate the privilege of being permitted to smoke should
be deprived of such privilege.
2, New mattresses should be distributed, and during the
day the mattresses should be folded on one end of the bed.
‘The practice of storing tobacco, papers, etc., under the
mattresses tends to accumulate dirt.
3. The ironwork in the base of the niche surrounding
the toilets in many cases is being attacked by rust, which,
if not checked, will ultimately necessitate much expense
for repairs, Tt is suggested that the following plan be
tried. The ironwork should he covered with a thin layer
of cement, thick enough to come up to the level of the oval-
shaped top of the bowl, or the ironwork should be scraped
down to the raw material and a heavy coat of red lead
applied before the finishing coat is put on.
4. It is advisable in every institution where female
prisoners are confined to have a matron visit them very
frequently, especially during meal time when male prisoners
430 ‘Tue Prison Assoctarton or New York
or keepers must come into the female section. By doing
80, the management is protected and also the inmates.
‘THE YEAR.
1. There is considerable agitation among the authori
ties and the people of the county for the establishment
of some kind of employment for the prisoners. It seems
probable that a farm will eventuaily be purchased and
also that the prisoners will be employed on the highways,
Tdleness has been criticised in previous reports and is the
only serious condition relative to the jail problem in this
In our report of August 1, 1913, it was recom-
mended that a jail farm or highway work be considered
as a means of breaking up the deplorable idleness.
SULLIVAN COUNTY JAIL, MONTICELLO.
rere
Inspected By — “Adule. Minor. “Adule. Minor’ Tora.
JIily 34,1904. Philip Klein ce
agg
The jail is under the supervision of Sheriff Frank Kinnie, He is
assisted by an undersherif, a jailor, and 2 matron.
The jail is a modern brick scruceure built behind the county
courthouse. Te has exposure on all four sides. There is a jail yard
fon the west side, but unfortunately it is noe frequently used because
of the ease with which prisoners can get over the wall, owing to the
bars on the windows near the ends of the wall.
There are three separate floors. On the first and second floors
there is a divided steel cellblock. The cells are large, well lighted,
and can be well ventilated. Each coll is equipped with an iron
hinged bed, a toilet in the niche, and a set washbasin, Shower.
baths are available. The third oor has a small seeel cellblock in
the front part and cwo hospital rooms in the rear. There is a padded
Insrscrions Bt
cell, The bedding in the cells consists of a mattress, blankets,
sheets and pillow cases.
A satisfactory condition of cleanliness and order prevailed at
the time of the inspection of July 24, 1914.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The ironwork surrounding the top of the toilet bow!
in the niche should be covered with a layer of cement,
properly pitched toward che center so as to permit drainage.
‘This will prevene rust and the accumulation of vermin.
2, In the tramp room in the basement, and in the several
adjoining rooms, the bare brick walls should be painted.
3. The town of Monticello should have a lockup of its
4. A satisfactory laundry equipment should be installed,
5. A strongbox for holding the jail keys should be con-
stricted in the jailer's office. At present, there are three
sts of keys, one in the possession of the sheriff, one with
the deputy sheriff and one with the undersheriff, It is
unsafe co have three sets of keys carried about. The
advisability of having a strongbox may be too strongly
realized when some jail delivery will emphasize its impor-
6. While the per capita board system evidently works
satisfactorily as to the amount and quality of food, it is,
Jn part, a survival of the fee system which is strongly
condemned. It is strongly urged that this system be
abolished and that the system now in vogue in practically
erery county in the State be adopted. That is, the sheriff,
or a committee appointed by the Board of Supervisors,
should purchase the necessary food supplies and submi¢
the bills to the county auditor and to the county treasurer
for payment.
7. The doors in the cells occupied by boys should not be
left open during the night.
8. The top of the jail yard should be altered so that Ie
vill be possible to let all the prisoners out into the yard
4 different times of the day for open-air exercise.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. Some floors of the jail have been painted with a special
preparation. This improves their appearance greatly and
‘makes it easier to keep them clean.
432 Tue Prisox Association of New York
TIOGA COUNTY JAIL, OWEGO.
Popolaton
F
Minor. “Adute,
by Wie Tot
‘Adult Feroales. —
Me aaa ea
The jail under the supervision of the newly elected sherif
W.E. Allen,” Heis assisted by ale.” Theres no slated maton,
The jll sa modern stractore bull onee the chefs erdece
and consists of three separate fore. On the ise Raor there it
tel ellblock with uty condor, “There are neces cal
sinht on each sige. ‘The second floor is accessible by mean of ay
iton stairway and coneaine a cllblock with teven cells om de
The third for, ao reached by an ion satay, contains fn one
part a stelclllock with sx ell, and nthe remaining par, fey
Hage rooms. The eal ae large and sre equipped witha waver
loser inthe niche. ‘The entice race around the top of she boo
in coated with hevsy enamel, nile to that in the Goshen el
So far this erpe seems to be generally srsfcrory. There sre pve
iton hinged beds in each ell White paint has been used in ping
the iter of the cll andthe side wale ofthe Jae pving oo the
imeror righ clean and cera amosphere Inthe sche
with four calls These ells age used ae city Toskup and ae
Aatsfactory for the dewenton of male adele prisoner only fr
Short period of time.
Alchoush thie mot a fo ofc, the serif’: wife has conte
with the Board of ‘Sipervsors wherchy she receiver ts cons pt
capita per mal. Ths sytem ie por bass fo feeding the pone
betause iis apt co work injstice, both tothe prisoners and to he
arty holding the contact. The prsonets who math Teele tic
treats nay and thowe wo do noe receive only eo,
‘A satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed at the time of
the inspection of March 18, xo14. Teas evident that the now
Sheri desirous of dachargng Ns duce propery
ssaanian
InsPecrions 433
‘At the time of the inspection of November 10, 1914) 2 fairly
satisfactory condition of cleanliness and order was found.
Since about 1907, ic is staced, prisoners have been working on the
county poor farm for Superintendent Burt W. Miller. The poor
farm has an average of some 50 inmates, most of whom are too
decrepit to do farm labor. There are approximately 130 acres, of
which too are under cultivation,
Tn 19075 the superintendent of the poor farm was putting up
pumphouse on the farm. They were short of labor and desired to
complete the pumphouse as fast as possible, He therefore applied
to the then sheriff of the county for some prisoners to help bim out.
Since that time che employment of prisoners on the poor farm has
been a regular thing. An average of some eight or pine prisoners
have been thus employed for more than seven months of the year.
(On theday of the inspection there were eight prisoners working on
the farm. Some of the things which the inspector saw, and was cold
hhad been constructed by the prisoners, were a concrete silo, concrete
foundation for the barn, the barn itself (a large frame structure),
a concrete porch for the superintendent's house, roadway to the
barn, etc., not to mention the actual farm work performed by them
‘The superintendent is very much gratified at the
He
year after year
result of this cooperation between the jail and poor farm.
stated chat there has been hardly one escape a year during the six
(oF seven years since thie plan has been in operation.
‘The choice of proper guards is considered by Mr. Miller to be one
‘of the chief factors in che success of this undertaking. There are
two guards for the farm labor, each one salaried at $75 per month
‘The honor system is considered by the superintendent to be perhaps
the best method for retaining the prisoners.
‘There is no account kept between the sheriff and the poor farm,
of the exact number of prisoners thus employed and the value of
theie labor to the farm.
While, as has been shown, farm work by the prisoners has been
1a great success, it has not completely solved the Tabor problem for
the jail. For four or five months a year, there is little or no work
fon the farm, so that other forms of labor have to be found. Thus
faz, it has been the rule to employ the prisoners in the stoneshed,
breaking stone by hand, but this has not been a satisfactory form
of labor anywhere in the State. ‘The amount of energy expended
hhas never been properly repaid in returns, Tt is slow, and the
amount of stone thus cracked is not enough to make ic profitable
for the county to look for a large market for its product. The
434 Te Prison Assoctation or New York
condition is no better in Tioga County. Stone is bought for 4o cents
a ton and then given away to the towns, thus causing a financial
loss to the county, in addition to the cost of maintaining the stone-
hed and the cost of one guard who supervises the work. No
records of any kind are kepr to cover the transactions in reference
to the scone-breaking, OF course it is a saving to the towns and
villages who receive the stone, also to the county, in so far as it
enables the county to keep ite prisoners busy, bur it is not a profitable
industrial undertaking
‘Outside of these occupations, only odd jobs have been available,
For example, on the day of the inspection there were cight prisoners
working on the poor farm, six working in the jail, and seven clean-
ing a bridge in the village of Owego,
Tn the past year 2 new form of labor for the prisoners has been
undertaken which we wish to encourage. From October 22. t0
November 9, 2914, inclusive, some thirteen prisoners were employed in
building gravel road in the village of Appalachin in the cown of
Owego. The councy superintendent and the town supervisor of the
town of Owego made a requisition on the sheriff for the services of
some prisoners. The request was granted and the road as indicated
was buile. The only additional expense upon the town was the sum
Of 10 cents per prisoner per day paid as a bonus to the sheriff's wife
for the purpose of secuzing additional food for those employed on the
road.
This form of labor for the prisoners is very advantageous for all
concerned, and as a source of occupation itis practically unlimited,
since Tioga County has some thousands of miles of unimproved
town highways. Moreover, Section 70 of the Highway Law definitely
provides for the possiblity of extending this form of labor. Te is
evident, therefore, thae between the county farm and the town
highways there is sufficione work for all of the prisoners for the spring,
summer and early fall, For its cores and success in employing
prisoners at this time of che year, Tioga County is to be sincerely
congratulaced.
We do think, however, that the winter occupation is still an un-
solved problem. We therefore cecommend that the county under
‘ake stone-crushing on a somewhat Inrge scale for the winter months
‘We suggest that the Board of Supervisors authorize Mr. William O.
Lay, county superintendent of highways, to locate a quarry situated
‘conveniently to the jail and the railroads, and that the county invest
in the necessary machinery, either by lease or purchase, and set up
‘2 quarry in which all prisoners can be employed during the winter
Inspections 435
rnonths in the preparation of stone to be used on either the town,
Guunty oF State highways to be built in the county. If stone of the
proper kind is found and che work carried on with proper machinery,
the quarry can become a profitable business proposition for which
it would be easy to find 2 market
With the splendid success of Tioga County in the employment of
ats prisoners heretofore, the application of the plan for the cnrioy
iment of its prisoners duting the winter months is not an impossibi
tnd we hope that the Board of Supervisors will find time to give this
‘matter their early and serious consideration,
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. An exact accounting should be kept with the poor
farm of the amount of labor performed for it by the jail
prisoners, as well as of any other labor performed by them,
and, in fact, the poor farm should probably make some
return to the jail for the labor of its prisoners in the form
of vegetables grown upon the farm.
2. The laundry facilities of the jail should be increased.
3. The system of defraying the cost of feeding the prisoners
should be revised. The present method of paying the
sheriff's wife 12 cents per meal per prisoner, or a total of
presumably 36 cents per day, is extravagant and unwise.
The plan followed in other counties by which the sheriff
purchases whatever food is necessary, the bills co be paid
by the Board of Supervisors through the regular channel,
should be adopted here. Enough money can be saved in
this way to pay the salary of 2 competent cook.
4. A matron should be employed. It is improper for a
fail, in which female prisoners are kept, to be without a
matron, and it is unfair to require the sheriff's wife to
serve in that capacity without compensation, We recom-
mend that the sheriff's wife receive a per diem amount
for acting as matron whenever there are female prisoners
in the jail,
5. The employment of two guards for eight or nine
Prisoners on the farm is an unnecessary expenditure, One
competent guard should be sufficient. We recommend
that the county save the salary of one guard and use it for
the more necessary purpose of the employment of a cook
dof a matron.
436 Tue Prison Association of New York
TOMPKINS COUNTY JAIL, ITHACA.
Population.
Inpeced— By —
Feb. 1974 E.R. Cos,
May Wiig ER Gas
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows:
dole mater. socal
pen
Minor fees
‘The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, A. P. Miller, who
is assisted by a jailer. There is no resident matron, although it i
said that when women prisoners are detained the matron who looks
after female prisoners at the police lockup also cares for the women
at the jail
‘The jail consists of ewo buildings. ‘The main, or old structure, is
buile of stone and consists of two floors. The new building is built
directly onto the old ones it consists of two floors and is intended
for the use of female prisoners, also as hospital quarters. On the
main floor of the old building there is 2 steel cage with four cells
fon each side. The space above the pic is open directly to the roo!
and is covered with a skylight. Directly above the cells on each
side of the cage, and separated by the opening over the center pit,
there are additional cells. One side is used for grand jury
and the other for juveniles. There are bathing accommodations ot
the main floor and also im each section on the second floor. The
cells are equipped with iron hinged beds wich wire spring bottoms
The bedding consists of blankets and pillows. The bedding for
women consists of a mattress, blankets and pillow cases,
beds are used for women. The cells in the main part of the jal
have a toilet in each. ‘The rooms in the female quarters are equipped
with a set washbasin and a toilet. Shower-baths are available for
use in the women’s section. ‘The oli jail receives inadequate light
from the small side windows. The pit is fairly well lighted through
the skylight. The cells of the pit section are dark and the floor
area {is very small, There is available space for 2 jail yaré
bur bbecause of unsatisfactory safeguards against escape it is
notuted
Tron cot f
Inspections 437
[Ae the time of the inspection previous to that of February 11,
1gt4, the physical makeup of the jail was criticieed and also the
unsanicary condition of cleanliness, especially on the lower floor of
the main jail. At the time ofthe inspection of February uth,
things were topsy-turvy because of the painting and repair work
that was in progress. At the cime of che inspection of May 1th
an unsatisfactory condition of cleanliness and order prevailed. The
cells in the main section were dirty, papers were found on the floor
of the cells, and hooks were strewn about. There was general
tuntidiness throughout and ie was evident that closer and stricter
supervision was necessary. The jailer did not impress the inspector
as being the proper man for the position; he seemed to lack in-
terest in his work and the proper spitie. The sheriff soemed to be
of the opinion ehae che jal should only’ be clean when a large number
of prisoners are available ta do the work
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, While the cleaniiness and physical condition of the
Jail is of much importance, the deplorable idleness and
lack of open-air exercise should not escape the notice of
the county authorities. Every man, irrespective of his
character, is a human being and should be treated as
such. {tis hard fora person on the outside to really appreci-
Ate what it means to be penned up for months at a time
without an opportunity to exercise in the open air. It
will not cost much to equip the jail yard so that prisoners
cannot escape.
2. 4 prisoner should be benefited morally, physically
and mentally during his term in prison. No ‘satisfactory
improvement can be expected if the prisoners are allowed
to spend the long hours of the day in total idleness.
Idteness, sooner or later, is bound to break the best
man's character and get him into trouble. It is also
important to the people of the county that the cost of
maintenance for the prisoners be at a minimum. The
prisoners cannot help to reduce this cost unless some means
are devised whereby they can be employed. Prisoners can be
eniployed in some of the following ways: At stone-breaking
on highways, or on a county farm. Several counties have
been experimenting with a county farm and are greatly
encouraged with the results, In one county the product
438 Ta Prison Assoctarton oF New York
of the farm saved the county a little over one thousand
dollars, and when it became known to the usual “* rounders”
that this county was working its prisoners, the population
of the jail decreased about one-haif.
3. The Board of Supervisors should require a higher
standard of cleantincss,
4. A matron shovid be engaged and should be at the
jail when there are women detained.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, New porcelain toilet bowls have been installed in the
cells and new washhowls have been installed in the cor.
ridors. New bathtubs have been installed on the firet and
second floors. ‘The wretched condition of the above equip-
ment was pointed out in the report of September 2, 1913.
2, A steel ceiling has been placed above the second
floor.
3. The interfor side walls have been replastered where
necessary, and the entire interior, including the side walls,
cages and the interior of the cells, have been repainted.
‘The need of painting and renairing was pointed out in the
report of September
4, The laundzy in the basement has been whitewashed.
installed, The need
7. Ithas been agreed that an additional grand jury session
be hold during the year in che month of June, if the number
of grand jury prisoners it. ‘The hardship and
injustice brought about by infroquent grand jury sessions
was pointed out in various reports.
8, The cleanliness of the female section of the jail has
been improved. etter cleanliness was urged subsequent
to the inspection of September 2, 1913.
9. Additional skylights were installed so as to make
better lighting and ventilation for the two sections of the
second floor of the main jail.
Inspections
ULSTER COUNTY JAIL, KINGSTON.
Tuspected — By— “Adult. Minor. “Adult. Minor
July 22.1914 Php Klein
ov. 22,1914 Philip Klein
Sheriff William S. Doyle is acting in the place of the former sheriff
who died recently. He is assisted by a jailer an
The jail is large and comparatively new. ‘The equipment is
modern and proper classification is possible. There are eo cell
houses, separated from each other by a dividing corridor. In one
cellhouse there are three tiers of eclls, eight cells on a side, one cell
being used for shower-bath. In he basement are located 2 tramp
room, four cells and one room for trusties. The cells in the base-
iment are used for a town lockup. In the part which constituted the
briginal jail, there are two ters of cells, the lower tier having wo
cells, a padded cell and a bath on one side, and four cells on the other
side, On the second tier there are four cells on one side, one bach
and three cells on the other, also 2 hospital room. There is good
fire protection. The cells are equipped with a coiler in the niche,
set washbasin with running water connections, and one iron
hinged hed with a wire borcom. Shower-baths are available for
bathing. The jail is heated by steam and lighted by electricity.
Ie is well lighted and ean be well ventilated.
A satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed at the time of
the inspection of January 17th, and a similar condition was found
at the time of the inspection of November 7th
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, There should be a matron. It is inadvisable for male
employees to enter the female section unaccompanied by a
matron. With the female prisoners under the supervision
of a matron, the management can avoid possible embar-
rassing circumstances, and at the same time the welfare of
female prisoners will be safeguarded.
440 Tue Paisow Assocrarton of New York
2. There are spacious corridors in this jail, and there
is a jail yard for the exercise of the prisoners.
corridors and yard for the exercise of the prisoners should
not be given up.
3. The system of paying che sheriff 25 cents per day per
prisoner, for the board of the 91
tinued.
4. Prisoners should receive three meals per day instead of
two, Ulster County Is one of the few counties in this State
that is still unpleasantly conspleuous by furnishing only
two meals per day to the prisoners, thus forcing the prison-
ers to go without food from noon on one day until breakfast
the next da
'5. Acitizen cook should be employed to insure economical
use of foodstuffs and the preparation of palatable food.
6. The county should iastall a clothing fumigator.
7. On the women's side, that is, in the old building, the
windows should be screened In order to prevent the passage
in and out of contraband goods.
[Ac the time of the inspection of November 22d, the possibilities
for the employment of the prisoners serving sentence were consid
ered. The following plans were submitted to the Board of Super-
visors for their consideration:
1. Probably the most convenient and profitable method
of employing prisoners, averaging in number about 15,
would be the development of a farm, i
there are two possibili
employment on the county farm at New Paltz,
‘employment on a jail fazm to be purchased for that purpose.
‘The poor farm at New Paltz consists of some 167 acres,
of which 112 were under cultivation in 1913. The average
population of the poor farm was 99 for the year 1913. Only
5 to 10 per cent of the inmates of the poor farm are able
to work, and those for only a few hours = day, It seems
that the labor of the prisoners could properly be employed
throughout the spring, summer and fall in improving this
farm, Such a plan haa been worked out in other counties,
notably in Tioga County, where the poor farm has had the
service of the jail prisoners for several years, to the greatest
Inspections “a
satisfaction of the superintendent of the county farm and
the sheriff. ‘The housing of the prisoners could be easily
effected. An old farmhouse or a good barn, or a frame
structure built for that purpose, may woll serve. Such
temporary buildings have been successfully used in other
places, notably as road camps in Onondaga County, and
for ehe very purpose here recommended on New Hampton
Farms, in Orange county, which is part of the reformatory
conducted by the City of New York.
"The fear of moral contamination of the Inmates of the
almshouse, or of the escape of prisoners, and many other
objections, are largely not supported by facts and may
be considered a real danger only in case of negligent super-
vision.
‘The purchase of a jail farm within accessible distance
of the jail is, of course, in many ways preferable, the only
objection being the initial Investment.
The chief drawback in farming a3.a means of employment
for jail prisoners is that there is lite work to be done on
a farm during the winter. Farming would, therefore, have
to be supplemented by other forms of winter occupation,
despite the fact that a well-run farm will give almost as
much work in the winter as in the summer, especially if
dairying and stock-raising are developed as important
factors of the farm. One supplementary form of fabor
recommended is stone-crushing, as provided in the altern
tive plan below.
2. The alternative plan would be co employ the prisoners
in road building during the outdoor season, and on stone-
crushing during the winter.
Ulster County has upward of 1600 miles of unimproved
town highways, for the improvement of which (that is,
road work proper) there was expended in 1913 only $106,-
426.36, or fess chan $64 per mile. With such a small amount
available, it is evident that only a limited amount of
improvement can be undertaken on the highways, and since
about 80 per cent of the amount expended on highway
improvement goes for labor, itis evident that by employing
the labor of jail prisoners, whom, in fact, itis the county's
duty to employ at hard labor, a good deal more road improve
ment could be undertaken’ without increasing the town
highway taxes. While not all town highways are of great
442 Ta Prison Assoctation or New York
importance, some of them, especially near the city of
Kingston, that are contributory to the main highway
are in great need of improvement.
No large scale highway work at a distance from the jail
‘can be undertaken in a county whose average of jall péls-
oners is as small as that of Ulster County.
We think, therefore, chat as a first step, the suggestion
of County Superintendent James Loughran to convert
town highways in the neighborhood of Kingston into county
roads, by improving them at the expense of the county, is
an admirable one. He mentioned the Hurley zoad, two
miles Jong, and the Sawkil road, three miles long, as the
next important roads to be built, and estimated that the
cost per mile would be about $6000. We think that with
prison labor this cost could be considerably reduced, while
the jail idleness would, at the same time, be ended.
‘There would probably be employment enough on these
roads for the average of fifteen prisoners for the next few
years, during which time further plans for their employ-
ment may be developed.
The plan for stone-crushing could also be most con-
veniently developed under the management of the county
superintendent of high He would be in a position to
locate a convenient quarry at a suitable distance from the
jail, at which stone of the proper kind for road work could
bbe crushed during the inclement weather, in preparation
for the road work to be undertaken with the beginning of
the summer. By this plan, it is likely that the county
would save not only on Jabor cost, but also om cost of stone,
not to mention the tremendous benefit derived, both morally
and financially, by having the prisoners work.
The composition of the inmates from the standpoint of
length of service is very satisfactory for this kind of work.
For example, on the day of inspection, of the fifteen prisoners
serving sentence only three were 30-day men and one
a 50-day man. The others were ali sentenced for above 60
days, most of them 3, 4 or 6 mouths men.
‘The prisoners could be transported from the jail co their
work daily on auto trucks, which would then be used for
hauling purposes. They could then be returned to the
jail ac night.
As to the burden of expense of such highway work, we
would suggest that if the work be performed on town
Insrecrions 43
highways, the town be required to pay for the maintenance,
quarding, and transportation charges, and the county
furnish the labor of prisoners free of charge. Should the
county decide to employ these prisoners on county roads
instead, we would suggest that the plan used in Onondaga
County be followed, namely, that the town pay a certain
percentage, say 25 per cent, of the total cost to the county,
and the county bear the rest of the burden,
There is successful precedent in the State for all forms
of labor here suggested. For farming, especially, St. Law-
rence and Tioga Counties, on a jail farm and poor farm,
respectively. For jail labor on town highways, or county
roads, Onondaga County, especially, and also Tioga County,
2 good examples.
Ina number of other counties, the plan has been adopted
to begin next spring.
In view of the unremedied idleness in the Ulster County
Jail, of the better experience of other counties, of the
ferent plans here proposed, of the cooperation that the
county may be assured of on the part of the county super-
intendent of highways, the State department, and of this
Association, the further indefinite continuance of lack of
employment at the county jail is hardly excusable. Especi-
ally so in view of the provision of the law relating to this
matter, in Section 93 of the County Law and Section 70 of
the Highway Law.
Section 93 of the County Law:
“The boards of supervisors of the several counties are
authorized to employ convicts under sentence to confine-
ment in the county jails, in building and repairing penal
institutions of the county, and in building and repairing
the highways in their respective counties or in preparing
the materials for such highways for sale to and for the
use of such counties, towns, villages and cities therein,
and to make rules and regulations for their employment;
and the said board of supervisors is hereby authorized to
cause money to be raised by taxation for the purpose of
furnishing materials and carrying this provision into effect;
and the courts of this state are hereby authorized to sentence
convicts committed to detention in the county jails to such
hard Iabor as may be provided for them by the boards of
supervisors.”
444 Ta Prisox Associanion of New York
Section 70 of the Highway Law:
“After satisfying himself that proper quarters can be
secured, the town superintendent may, with the consent
of the town board, request the supervisor of the town, under
the provisions of section 93 of the county law, to procure
the services of prisoners serving sentence in the county jail
for general work upon the public highways of the town.”
WARREN COUNTY JAIL, LAKE GEORGE.
_™ Ie Female.
By— “hdl. Minor “Adule.” Minor, Total
Tnapected —
17 cle
Mino: mate.
Minor frais ima
‘The sheriff of the county is R. J. Bolton. The jail is under the
superviion of the undeahca, MER. Smith, There ie sled
ecoserag epee yeh
‘The alia a trooryeructre bute n the ear of the couthous
On the first floor there is ¢ small steel cellblock, with six pret a
bath on each ide ‘On th second forthe clllck hs ve elon
tach idesanda separate secionon exch sie of the eellblock eauip
edith bathtub and colt, Te clls nth section are no eu
Pol Glth uals and pe wiaibonin bay Sere en coma oe
airtel trgeypeneniy gril lire nal
Gksigned for female praoners. The tooma are eauipped with tot
tor brdo and moder Bathing and sole accommodations, The
bedding consists of 2 materess, blankets, sheets and pillow cases: |
There le cal sti cote second floor used as a hospital |
room. Each cell on the second floor is equipped with an iron hinged |
Bed” The heding canine oa mates Wanker heets and pil |
Gaocs. "On the ht forthe cali ate equipped with ron binge
fea and tilt accommodations. The jl heated by stm 20d
Ygheed by elecencty, “Good ventilation fo poste, “There ie m0
jaya,
Inseecrions 4S
‘Ac the time of the inspection of January 17th 2 satisfactory
condition of cleanliness and order prevailed. Renovating work was
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. A padded cell is necessary for every jail, especially
when the jail is used as a village lockup. A cell of this
kind protects the inmate from his own violence and also
protects the jail officials from unwarranted criticism.
2. The village of Lake George should have a lockup of its
'3. ‘The county authorities are urged ¢o extend the plan
of vsing jail labor on the highways. During the winter
months, at times when the prisoners cannot be employed
at cleaning the streets, etc., they can be used at breaking
Stone which can be stored until the spring and then sold
and hauled to some of the adjacent towns. For example,
it would be of help if cracked stone were available for the
highway superintendent of the town of Caldwell.
‘At the time of the last inspection the method of employing
the prisoners was considered and the possibilities for further
employment also.
Because the average population of the jail is small, the
undertaking of a comprehensive plan for employment of
the prisoners is not feasible. Much has been done to make
tise of the jail labor, Three or four prisoners are always
‘employed in the jail in cleaning and other routine work,
end also in the county buildings.
"Through the cooperation of the village president, Dr.
. K. Burt, the prisoners have been worked extensively on
the village highways in the following ways: Cleaning,
curbing and widening. Men have also been employed in
laying cement walks, ‘The cost of material for the walks
Is defrayed, one-half by the village and the other half by
the owner of the property on which the work is done.
‘The prisoners work within the corporate limits under
the supervision of a man hired by the village. ‘They have
been rewarded for this work by some extra rations, and in
cases where clothing has been necessary the cost of the
same has been defrayed by the village. This plan is a good
one if sufficient work can be found to keep the small popu-
446 Tue Prison Association of. New Yor
Jation of the jail busy. It was said that men will be used
during the winter to keep the street walks and the roads
clear of snow.
‘The local authorities are to be commended in their efforts
to make use of the jail Iabor. ‘The county supervisors are
authorized by Section 93 of the County Law to use the jail
labor. This statute should be made use of in order to
extend such labor in some of the towns adjacent to the
county seat. The county and town highway superi
tendents should be calied upon to cooperate with the Board
of Supervisors to further use the prison labor.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, New bathtubs and washbasins have been installed to
replace the old, vroken-down, rusty ones on the first and
second floors. On the lower @oor « porcelain toilet has
been placed in the cells. The need for this was pointed
out in the recommendations of the report of September
27, 1913.
2. The entire cellblock on the first and second floors,
including the interior of the cells, has been repainted, as
well as the floors aud side walls,
3. The plumbing work has been overhauled from cellar
to roof.
4. A new water-supply tank has
attle.
5. A new hot-water system has been Installed to replace
the old system, which did not meet the needs of the jail.
6. A new heating boiler has been installed in the base-
ment.
7. An additional session of the grand jury has been added,
making a total of three each year. ‘The hardships caused
by only two grand jury sessions were pointed out in the
report of September 27, 1913,
installed ia the
WASHINGTON COUNTY JAIL, SALEM.
Population
z a
Inspected — By— ‘Adule. Minor’ “Adult. Minor’ Total
Jan 16,1914 E.R.Cass ar ee a
Inspections
“The capacity of the jal is as fellows:
Adult maes.
Mies
ie ae
The sheriff of the county, R. E. Warner, does not make his head-
quarters at the jail. The undersherif, J. W. Arnold, who practi
tally looks after the jail jo aesated by’ seal consisting of = fallen,
The jails a three-story brick structure of modem design built
directly onto the courthouse. There is a stel cllblock on each
floor, divided in the center by a utility corridor. There are six
cells on each side of the cellblock on the frst and second floors. On
the thitd floor there is'a small cellblock, three cells on eachside. The
rear section of this lor js divided into ewo separate hospital rooms.
In the basement there ix a cramp room; the accommodations i
this room consist of a water-closet and a set washbasin with rumning
water connections. The beds consist of wooden boards clevated
from the stone floor about ewo or three inches, The inmates place
a mattress on these boards in order to get some comfore. The calls
on the fist and second oors are equipped with iron hinged bed
2 toilet in the niche and a sct washbasin. The cells on the ehied
fldor tre pqupyed with ceo tion bioged Uiday a toler and, ashe
basin. The bedding consists of a mattress and blankets, with the
addition of sheets and pillow caves for women. ‘There is no jail
yard. The laundry is inadequate. and crude. Te conite of a
large wooden barrel This is filed with water, and, after che clothing
is placed in i steam is forced into the bareel through a pipe. Acces
to each oor is had by means of a wooden stairway whichis located
in the hallway that separates the courthouee from the jail, The
courthouse is an old building, not Breprof. In the event of fire
getting a good start in the courthouse and preventing the escape fo
Prisoners by means ofthe stairway, iia question as to how eri
the results might be. The condition is aggravated by the fact
that chere are no standpipes or fie extinguishers
‘At the time of the inspection of Januaty 16th a. generally sais-
factory condition of cleanliness prevailed. However, the mattresses
in most instances were dirty and badly worn. The prisoners eald
they were satisfied with the treatment they were receiving
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Some of the new mattresses should be distributed
where necessitry.
448 ‘Tue Prison Association or New York
2. Modern electric laundry facilities should be installed in
the basement.
3. Some of the available ground adjacent to the jail should
be enclosed by a twenty-foot wall in order that there may
be a yard in which the prisoners can exercise daily.
4. The prisoners should be given three meals a di
5, The county authorities should rent or purchase a tract
of land near the jaif to be used asa jail farm. The idleness
in the jail is deplorable. Ie is demoralizing and eventually
works injustice for both the prisoners and the people of the
community. Several counties throughout the State, such
as St. Lawrence, Tioga and Oswego, have jail farms and
find that they can be made profitable. In St. Lawrence
County, in two years the value of the fara products and
the value of the improvement and construction work on
the farm have practically repaid to the county authorities
the cost and maintenance of the farm, and also reduced
the weekly per capita from $146 to $1.27. There was
also a noticeable decrease in the population which might
lead to the suspicion that some of the rounders and un-
principled men are dodging jails where prisoners are em-
ployed. In the winter, stone-breaking is substituted for the
farm work.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. At the time of the above inspection the condition of
cleanliness was far better than at the time of the previous
inspection.
2. The laws relative to the separation of minors from
adults was observed, There was 2 serious breach of this
law at the time of the inspection last year.
WAYNE COUNTY JAIL, LYONS.
lnspested— By — Population
‘Mar. 1914 E.R. Cass, 2 adult male.
The capacity ofthe jal isa follows:
‘Adule males ale
‘ul Fens: 3 celle
it cml sccommnodaions av wale fr minor males andor fea)
‘The jail is under’ the supervision of the sheriff,, Jerry Collins.
Mrs. Collins acts as matron and cook.
Insrecrions 449
‘The jail is a small, antiquated structure built onto. the rear of
the sherif’s residence. The cellhouse contains a solid stone cell-
block with 12 cells on each side, The cells are of fair size but of
the stone-vaule type. Each cell is equipped with an iron cot bed
and a bucker. ‘There are no satisfactory bathing facilities, The
oor area is small. There is a small jail yard at the rear of the
building.
At the time of the above inspection the jail was found to be
scrupulously clean throughout.
‘The jail is by no means satisfactory and will not be used much
longer, because plans for a new jail have been submitted to the
Prison Commission. The construction of the new jail, up to the
above date, had been temporarily delayed because the town authori-
ties are planning to install sewage and water-supply systems.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The construction of the new jail should be expedited.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. The plans for the new jail have been approved.
2. The interior of the old jail bas been repainted.
3. A new barn has been built; jail labor was used to a
large degree.
4. A regular jail physician has been appointed.
WESTCHESTER COUNTY JAIL, WHITE PLAINS.
Population,
Female
Inspected — Raul. Minor. “Adu.” Minor, Toca
Jy wage Dey Th F Pte, £0.
Dec. 2.4914 Phi Rls fi
The cstacy of the jail is as follows:
Ad
Mia Fal aii
sor males :
Yorenher mater female el prisoners
The sheriff of the county is William J. Doyle, The warden of
the jal is assisted by four keepers, two matrons and a chef.
4g0. Tur Prison Association or New York
The jail was erected in 1855 and is constructed of heavy. stone
‘The windows in the side walls are eighteen inches wide and run
almost the full height of the building. The jail is divided inco two
parts; che main section is built on the cage plan with four tiers of
Cells on each side. In this scetion male prisoners, adults and minors,
fre kept. Nine of the cells on the lower tier are used as a town
Tockup. ‘The cells are all equipped with two iron hinged beds and
running water, but no toilets. The bucket system is in use. Because
of the large population usually confined in this section, it is neces
sary to double-up in the cells practically ar all times. ‘The bedding
Consists of mattress, blankets, sheets and pillow cases. The con-
Struction of this section makes it impossible properly to separate
minor prisoners from adule prisoners. At times they can be kepe
jn separate cells and on a separate tier, but at all times they are
‘within hearing distance and within sight of adults, There is no jail
yard and the only available exercise space is the small, narrow cor-
Fidors on each tier. ‘The corridors and the floor of the pit are lighted
through a skylight in the roof directly above the pic. ‘The ventila-
tion is inadequate and the light in the cells is poor, especially in
those on the lower tiers. ‘The other, or front part, of the jail cou-
sists of four floors, On the first are located the warden's office and
consultation room, on the second the female quarters, on the thicd
the hospital and civil prisoners’ cells and on the fourth the kitchen
and laundry.
"At the time of the inspection of July 1se there was doubling-up
in practically every cell and the laws relative to classification and
separation of prisoners, especially minors, could not be strictly
observed. On the lower tier of the pit section a seventeen-yeat
fold negro boy was exercising on the Roor of the pit with adule
prisoners. ‘The cells throughout the entire jail were very clean.
Clean sheets and pillow cases were very much in evidence. The
beds were properly arranged, and the corridors and stairways were
clean. It was said that the nine cells on the lower east side tier are
still used as a city lockup. This practice is 2 decided detriment
to the jail, and acts as a strong demoralizing agent. ‘The prisoners
in the upper tiers must hear, and are constantly disturbed by, the
shouting of drunkards and other objectionable prisoners. With
‘one boisterous prisoner confined in any one of these cells the task of
‘exercising satisfactory discipline is difficult.
‘Ac the time of the inspection of December 2, 1914, decidedly
satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed.
‘A survey was made at this time in order to ascertain the possi-
bilities of employment for the inmates of the jail
Inspections ast
‘The most serious evil, however, is undoubtedly the lack of occupa
tion for the prisoners serving sentence. The exact average number
of such prisoners was not ascertainable. At any rate, there are
usually about fifty persons serving sentence with nothing but the
‘ordinary domestic labor of the jail to do.
‘As to the plans for the county penitentiary, the officials are now
at a point where permissive legislation for the establishment of such
a penitentiary is sought. No definite and complete plans for the
buildings, or for methods of employment at the penitentiary, have
been made, or at least no such plans have become public. To judge
from the bill of $11,064.82, sent in for 1913 by the New York County
Penitentiary for the board of Westchester County prisoners at a
‘minimum rate of $1.75 per capita per week, there must have been
detained in that penitentiary an average of 121.25 men per day.
Adding this number to the probable jail census of Bifty serving sen-
tence in Westchester County, it is seen that there would have to be
provided enough labor for 175 to 200 prisoners.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. In order to obviate the necessary doubling-up of
prisoners in the cells and to provide for the proper separa-
tion of adult and minor prisoners it will be necessary to
enlarge the present jail or to construct a new one.
2. The lack of outdoor exercise, the close confinement
and the use of the bucket system, add to the seriousness of
the above situation, which is brought about by the inade-
quate and unsatisfactory accommodations. There should
be a jail yard, so as to afford opportunity for frequent
outdoor exercise.
3. The county should insist that the village of White
Plains build a lockup of its own as required by the State
Commission of Prisons.
4. The employment of prisoners on a farm, or on road
work during the summer and in winter on stone-quarrying,
should be considered now and not postponed until the
establishment of the penitentiary. If land for the peni-
tentiary is purchased, the prisoners should immediately
be set to work improving the land and preparing for con-
struction. Temporary living quarters can be established.
‘This is being done on the penitentiary farm of Erie County
at Wende.
5. A record should be kept of the daily average of prisoners
serving sentence.
452 Tue Prison Association or New York
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1. Each cell is now equipped with faucet from which
hot water can be drawn.
2. There has been installed a vacuum-cleaning apparatus,
with hose attachment, on each floor. This makes it pos-
sible thoroughly to clean the crevices of the celis, the floors
of the corridors, and also some of the bedding.
3. A penitentiary farm of some four hundred acres has
been purchased.
WYOMING COUNTY JAIL, WARSAW.
Population
ade males
Taspected — By
May 17,1914 E.R, Cas.
The cxpacty of the jail nas follows
wade
te Se ie
“The jl is under the supervision ofthe she, G. P. Bauer, who
soe su dete di Hy hs saad Go ao caleohea
Riches
The jal ta amall ewostory sruceure hulle omo che shesifs
sundaes The foes door nguinged sees « modern eype of re
cellblock. The second floor is madc up of scparate rooms and one
Sow of cel The jal fe als aed av a elage lockups Ts
Tidus Was betas bets mba usdleiagd Cockle
ee ct titnee Hare chart are no apecsl, clin wrababl
Be ceatee ae naty fu dae tno yale ot Wactw ssa be
Ea Caieey dee counee tegioy Che us of Ge ur fl ss
Toekup
STH north side ofthe jis particularly the Best Hoos is deprived
Stet GAL oka Deed a boewee ak a ego
Spt nay, ie ded ak ony cena oe ores
elisa we ol ot aed Bape aed
TSE ues ass tis appeitine tha pnporye 182 ted nce
pes deticepurpore,
realy Soe Ee BS Oe in Sp pa Wh wan
sad nC ese Gia come ote alemoeusee Ths ee ore
TES ist eles aa se aed ane are aug
So clot sal wailing vecoomeniatoen, There aes. cee een
Teor! boda sch aftha Gall anche tosis have uct hele
Insrecrions 453
A fair condition of cleanliness prevailed in all parts of the jail at
the time of the above inspection. With stricter supervision on the
part of the sheriff and jailer, the prisoners can undoubtedly be
persuaded to look after their own cleanliness and that of the cor
ridors more in detail.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. Wyoming County is one of the few counties in the
State which still retain the fee system. A system of this
kind leads to many abuses. The Board of Supervisors are
strongly urged to abolish the fee system and adopt the
system which now prevails in practically every county
in the State. The sheriff, or a committee, should buy the
supplies and submit the bills to the county auditor and
treasurer for payment. ‘The latest report from Oneida
County shows that in the first year, subsequent to the
abolition of the fee system, more than $4,000 was saved for
the county.
2. The shed on the north side of the jail should be removed.
In many ways it serves as a menace to the county property
and to the inmates of the jail. It is a crying shame that
this condition should exist. The county authorities should
offer a reasonable price for the property and if this is refused
then resort to condemnation proceedings or some other
method,
3. The village of Warsaw should have a lockup of its own.
4. The interior ironwork of the jail should be repainted
a bright and serviceable color. Aluminum-colored paint
is most frequently used throughout the State and gives
good service.
5. The locks on the doors of the cells should be readjusted
in order that they may work properly and freely.
6. An additional meeting of the grand jury should be
held each year. Only three meetings a year work severe
hardship upon those who are unfortunate enough to be
detained in the jail and unable to obtain bail.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
There is some agitation among the county officials,
and people interested in the business of the county, to
abolish the fee system.
Tue Prison Association or New York
454
YATES COUNTY JAIL, PENN YAN,
By Population
Ma toty ER. Ce 5 adule mer
‘The capacity of the jail is as follows
‘Minor mate.
The jail is under the supervision of the sheriff, L. R. Bates. He ie
assisted by a jailer and a matron.
The jail is a modern brick structure built onto the sheril’s
residence and consists of ewo separate floors. On the first floor there
is a steel cellblock with five cells on one side, and four vegular cells
and a padded cell on the other. Each cell is equipped with evo
iron hinged beds, a toilet in the niche, and a set washbasin with
running water connections. On the sccond floor there is a small
sel cellblock with two cells on a side; in the frone part and in the
tear, there are two separate hospital rooms. Showerbaths and
bathtubs are available for use. In the basement there is a tramp
room suitable for the detention of male prisoners. It is equipped
with iron cot beds, 2 toilet, and bathing facilities. The jail has
‘exposure on three sides and there are fairly Targe windows, so that a
satisfactory amount of light and air can be had in the interior.
‘At the time of the above inspection a satisfactory condition of
cleanliness existed in every part of the jail
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
1. It is ungently recommended that if the jail population
warrants an additional geand jury meeting during the
year, one be held. Much injustice and hardship is wrought
upon prisoners awaiting the action of the grand jury when
only two meetings are held during the year. This county
is one of the very few in which there are only two meetings
of the grand jury each year.
2. The county authorities should urge the steady develop-
ment of the employment of prisoners on the garden, with
the hope of the gradual evolution of a county jail farm.
Several counties have obtained satisfactory results along
these lines.
3. The frail, wooden stairway, which is the only means of
access from floor to floor, presents a serious condition in
the event of fire and should be replaced by an iron one.
Insrecrioxs 455
4, One iron partition in the corridor on the north end of
the first floor, and two iron partitions in the corridor on
the south end, with a doorway in each, would make it
possible to keep the grand jury prisoners separated from
the prisoners serving sentence and at the same time permit
the sheriff to allow trustworthy prisoners the use of the
outside corridor on each side of the cellblock without danger
of commingling.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
1, Jail labor was used in painting the barn and the porch
surrounding the sherifi’s residence.
2. The toifet seats have been securely fastened and re-
painted twice.
3. The county authorities have consented to allow the
sheriff to use about one-half an acre of the county ground
in order that some of the prisoners may be employed at
garden work. Suggested in previous reports.
4. The advisability of having an additional geand jury
meeting during the year is frequently discussed. The
hardship imposed by only two grand jury meetings has
been pointed out in previous reports.
456 Tu Prison Association of New York
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, CITY OF NEW YORK.
Inspections ay Pattie Kuens, 1914
‘The Department of Correction, headed by a Commissioner, who
is assisted by a Deputy Commissioner, has jurisdiction over two
classes of institutions, one group intertded for persons detained during
examination or trial, and the other for persons serving sentence.
‘The Department has no jurisdiction whatsoever over civil prisoners.
In all five counties within the greater city of New York, civil prison
cers are under charge of the sheriff's of their respective counties. In
the counties of New York, Kings and Queens, there are county jails
for civil prisoners, entirely distinct from the Department of Cor
rection. In the counties of Richmond and Bronx, where the county
jails have not yer been brought under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Correction, the sheriffs have charge of both civil and
criminal prisoners. The Department of Correction may be said to
control all institutions for the detention of prisoners under criminal
charge, or serving sentence upon conviction for a criminal offence,
within the city of New York, excepting only the Bronx and Rich
mond County jails, the House of Refuge on Randall's Island, the
House of Detention of Witnesses, detention rooms of incorporated
societies for the prevention of cruelty to children, all reformatories
for women and children conducted by boards of managers or private
corporations, and such places for the detention of prisoners, or
persons charged with crime, as are by law placed under the charge
of some other department head or officer. This includes, of course,
police lockups.
The provisions of the City Charter referring to the Department of
Correction and stating the powers and duties of che Commissioner
of Correction are chiefly the following
Section 699: Records of inmates of institutions.
Te shall be the duty of the commissioner to keep and preserve
2 proper record of all persons who shall come under his care and
custody, and of the disposition of each such person, with full par-
ticulars as to the name, age, sex, color, nativity and religious faith
of each, together with a statement of the cause and length of deten:
tion of each such person. Such record shall be supplementary to
and shall be kept separate from the records required to be kepe by
section seven hundred and nine of this act
Inspections 457
Section 700: Employment of inmates; articles manufactured; cul-
tivation of lands.
Every inmace of an institution under the charge of the com:
sioner, whose age and health will permit, shall be employed in
quarrying or cutting stone, or in cultivating land under the control
of the commissioner, or in manufacturing such articles as may be
required for ordinary use in the institutions under the control of
the commissioner, or for the use of any department of the city of
New York, or in preparing and building sea walls upon islands or
other places belonging to the city of New York upon which public
institutions now are or may hereafter be erected, or in public works
carried on by any department of the city, or at such mechanical or
other labor as shall be found from experience to be suited to the
capacity of the individual. The articles raised or manufactured by
such labor shall be subject to the order of and shall be placed
under the controt of che commissioner, and shall be utilized in the
institutions under his charge or in some other department of the
city. All the lands under the jurisdiction of the commissioner not
otherwise occupied or utilized, and which are capable of cultivation,
shall in the discretion of the commissioner be used for agricultural
purposes.
Section 701: Detail of inmates to work in other departments.
At the request of any of the heads of the administrative depart-
ments of the city of New York (who are hereby empowered to make
such request) the commissioner of correction may detail and desig-
nate any inmate or inmates of any of the institutions in the de-
partment of correction to perform wosk, labor and services in and
spon the grounds and building or in and upon any public work or
improvement under the charge of such other department. And such
inmates when so employed shal at all simes be under the personal
oversight and direction of a keeper or keepers from the department
of correction, but no inmate of any correctional institution shall be
employed in’ any ward of any hospital, except hospitals in penal
institutions, while such ward is heing used for hospital purposes.
The provisions of this act or of law requiring advertisement for bids
or proposals, of the awarding of contracts, for work t0 be done or
supplies to be furnished for any of said departments shall noe be
applicable to public work which may be done or to the supplies
which may be furnished under the provisions of che prison lv
458 Tue Prison Assocration or New York
Section 702: Hours of labor; discipline.
The hours of labor required of any inmate of any institution
under the charge of the commissioner shall be fixed by the commis-
sioner, In case any person confined in any institution in the de-
partment shall neglect or refuse to perform the work alloted to
him by the officer in charge of such institution, or shail wilfully
violate the rules and regulations established by the commissioner
fr resist and disobey any lawful command, or in case any such
person shall offer violence to any such officer or to any other prisoner,
br shall do of attempt co do any injury to such institution or the
appurtenances thereof or any property therein, or shall attempt to
escape, oF shall combine with any one or more persons for any of
the aforesaid purposes, the officer or officers of such institutions shall
use all suitable means to defend themselves, to enforce discipline, co
secure the persons of the offenders, and to prevent any such attempt
to escape, and it shall be the duty of the officer in charge of such
institution in which stich person oF persone is or are confined ro pun-
ish him or them by solitary confinement, and by being fed on bread
and water only, for such length of time as may be considered neces-
sary; but no other form of punishment shall be imposed, and no
officers of any such institution shall inflict any blows whatever
‘upon any prisoner except in self-defense or to suppress a revolt or
insurrection. [n every case the officer imposing such punishment
shall forthwith report the same to the commissioner and notify the
physician of the institution, It shall be the duty of such physician
to visit the person so confined and to examine daily into the state
of his health until he shall be released from solitary confinement and
return to labor, and to report to the commissioner and to the officer
in charge of stich institution whenever in his judgment the health
of the prisoner shall require that he should be released.
Section 703: Accounts; annual estimates expenditures
‘The commissioner shall keep accurate and detailed accounts in a
form approved by the comptroller, of all moneys received and ex-
pended by him, the sources from which they are received and the
purposes for which they are expended. The commissioner shail, on
br before the First day of September in each year, prepare an itemized
estimate of the necessary expenses of the department for the ensuing
fiscal year, which estimate shall constitute the annual estimate of
the department of correction, and shall be submitted to the board
of estimate and apportionment within the time prescribed by this
act for the submission of estimates from the several departments of
InsPecrions 459
the city. He shall incur no expense for any purpose in excess of the
amount appropriated therefor, nor shall he expend any money so
appropriated for any purpose other than that for which it was appro-
priated,
Section 704: Advertisement for supplies.
‘The commissioner shall from time to time, ax may be necessary,
advertise in the City Record and the corporation newspapers, for
not less than ten days, for proposals for all such articles and supplies
(excepting perishable articles) as shall be necessary to be used in and
for che institutions in the department, except such as the department
itself can produce by the labor of che inmates of institutions, and shall
award contracts for the same to the lowest responsible bidders who
shall give adequate security for the faithful performance of such
contracts. In case of an emergency the commissioner may purchase
articles immediately required without calling for competition, but
the amount expended by the commissioner for articles so required
or for perishable articles shall not exceed the sum of two thousand
dollars during any one month
Section 709: Record of persons committed,
Te shall be the duty of the commissioner to keep a book, or books»
card index or other register in which shall be properly recorded the
zmames of all persons, whose commitments have been certified to him
as required by section seven hundred and eight of this act, and all
other facts which shall be certified to him as herein required by the
superintendent, warden or sheriff having charge of the institution
to which such person shall have been committed. Such book or
books, index or register, are hereby declared to be public records and
shall be open to public inspection, and shall be indexed and kept 50
so as to show whether any person whose commitments have been so
certified to him have been previously committed within two years
nxt preceding such commitment for any of the causes herein specified.
Section 712: Transfer of inmates by commissioner.
The commissioner may transfer and commit and eause to be trans-
ferred and committed from the workhouse co the city prison, or
to either of the penieentiaries or to any other of the institutions
in the department, any person committed to che workhouse under
section seven hundred and seven of this act, whenever such transfer
shall be necessary for the proper eare and management of such city
460 Tae Prrsow Association of New, York
prison, penitentiaries or other institution or for the proper employ-
ment of such person, The commissioner may also transfer and com-
mit and cause to be transferred from the workhouse to the city prison
or said penitentiaries any person commited co the workhouse under
section seven hundred and seven of this act, whenever by reason of the
number of offenders actuslly detained in such workhouse at any
time there shall not be accommodation therein for all the persons
‘committed thereta; and in like manner the commissioner may’ in his
discretion transfer prisoners from one penitentizry to another pen-
itentiary within che department or from one district prison to another
district prison within the department, ‘The commissioner may also
transfer and commit or cause to be transferred and committed from
the city prison or either of said penitentiaries to the workhouse to
be detained and employed therein any person who shall have been
duly committed thereto,
Section 713: Alteration and repair of buildings.
Whenever the increase of inmates or the proper care and gov-
ernment of the institutions in the department shall in the judgment
fof the commissioner render it necessary or expedient, he shall have
power to enlarge or alter the building or buildings occupied by such
institutions; and he shall also have power to make all needful repairs
to such buildings and the appurtenances thereto, provided chat an
appropriation has been made therefor, ‘The commissioner shall
when practicable cause the work of such alterations or repairs to be
done by persons confined in such institutions.
Section 715: Mtrons in prisons for women.
The commissioner of correction may accept for each prison, jail
workhouse or place of detention, now or hereafter under his juris:
diction where women prisoners are detained, at least one woman,
and such other women as in his judgment may be necessary, who shall
bbe known as matrons. The matrons shall have charge of and super:
vision over all women prisoners and all parts of their respective
prisons occupied by such women prisoners, or such parts thereof a5
may be designated to come under their control by the officer in
command eheteof, At least one mation shall be on duty in each
prison as long as any woman prisoner is detained therein. Matrons
shall algo search all women visiting any part of such prison, except
as otherwise ordered by the commissioner. No officer other than the
matron shall be admixted to the corridor or cells of the women ps
soners without the consent of the officer in charge of said prison.
Inspections 461
Organization of the Department:
The Department of Correction is headed by a commissioner,
receiving a salary of $7,500 annually, and assisted by a deputy com.
missioner, at a salary of $5,000 a year. There are several bureaus
‘or divisions ia the department, as follows
1. Executive,
2 Kedia, aceounts and rend
Pui end storage of spin,
Prion servi ns SPH
3
i
8
&
Of these, Nos. 1, 2 and 3 are situated in the administrative offices
the Municipal Building. No. 5 is largely concentrated at the office
the foreman of stables, at the foot of 26th Street and East River.
‘The total number of regular employees in the department during
1915, was 628. OF these, 412 consisted of wardens, keepers, matrons,
crdeslies and physicians, that is, those desling directly with prisoners.
The following institutions are comprised within the Department
of Correction:
In cares of a warden of iti pine; en
odes Fepern chage, St Puan meh
als Ian, a charg of» warn
Bike lata a calgeata
Gi
See Hamil
The City Prison, Manhattan, also serves as the first districe
prison, Manhattan, The city prisons of Brooklyn and Queens serve
85 prisons for all diserice courts of those boroughs or counties.
Functions of the institutions. —No person is admiteed as an inmate
of any institution under the Department of Correction unless
Properly commited by a judge. Practically all the admissions
into the department are first made by such commitment. In the
Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, therefore, the distribution of
district prisons or pens is parallel, practically, with the distribution
of diseriet magistrates’ courts. ‘The frst district magistrates’ court
462 Tue Prison Association or New Yor
remands prisoners to the Tombs; the second, fourth, fifth and
seventh district magiserates’ courts have prisonsin adjoining buildings,
For the third, sixth and eighth districts pens are provided, also under
the Department of Correction, where prisoners are detained until the
close of court. At che end of the court session, those from the third
district pen are transferred to the second district prison. Those
from the sixth and eighth districe pens, to the fifth discrice prison.
OF the district prisons, the fourth district is the only one where there
js no female department, so chat women prisoners from there are
transferred to the seventh district prison
‘As a general rule, prisoners remain at the district prisons, or
pens, only as long as they remain under the jurisdiction of the magis-
trate, If prisoners are held for special sessions, or general sessions
courts, they are as soon 2s practicable transferred, in Manhattan,
to the Tombs; in the Bronx, to the Bronx County Jail
Tn Brooklyn and Queens there are no district prisons. ‘The eity
prison in each borough serves asa general remand prison for all
districts in the magistrates’ courts. These prisons therefore com
bine the functions that in Manharcan are divided between the dis-
trict prisons and the city prison, or Tombs. As a general rule,
therefore, prisoners held for special sessions, for general sessions, for
county or supreme court, are found only in the three city prisons of
Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and lesser cases are found in the
district prisons of Manhattan and Bronx, and also in the city prisons
fof Brooklyn and Queens; an anomalous condition exists in Bronx
County, where the Department of Correction has jurisdiction over
‘wo diserice prison pens, but has no jurisdiction over the county
jail, to which serious offenders, who are held by the magistrate for
the county court or supreme court, are transferred.
Persons sentenced by the various magistrates, special sessions,
‘general sessions, supreme and county courts of the City of New York,
may be sent cither to institutions within the eity, under authority: of
the Commissioner of Correction, or to institutions outside the city
‘The institutions for convicted prisoners under the Department of
Correction are principally the Workhouse, che Penitentiary and the
City Reformatory for Misdemeanants. But persons may be sen-
tenced to the various city prisons; these cases, however, are not
important or very numerous. Sentences to the Workhouse are for
six months or less for minor offences; to the Penitentiary, generally,
for not more than one year, although, a5 pointed out below, there
may be longer sentences. The conditions of admission to the City
Reformatory are also set forth below. Transfers to these insticu-
tions are made by the department vans.
Inspections 463
Ic is against the law to employ prisoners who are not convicted.
‘Therefore, the domestic labor, such as cleaning, cooking, etc. in the
various city and district prisons is done by prisoners who are either
sentenced to a term in such prisons or are transferred from the
Workhouse or the Penitentiary for the purpose of performing such
work. The administration of the city and diserice prisons therefore
presents quite 2 difficult problem, inasmuch as the differences in
fights, privileges and duties of the convicted and unconvicted prison-
cers must be observed.
Prisoners and sheir treatment.—The institutions of the Department
‘of Correction and their personnel, are, from the standpoint of modern
penology’ antiquated in plan and ideals. ‘There is not one institution
that is constructed along really modern lines, nor can ie be said that
the administrative methods of the Department in the past have
shown an appreciation af the meaning of penology as signifying a
combination of efficiency in methods and enlightened humaneness
inthe treatment of prisoners. At present ie is largely simply a matter
of being personally good-nacured, or ill-natured; personally ineficient,
orcompetent. ‘There is hardly a well-developed principle to serve as
a guide. Added to this sad state of affairs is the fact that the calibre
of a large number of prisoners in the Department is not such as to
ingpire respect and hope for reformation. For this reason, up to
this very day, there is not an institution in the city of New York
that has taken the initiative or even promptly followed any lead in
practical prison reform, such as is being worked out in some of our
rate prisons and in some institutions in other states and in Canada,
Within the prisons, under their move or less unsanitary conditions,
wretched, insufficient clothing is provided. There is lictle or no at-
tempe at individual treatment, or even an intimate understanding
of prisoners. ‘The business of safekeeping is paramount, if not ex
clusive, No system of parole exists in the prisons. _All sentences
are absolutely definite, with the sole exception of the City Reforma-
tory for Misdemeanancs on Hart's Island, where, however, the
system, with its ninesheaded Board of Parole, is, from a standpoint
of reformatory standards, largely a failure. | Some few score em-
ployees, including some wardens, and a number of keepers, who do
have a better and wider understanding of the problems of prison
and prison reform, do not have the opportunity of realizing their
ideas,
‘When we add to all this, chat during the year 1914, the total
census of the department increased from 4602 to 7304, or 58.7 per
464 Tue Prison Association or New Yore
cent, with only a most insignificant increase in the number of keep-
fers, au estimate of che quality of the work in these prisons cannot
be very gratifying.
Moreover, the chances of advancement for keepers are too limited,
their hours too long, their duties in a few cases a sinecure, but in
most cases arduous and dangerous. The keeper enters, with a sal
ary of $800, which may be raised co $9¢0 in two years, to $1050 in
‘two more years, and at the end of the total of six years, to the maxi-
mum of #1,200. There is no classifeation in rank and no chan
above $1,200, except in the case of 2 few positions of head keeper,
at $1,800, and still fewer positions of warden, at $2,500 (in ewe
‘cases, $3,000 and in one case $3,509)
‘There has long been considerable agitation for the introduction
of an cight-hour shift among keepers. ‘The matter has been consid.
cred by the salary clacsifeation committec, but no results have as yet
been obtained. All this makes ic difficult to eliminate the repressive
system of treatment and to introduce constructive reformative
methods into the institutions of the Department
Business methods. ‘There are two general classes of expenditures,
those for regular maintenance and ordinary repairs, and those for
extraordinary expenditures, new buildings, and improvements on a
lange scale. For the former, itis requited that a budgetary estimate
be made, as provided in the Charter quoted above. For the lateet
{group requisitions may be made at any time, and the money is raised
not from regular tax revenue, but by the selling of corporate stock.
‘The budgetary expenditures for the year 1913 amounted t0 $1,270
456.07, segregated as follows:
Berson rervice (sslanes snl wages) 615,540 56
Sonn, iials fr
Pallas of equine
ral
Contract or open onde service
Contingencies
ined charger sed coniibetione
In the item for supplies the most important single unit was
183394523, for food supplies, This was calculated on the basis of
5000 prisoners, at the rate of 16 cents per day, plus the partial
‘maintenance for some of the employees.
In the purchase of equipment, the most important item was
$21, 967.71, for wearing apparel
Under the heading of “materials” $40,000 conatituted a capital
fund for the running of the industries at the penitentiary.
Inspections 465
This total of 81,270,456.07 docs not however represent the total
expenditure, for it does not include expenditures made on corporate
stock, nor deficiency appropriations that have to be made before the
end of the year to supply additional food and wearing apparel,
requited because of the tremendous increase in the census.
On the basis of this experience for 1914, the budgetary grants
for che coming year of 1915 have, in the most important items, been
considerably increased. The number of employees was raised from
628 to 670, this increase being most pronounced in the Workhouse
staff where it was raised from 169 to 189, in the Reformatory staff
from 25 to 35, and in the Penitentiary from 88 to 109. The only
considerable reduction has been in ferry service, due to the abandon-
ment of the use of one of the steamers, The total of food supplies
granted in the budget for 1915 is $342,906.55. The large increase
for wearing apparel to $60,138.20, is due to the fact that there was
less material in stock at the end of 1924 than there was at the end
of 19
Food supplies and wearing apparel ate granted as a lump sum for
the whole Department. They are distributed to che various institu.
tions from the storehouse located on Blackwell's Island, upon a
requisition made by the institution through the central office. The
system of requisitions for supplies of all kinds has been thoroughly
reorganized and improved during the past year of this administration.
This improvement is especially noticeable in the distribution of food
supplies, Up to last year the required amount of food was sent from
the starchouse to each institution, on the basis of the census reported
for the corresponding day of the preceding week. This had che
fect that the amount sent and the amount needed were not the
same for the individual institution, and thar the toral number of
persons for whom requisition for food was made, was very often higher
than the total census for the whole department. Wieh the reorgan-
ination of the pass bureau this system was done away with.
There is now available ar the pass burcau an exact record of the
precise number of inmates in each institution daily, so that the sup-
plies sent to institutions now are based upon the information supplied
by the pass bureau direct to che storehouse. This pass bureau is
intimately connected with the new system of records for the whole
Deparement, which provides that at each prison, or pen, a book entry
bbe made of every admission, discharge, or change of legal status of
the prisoner. A carbon copy of this record is made simultaneously.
The book containing the original record remains at the institution
466 Tue Prison Association of New York
and the carbon copy is forwarded to the pass bureau, From the
book remaining at the institution individual cards are filled out,
which constitute the card system for the institution. Similarly,
from the carbon sheets, cards are prepared at the pass bureau. The
card at the pass bureau remains on file, while that at the institution
follows the prisoner from institution to institution wichin the de-
partment, and remains on fle at the institution where he was last
located. “A beginning has already been made to utilize this central
record system for obtaining relizble seatistics for the Department,
‘The proper statistical machinery has been installed and within a
year or two probably some astonishing statistical results may follow,
At this bureau, passes for visitors to prisoners (relatives) are issued
for all cases of convicted prisoners, and a record of such visits kept.
Since June 1, 1914, the dietary of che Department hus also been
‘organized on a uniform plan. ‘The same dietary: now is obligatory
in each prison of the Department
For the purpose of comparison, we give here a former dietary, a8
found in the Tombs, and the present dietary, for the whole
Department.
Former allowance per prisoner per day:
si Sm Mone Tae Wade [Thue pay | S40
Basanran Ser Mr] as | Sa ar re |
umes
eget
Fish chowder
Seeren
Insrecrions 497
‘A typical bill of fare for a week was as follows
‘xeagrase, Dues. Sorea
Sendey Baked hash Boiled beef, soup, pov
toes bred Bread ea
Mond Bread, coffe Boiled ech, soupy pote
es, bre Bread es.
Tose. Stemed prunes, bread, :
clic Baile mutton, sour, pote
‘ben bees Brand ee
Boiled beeh, soup, pote
Webvesday. Bren, cae.
oes, bread Bread te, jelly.
Tharedey.....- Baked hath, bead,
“fee eed ect wens pace
‘oss, ead, ts.
Cum egie potatoes,
ead et Bead, ce.
Bale toe oops pote
read
Fria, Bread, cof.
Saturday. Bread, coffe aise
The following is the present dietary for all institutions of the
Department:
- Buzaxrast Ration ron Passon.
orn mel per ap.
Dewan Raion 108
(Ten peopl)
Surren Rarton on Prison
(Tes people.
Macao
Cheer
Besne
Ke
Prunes
Evaporated apple:
468
‘Tue Prison Association or New York
Daity Ravion Pen Prisonen,
ey
anal
fresh bee has
Vegetable up
Fridey
Vegecabies
Batley
Tatstes:
Vegetable soup.
Weteeray
‘Games
e
Thadey
ery
Bread.
Clie
Breatfst:
Brats:
Supper
Beata
Brae
Seppe
Belper pple iS
Moxa
Qaemest, mi, buen, cof, fet bee hi
{Gren estou Ise el povstosy vegetable, Bread
Baked bean, bien, cate.
Tuespay
{Goea meal mil, bead caer.
‘Vegetable tour, bold mutton potatocs, vegetsble, bres
Bold ce svrany bread, ce,
‘Weoweroar.
Qutneal, ily be
Split pes soup, corsed bev potatos, vegetables, bread
Stewed prunes (or ely) bre, cae,
Insrections
heey
Ipeaifaste Hos, ily been, oo
Beste” Neral vnn bated bet posters, bend, vogeable
Sipps Miacatont and ehcse, ben coe
Piper.
Bese
Bi Todfh, potatoe, vepeeable, bread
Sipser: Baked Sane bie ces
restate Hominy, mil, bres
inser” Veqerale sup, boded mutton, potatoes, vegetables bread
Stjser: Bolle ce up, brea, coc
Droit: Qatmea, mil, bread, cole
Bice” Bean sad, bated bee poegtocy, vegetable, brend
Styne pple saute or jl bend ute,
‘The nexe step for the Deparement of Correction, itis to be hoped,
will be the acquisition of new modern prisons and of a medical
service along modern lines.
In the following statements of the individual institutions in the
Deparcment, no definite inspection reports are given in the majority
of eases, because of the frequency with which the said institutions
have been visited or inspected. Reference has been made in Pare I,
of this repore to the general changes in the Department of Correction
that have come about during 1914. The statements to follow will
sive a brief description of the essential features of each prison, the
recommendations made for their improvement, and any definice
progress that may be reported during the year.
THE CITY PRISON, MANHATTAN, (TOMBS)
‘The warden is John J. Hanley.
The capacity of this prison is:
Male adales
Mile adults, dormir
Mate minors,
Female sours prisoners
Female primers serving sentence
‘Ro separace flies for femate minors
‘The prison consists of the so-called “new prison,” and the two
annexes, one of which ig used for female prisoners. The “new
prison” has been in use for about eleven years and the annexes
for almost thirty years
472 ‘Tae Prison Association of New York
The “new prison" is built on the cellblck type with wsity
corsdors, and contains eight ters of cell, divided into two setiong
of four tiers exch. There are forty clls to ter of a total of thee
hundred and twenty cells for the whole celilock, These ccs ane
6 feet inches, By 8 feet 1} inchen hy 8 fet 4 inches, They ave
Considerably large chan the val cll fund in similar instiatons
Hrweves praceal ll of shen contin evo pusonet a that te
cell prove to bein face roo small, rather shan too loepe
There are two shower compartments, one sellery and store
room for each tier of forty cells. Above the celiblock « lage dor.
mitory with capaci for one hundred and eight beds ie sieusted
‘The heat and artical ight are sarefuctory. The venation and
natural light are obtained. chiely fiom the lege windows ranning
Practically the fall eight of the cellblock, wich window-panee
pening obliquely. There is an auxiliary vemiatng sytem which
especially when she cold weather makes ieimpossible to Keep mindom
constantly open. "The dormiory on the top oor is very wel Hhted
and ventilated. Ie contsns some Rty-cight windows, Tee by 3}
“The frst Boor ofthis building, under the eellblock proper, com
iment, the ofice of the medical department, a counsel room a room
for searching vistors, + small tom for the reception of clothn
brought in for the prisoners, 4 comparimene containing two dark
cells; a laundry and’ storeroom, the last thice accessible from the
yard,” The basement comrains the boilesrooms,eletric generator
2nd dynamos, store-oom, carpentershop and chet shops
‘The cals in the“ new prison "contain co bunks each suspended
on the wall by hinge, 3 toilet with washbasin of vitreous material
light, 2 small table suspended on hinges from the wall that maybe
folded up against the wall,» small bench, a broom 2 drinkingeeup,
and the bedding, consisting of Blanker, pillow, sheces and pillow,
tes, IF evo persons occupy the same cely as fs generally the ease
additonal bedding and an addtional cup are of course supplied
Prisoners are permited co Keep their personal atiles in the ell,
since they are inthe eves ofthe lay presumably innocent
Running at right anges to thie cllleck there is 2 wing some:
what less in heighe chan the prison building proper end containing
om its various fors the following: Pens fr the eamporary detention
Inspections an
of prisoners returned from court prior to their re-admission to their
respective cells, and until the prison is cleared of visitors; a Catholic
anda Protestant chapel; several rooms used as storerooms for books,
drugs, ete. and a kitchen, All these are separated from the prison
proper by a stairway running the full height of the building, and
giving access both to the prison and to the various floors of this
‘wing. Communication from floor to Roor in the cellblock is by
means of a stairway situated ae about the center of the cellblock
and dividing each block into exo halves of twenty cells each.
In the male annex there are eighty cells, distributed over five
tiers, sixtcen cells to a tier, eight on each side, bue without a utility
corridor to separate them, so that all the plumbing is contained in
the separating wall and in the cells proper. The size of these cells
ig smaller than of those in the “new prison."” They are only 5 feet
4 inches in wideh, or fully 1 fooe narrower chan those in the “ new
prison.” The heat and artificial light are satisfactory. The natural
light and ventilation are very much poorer than in the " new prison ”
both because of the size of the windows in che outer wall, and also
because the door spaces in front of the cells toward the corridor
are smaller, and because the cell fronts are a thick brick wall instead
ofa thin steel wall, asin the " new prison.” The absence of a utility
cortidor also reduces the possibilities of good ventilation.
One side of the first tier, shut off by a steel gate, is used as the
“een day house,” for the confinement of male prisoners sentenced
to the City Prison for small fines, or for less than five days. Mose
of this group stay only a few hours, or a day at most, before their
liberation either by payment of the fine, or by expiration of the
shore term, so that it is not considered worth while ro assign separate
cells to them, in an institution so overcrowded and so much in need
of cells for che steadier population. On this corridor therefore there
may be found at any time an indefinite number of prisoners, ranging
all the way to forty or Bfty. Three of the cells of this part are
‘occupied by ‘the help,” one cell has been transformed into 2 shower
compartment, one into a scullery and one into a storeroom.
On the other side of thie tier inmates about to be transferred to
the Elmira Reformatory ate generally kept. On this side, too, there
is one eell used as a shower compartment and one has been trans-
formed into a padded cell, but is not used for thar purpose.
On the second, third, and fourth tiers, two corresponding cells
oon either side are joined by breaking through the separating walls.
These ate used as sculleries and for the accommodation of “the
help.”
472 Tue Prison Association or New York
The female prison is an annex, corresponding in construction and
age to the male annex. The size of its cells, their construction,
the material of the walls, the plan, etc., are the same as in the male
annex. Its five tiers are divided into two sections, of which the
upper two constitute a unit and are accessible by a separate stair-
way. The lower three tiers have a cotal of thirey-two cells, available
for sleeping purposes. The other ten of the forty-ewo cells provided
for by the construction, which was designed for fourteen cells to a
tier (seven on eich side), are used for various purposes, such as
storerooms, clothing rooms, showers, ete. The two separate tiers
referred to above are used for " the help,” and have a total of twenty
fone cells, available ror sleeping purposes, of which nineteen are sup-
plied with cwo bunks each, A venvilsting shaft co supply these
two tiers passes through practically all of che five ters
‘The equipment in all of the cells, male and female, is practically
the same as to bedding, cups, broom and so on. Each prisoner
receives a clean towel every morning and soap when required. A
complete new set of articles of equipment is given each prisoner on
admission, and is removed from the cell on his or her discharge,
and not again used unsil properly treated.
‘There ate two general classes of prisoners in ehis prison, ax well
a in all the detention prisons of the Deparement of Correction,
those held for coure action by the yarious magistrates and other
judges, and those serving sensence and requited to work. These
fare referred co generally as “the help.” They are either trans
ferred from the workhouse for the purpose of performing the neces
saty labor in the various prisons, or else ate sentenced directly to
the City Prison, for 9 definite term, generally aot more than sixty
Gays. ‘Their sleeping quarters at the Tombs are, for male help,
principally the dormitory, on the top oor of the
some however are in the cells of the male annex. Th
as already indicated aceupy the tivo upper ters of the female prison.
The distinecion between these ewo general classes of prisoners is of
course catried oue in the whole administration. Court prisoners
have presumably all rights, excepe those necessarily curtailed for
the purpose of administration. ‘That is, they may receive visitors
three times a week, may write and receive as many letters as they
Yy purchase food, robacco, clothing and luxuries of any
“The help” are restricted to their monthly or bi-weekly
visitors, may receive and send mail to a limited extent, and must not
possess any money on their person. However, “the help,” in per-
Inspections 43
forming their various duties throughout the prison, come into con
stant contact with the court prisoners, and in that way are able to
secure many more privileges than in institutions used exclusively for
‘convicted prisoners.
The distribution of prisoners, according to their classification,
within the limits possible in such an overcrowded institution, is
28 follows:
Two separate tiers in the “new prison,” namely, the fifth and
sixth, ate reserved for the use of minors (those ewenty-one years of
sage oF under).
"The First and second tier are used for the most serious cases,
such as homicide, robbery, rape, ete, and for those convicted and
sentenced and ready to be transferred to the State Prison or the
Penitenciary.
All Federal prisoners are kept on the seventh tier and all prisoners
sulfering from tuberculosis, syphilis, o gonorrhea, are kept on the
tighth tier, separated as far as possible. Often this classifcacion
has to be broken down, because of the necessity of keeping certain
prisoners held on the same charge, or likely to attack each other,
‘on separate tiers, and also because of the overcrowding.
In the male annex the upper two tiers are entirely closed off by bars
and are devoted to the housing of drug users and those suspected
of being drug users.
The frst tier of the annex is used, as above indicated, on one side
for prisoners to be transferred to the Elmira Reformatory, on the
other side for the so-called “ten day cases.” ‘The other tiers are
used for various misdemeanants.
In the female prison, classification is practically impossible. Dur
ing the day, however, first offenders and repeaters are kept on sepa-
rate tiers, o chae they come in contact with each other to a very
limited extene only
The drug evil has become so serious in this institution that the
free admission of food purchased hy court prisoners at their own
expense has been eliminated, and now all such purchases can be made
only from 2 caterer inside the prison. Only clothing and toilet
necessities are now allowed to come im, after the proper examination
for contraband articles,
The Tombs is ordinarily alwaye very much overcrowded. Ap-
proximately two-thirds of the cells contain almost always two pris-
oners. In doubling up, great care is taken to allow only people of
the same race, nationality, age, general character, cleanliness and
condition of health ro occupy the same cells. OF course it is often
474 Tite Prisow Association of New York
impossible to carry this principle our. This overcrowding is prob-
ably the worst feature of the Tombs. To a considerable extent
this is responsible for the standard of cleanliness, which is somewhae
hhelow what may be considered desirable. There is a tremendous
flux, in and out, of prisoners, visitors, cleaners, lawyers, philan-
thropic agents, police, ete. There is a continuous change in the
‘occupants of the cells and the officials are too few to keep a constant
Jookout for the condition of the individual cells, and of various
dther parts of the prison. It is a pity, that in spice of the commends
ble activity of the warden, John J. Hanley, it has as yet been impos
sible to bring the cleanliness of the Tombs up to an acceptable
standard,
‘Other undesirable features will become clear from the recommen
dations appended, which are the result of 2 careful six weeks’ study
by the writer, of this institution, resulting in a report of which the
present report is an extract.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
‘The following recommendations are under the three
headings, (1) structura? or architectural, (2) administrative,
@) statistical.
STRUCTURAL OR ARCHITECTURAI
1, Additional accommodations must be provided to alle-
viate the existing congested conditions. The first recom-
mendation, therefore, is that additional buildings be
erected 60 as to Insure the provision of a cell for every
prisoner, whether awaiting trial or sentenced, or whether
one of the help.”
2, Both annexes, male and femsle, should be torn down
as unfit for service. The multiplication and enlargement
of windows as well as the discontinuance of the use of the
annex cellars for thelr present purposes would partially
alleviate the undesirable present conditions. However, the
annexes are bath so thoroughly unsatisfactory that n0
partial changes should he undertaken; they should be
entirely abolished.
3. To improve the ventilation 2 larger exhaust plant
should be installed in the new prison. Also, the vent lating
system should be extended to the chapels and other parts
of the prison.
InsPections 475
To eliminate the commingling of all kinds of prisoners
and of visitors, and thereby to avoid the possibilities of
prisoners injuring each other, of their escape, of the ill-
treatment of visitors by them, and many other evils:
4, Separate entrances from the main stairway to each
tier should be provided so that prisoners can go to their
respective tiers without passing through the other tiers.
‘This would increase the number of entrances to the cell-
block of the new prison to 8 instead of 3. The stairway
within the cellblock should be used by offic als only This
would involve
3, The rearrangement of the receiving room and the pens
for keeping prisoners on their return from court, The
entrance to the main stairway on a level with the first tier
should be changed, and the receiving desk moved into what
fs now the small court pen, so that the control of all move-
‘ment of prisoners to the various tlers would be concentrated
at the receiving desk. At present, prisoners may leave the
tiers in charge of officers, or, if they can manage it other-
wise, by che entrance on the fifch tier or seventh tier, and
go down the stairway or elevator without being seen at the
receiving desk. This does not, but could easily happen.
6. Avvisiting room should be provided. ‘The double screen
system should be installed in the visiting room, and it should
be so located, if possible, that access to the prisoners’ side
should be closed to visitors, while the visitors’ side should
be open to the public entrance only. At present there is no
available space for such 2 visiting room and, before addi-
tional buildings are erected, either such a room would have
to be built in the yard or one of the chapels could be used
by the erection of a movable double screen.
7. If the visitors were thus taken care of, there would be
no cause for the use of the court pens on the floor with the
‘eiving desk as at present. But to consider this item
ladependently, the present court pens could be subdivided,
and additional room could be utilized for a more nearly
proper segregation of returning pr soners. At present all
classification is broken down here. In fact, there is no
reason why, if there is no other way out, the Protestant
chapel could not be used for this purpose. It is on the
same floor with the fifth tler so that it could be supervised
by the keeper of that tier.
475 Te Prison Assoctarton or New York
8. Counsel room facilities should be extended by the
definite utilization in addition to the present counsel room
of at least one more room, probably the one now used for
keepers’ lockers, and sometimes 25 counsel room.
9. A male searching room is necessary even bofore the
ucted.
room for prisoners is absolutely
necessary for the proper sanitary precautions in the admi
tration of the bullding. A process of real disinfecting
should be installed In connection with this.
Af. The Bridge of Sighs should be altered so that instead
of opening into te yard as at present, it should open directly
on the first tier floor, preferably in immediate juxtaposition
ing desk. At present the prisoners pass through
ail kinds of weather, through the narrow corri-
irways used by visitors and others, and then are
jammed into the court pens. The reconstruction of the
Bridge of Sighs would obviate this.
12. The ftoors.of the first'and fifth ters should be pro-
vided with a gutter and drainage to facilitate cleaning.
13, An additional elevator should be installed where now
useless dumbwaiters stand idle,
14. There are no facilities at present for properly treating
the ill, the tuberculous, those suffering from infectious
diseases, epileptics, prisoners under observation and those
suffering from che effects of wounds or of surgical treatment
In other words, there is no hospital and no psychopathic
ward. Both are most urgent necessities, and their absence
causes untold misery and administrative difficulties.
Immediate attention to the solution of this problem should
be given, even if it requires patch-work building. The
recoramendations of Dr. George Parker made April 28, 1912,
in this connection are cited here:
“The general recommendations that arise from a
situation such as this can fall into two lines:
“(@) That of service.
(b) That of arrangement of physical surroundings.
(a) The Service. There are demanded for the proper
conduct of the medical part of che Tombs, City Prison,
two resident physicians, a senior and a junior. In this
connection I may cite that the chemist who does a large
Inspections a7
part of dispensing of medicine to the ambulatory sick on
the tier, handles 160 to 200 cases a day, either in medicine
given to them or dressings applied to them. This is
a very large amount and should not rest in the hands of
man whose medical training is but slight, although his
training as a chemist and apothecary
qualified, and which lies entirely beyond his fied as
chemist. This is mentioned to show the very large
amount of general medical work existing within the
tombs. With the examination, physical and mental, of
cach prisoner coming to the Tombs, which in the light
of this report is mandatory, the services of two internes
are necessary. Both of these internes should be men
qualified by experience in asylum as well as in general
hospital work to treat and distinguish both mental
disorders and physical disabilities.”
15. So far as structural changes are necessary they should
be made so as to provide a reception room for prisoners
where their physical condition could be ascertained, their
bodies and clothes cleaned, and any additional precautions
taken against the introduction of disease.
16. The location of the bread room should be changed.
In its present situation it is ill-ventilated and immediately
above the hot basement, so that bread often turns sour
over night.
17. There should be an adequate keepers’ dining-room.
ADMINISTRATION.
Under the heading of Administration the chief recom-
mendations are the followins
(1) A wiser distribution of officers to their respective
he simplification of the work at the pass desk, so
that it will not take the time of four keepers and a matron
during the busiest hours of the day.
3) The establishment of a closer relation with the court,
So that it will not be necessary to send to the court of general
sessions alone an average of 76 prisoners per day when the
average number disposed of is only 22. The present system.
involves the crowding into disgracefully small pens in the
Criminal Courts Building of a number of offenders of all
478 Tur Prison Association or New York
ages, color, previous experience, state of health and morals.
‘These pens are not only too small and ill-ventilated, but
increase in undesirable qualities during the stay of several
hours of the prisoners, both by the natural results of the
presence of a number of individuals in a small space and
by the use of food and tobacco by the prisoners during
court hours.
(4) The employees’ hours should be reduced to eight, and
their Saturday and Sunday holidays be made secure. "The
present warden, Mr, Hanley, sometime ago devised a scheme
for a three-shift system for the keepers which would provide
for an eight-hour basis.
(8) The material used in the preparation of the food has,
ona whole, been found good. The administrative process
of its distribution, however, is faulty in so far as it neces
sitates keeping the separate portions of meat for several
hours until they become cold and unappetizing. There-
fore, some scheme should be introduced —— and It is not at
all an impossibility, though such claims be made —for
presenting the food properly and for assuring its impartial
distribution by “ the help.” Perhaps it will be necessary
for a keeper ¢o accompany “the help"? during the distribu-
ion of food to prevent biased work by the prisoners.
(6) Coffee and tea should be hecter prepared, and a way
provided for the prisoner co fix his own sweetening.
(7) A change in the system of visiting afong the Hnes
suggested would make it po to introduce a nunsber of
other changes that would make for better conditions. ‘The
rearrangement of officers’ hours would materially aid in
that; so, for example, it would be possible to allow prisoners
to eat outside of their cells in some temporary dining-
room or corrider. ‘This would involve a change of schedule
also, but there is no really good reason why prisoners should
j, and, except for the present system of
-ason why supper should be
taken as early as 4 o'clock; so thae any changes,
by allowing prisoners to eat in a di
would not be fazai to prison discipline.
Under the figment of the presumption of innocence the
poor prisoner is burdened with expenditures which he is
incapable of meeting. For example, hair-cut and shave
are not, within the prison administrative system, provided
Inspections 479
for. There is no reason why it should not be made part of
the function of the help.”
(8) Shaving and hair-cutting should be provided for.
Prisoners should not, because presumably innocent, be
deprived of the benefits that the sentenced convict enjoys
of presentability.
9) The matter of caterer should be looked into. The
present apparent overcharges should be eliminated in food,
in sale of articles, in obtaining newspapers, ete.
10) A definite policy should be adopted in reference to
the treatment of " dope fiends.” While this is more strictly
speaking a medical matter, it would affect the administra
tion considerably, because the handling of “dope” is
always a source of danger to prisoners and officials also.
The introduction of a visitors’ room would eliminate the
largest element of the “ dope" problem.
(11) More matrons are required and a better classification
of women prisoners.
STATISTICAL.
‘The form of statistics kept generally depends upon the
requirements placed upon an institution. It is practically
so in the case of the City Prison, What the central adminis-
tration of the Department of Correction requires for its
meagre annual statements is collected; also what the
State Commission of Prisons requires for its annual report.
‘These records appear inadequate, clumsy, with an amount
of duplication that certainly does not make up for the
extent of insufficiency. It is recommended:
(1) That a card index be kept at the receiving desk of all
those actually in the prison at any given time. Each card
should bear whatever information is necessary for the care
and preparation for court of the prisoner. It should state
for example his offense, age, state of health on admission,
aumber of charges, ete. On being sent to court his card
should be removed from the general file and placed in a
separate group kept for prisoners gone to court; similarly
for those sent to see counsel. In fact, the removal of any
prisoner for any reason from his cell or tier should be indi
cated by the removal of his card to a separate group labeled
for that purpose. This would make it possible to locate
any prisoner at any time, and to give a correct census at
any time.
480 Tue Prison Association or New York
@) A board representing a number of cells, with a
mechanical arrangement allowing the insertion of names
should be kept at the receiving desk, giving a clear view of
the distribution of the population throughout the prison.
‘The introduction of a card index and census board would
considerably modify the present means of preparing prison-
ers for court. Instead of sending all court sheets through
the whole prison so that each Keeper can pick out those
under his care, the officer at the receiving desk, now freed
of the duty of caring for the cumbersome prison register,
could, from his card index and his census board, make
out the exact list of prisoners for court from each tier and
send such list to the respective keepers of those tiers. Other
simplifications would aiso follow such innovation at the
receiving desk.
(3) The prison register should be Kept in the general
office only, and the transcripzion of personal information
from the commitment, aad the information stamped on
back of the commitment, should be made in the register
in the general office.
(4) A cumulative permanent record should be kept of the
number of daily admissions, subdivided as to the court
they are chargeable to, color, sex, ete.
5. A permanent record of the dally census similarly sub-
divided (and containing statement of hospital cases and
observation cases) instead of the present subdivision, should
be kept.
6. A permanent record of the dally transfers and dis-
charges should be kept.
7. An entirely separate prison register should be kept for
prisoners serving sentence, whether committed directly t0
the City Prison or transferred from the Workhouse. The
function of the City Prison as 2 detention house and as
a prison for persons serving sentence should be held separate
and distinct.
It would probably be beyond the scope of the present
recommendations to ask for a scientific utilization of the
immense amount of criminological data naturally accumu-
Jating in the records, and especially in the prison register.
This is a task that would have to be taken up by the Depart-
ment of Correction as a whole. Even more beyond the
Present scope would it be to suggest the introduction of
Insrzcrions asi
the European system of supplying the possibility of employ-
ment to prisoners even while awaiting trial, so that they
would not be forced to spend hours, days, weeks, many of
them months, In complete idleness, Also, it would be
premature to suggest what fundamental modifications in
structure and administration should be introduced into a
new and an enlarged City Prison. All these await a more
propitious time in the future.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
‘The following are the chief items in the improvement of
conditions in the City Prison:
1. A new set of records was introduced by the commis-
sioners of accounts and has beon working very satisfactorily
since approximately the middle of February, 1914. ‘This
method has been referred to elsewhere in reference to the
whole Department of Correction.
2. By orders of the Commissioner of Correction, no more
food is allowed to come in from the outside. All purchases
of additional food by court prisoners must be made from a
caterer within the prison. Clothing alone may now be
brought in.
3. Additional clerks have been supplied, so that the work
of record-keeping is now done more expeditiously.
4. The dietary has been entirely reorganized. The same
dietary now applies to all institutions in the Department
of Correction.
5. Plans have been prepared for the erection of a hospital
for the Tombs, and for the supplying of proper accommo-
dations for visitors, on the double-screen style.
6, ‘The location of the dosk for the reception of prisoners’
clothing has been changed to great advantage.
CITY PRISON, BROOKLYN (Raymond Street Jail)
The capacity of this prison is
Male adates, ee sec age!
‘The warden is John Hayes.
482 Tus Prison Association oF New York
“The City Prison in Brooklyn is che only institution for the deven
ion of pusoners, during court action, for chat borough, which is
tion cous with Kings County. All prisoners from the district
Gragistrates courts, as well s from the county and supreme courts of
Kings County are confined in this prison. The annual number of
‘Admissions has therefore been larger in this institution than i an
ether detention prison in the city, although the average population
Sfuhe prison is considerably below that of che City Prison of Man
hhattan,
‘Mate prison.—The male prison is a rectangular building, about 180
feet long by 75 feet wide, buile of brick, cement and steel. ‘The build-
ing contains two cellblocks, running parallel with each other. They
ane four tets high, thus making ight galleries per block, or siseeen
galleries for the total. ‘There are twenty-five cells for each galleys
we king a total of four hundved cells, Natural light and ventilation
aaa reesived from large windows in the outside wall, running pre
‘Teally the full height of the wall, and from three large skylights,
placed in the center, giving light to the central corrider separating
the two cellblocks. separating the cellblocks from
rah ether and from the outside walls are sufficiently wide on the
fise floor, but on the upper tiers they are reduced to narrow get
Tenis, jase wide enough to give access to the cells. A considerable
Epace between the top of the cellblocks and roof further enhances
The possibilities for good ventilation. The artificial Tighe and heat
are satisfactory
“Phere is no utility corridor between the cells, which are arranged
back to back, ‘The cell doors consise of vertical bars, but are too
parrow to give sufficient fight and ventilation to the cells. The
ca tness of the brick wall composing the front of the cells aggravazes
Ciscondition soll further. Each cell is equipped with a hanging bed,
feller and washstand, electric light, wooden beneh, a basin and #
Eup. The bedding consists of two blankets, one pillow and one
Sillow case. ‘They are washed once every week. AI cells are said
fo be fumigated after each occupancy
‘On cach gallery there are three shower-baths in a shower compart
ment at the end of the gallery. This provides forty-eight showers
jasGecen shower compartments for the whole male prison. In this
respect probably this prison is the bese equipped among the city
Prisoners under observation, or placed under punishment, are kept
in che cells on the first tier. Two of these ate padded, and several
uf them semidark, No adequate observation, espevially of insane
The corti
Inspections 483
prisoners can be exercied under these conditions. ‘There must be
sufficient requirement for such observation to justify pitta
puchopathie ward, addition to mecnaryhowptal Fence, which
Treas lacking. ied that no peso iv allowed co remain in
"ice than weno oar" or pape rhe
their friends and other privileges. e :
vy but otherwise constituting practically separate units.
484 Tne Prisox Association or New Yor
Nor ec, facing ell
Bo.
Fedeial and special estions pritoere
Desg adic
Observation
Peter,
Felon
Polat of eyehili, gonocthea and eaters
ton
Howie case
Mapiotnees tare.
Magen
Observation, punishment cell ete
Pato
Thoce charged with intoxication; held ee
Four ee
‘The boys exercise separately, All court prisoners exercise in th
eentral corridor. Exercise takes place daily from seven t0 eig
inthe cortidor. | From eighe-thirey eo nin:
‘exercise is maintained in the yard for n
Berween ren and eleven-thiscy, visitors an
period no exercise is allowed. From one to two p. m. exercise in
the yard for women, weather permitting. Two-thirty to three-ti
exercise in the corridor for men. All are k
lights in the cells are torned out at nine,
‘The cleanliness of the prison as a whole, including the kitchen
's generally excellent. Individual cells
(cory chiefly as a result of dirty prisoners
‘The prison provides ite own sceam hear and electricity, and part of
the grounds are oscupied by stables and garage for the van service
necessary to transfer the Intge number of prisoners from dhe thitcoen
courts co the prison and back.
Religious services are held every Sunday, and on Tuesdays and
Wednesdays. Both Catholic and Protestant chaplains are employed
‘There is no Jewish chaplain
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE,
1. Facilities for proper treatment and observation of
those suspected of insanity should be provided.
2. Hospital accommodations should be provided, eithet
within the prison, or by the designation of a prison ward
in some nearby hospital.
. during which
corridors, offices, et
ed in at five and ee
Inspections 485
3. A drug room should be equipped. The present facili~
ties for the storage of drugs are disgraceful and dangerous,
botls because they are too easily accessible and because they
are in a dark corner under a stairway, where it is easy to
confuse medicaments and thus possibly endanger the
lives of the prisoners. A proper medical examining room
should be supplied.
J. An apothecary
prison, in order co secure reliable execu
5, Visiting booths should be constructed on the double~
screen etyle, 80 a8 to av ‘ect contact between prisoners
and their visitors.
6, The number of keepers should be increased, first, for
iho sake of security, the number now being insufficient,
even for that purpose, and secondly, for the reduction of
the hours of keepers.
‘The interior of the prison should be repainted a light
nd cheerful color.
|. The temporary pens for the reception of new prisoners,
particularly for those returning from court, should be
enlarged to at Jeast twice their present size. They now
are a serious danger to the health of prisoners and to good
ould be added to the staff of the
1 of the physicians?
PROGRESS MADE.
1. The dietary has been considerably improved by the
stitution of the new dietary, which Is the same as that
e: other institutions of the department.
. Records have also been changed along the same lines
in the other institutions.
8. A keepers’ dining-reom and a reom for the physicians’
tee were constructed in the basement, each with a sky-
4. The receiving desk for the reception of new male
prisoners was transferred to the other end of the celfhouses
this has meant some improvement in the administration.
CITY PRISON, QUEENS.
prison is:
the capacity of
Aas mae
As Bone povio er nie wale
Adult females. : a
"especie aide Fe
486 Tur Prison Assoctation or New York
The warden is Henry O. Schleth
The City Prison of Queens consists of ewo buildings, one of which
contains the male prison and the other the female prison on its upper
floors, and the admi
‘The male prison consists of a cellhouse of brick and concrete, ia
which ewo ccllblocks of steel, five tiers high, are so arranged that the
entrance is gained from a central corridor, while all the light and
ventilation for the cells comes from side corvidors facing the outside
walls.
‘The cell walls facing this central corridor ate solid, so that prisoners
in opposite cells cannot see each other. ‘The cell walls facing the
outside wall consist of bars, so constructed as to give free
access to light and air. All but the Moors of the cells and of the
corridors are steel. ‘The galleries giving access to the cells on the
upper tiers are very narrow, and are continuous around the inside
of the whole central corridor, ‘The outside corridors separating the
rative sections on the lower floors.
sells from the outside walls are also narrow (not more than three
feet wide), but these serve only for purposes of inspection by
officers, whereas the galleries in the central corridor are used for the
prisoners to exercise in.
Each tier of celle consists of twents-cighe cells, divided into fou
sections of seven cells each, two such sections being on each side of
the central corridor. This division would allow for & certain amount
of segregation in accordance with proper classification, were it not
for the face that the whole cell house opens to this central corridor
which runs the full heighe of the building, thus making practically
unlimited communication possible
Bach cell is equipped with ewo hanging beds, and the usual
clothing consisting of blankets, pillows, sheets and pillow cases, 2
toilet, a wash bor! and cups.
‘The whole locking system in che prison has been badly out of ordet
throughout the year and the plumbing of the cells hes also been
unsatisfactory, especially in the female department.
Natural light for the central corridor is obtained in satisfactory
amoun: from the skylight and, on the side corridors, from the win-
dows in the side walls. ‘The artificial light in the central corrider
is satisfactory, but the lights for the individual cells are placed in the
side corridors and vary in number from tier to tier; on some tiers
they are sufficient, on ethers not. Both gas and electricity are used
‘The whole cellilock. and particularly the bars protecting the gal-
leries, give a dietince impression of sagging. Apparently ir is not
yet dangerous. The 1
being frayed and antiquated.
the cellhouse is insecure, the material
Inspections 487
‘The mate prison is separated from the female prison by a space
within the building, the several floors of which are occupied by rooms
Used as counsel room, as sewing-room for the women, store rooms,
cc The female prison proper occupies three floors, with a tier of
twenty-four cells on each floor. The cells on each tier are separ
ated into four sections by a dividing corridor running crosswise,
and by the utility corridor separating cells arranged back to back,
Tn respect to light, ventilation and possibilities of classification,
this arrangement is satisfactory. Each cell is equipped with two
beds and the usual bedding, a toilet, wash basin, and cups.
he population of this prison has very seriously increased during
the past year, both by the growch of commiemente from Queens, and
hy transfer from other prisons in the Department of Correction.
This has been true both of the male and female population, but
particularly of the latter. With the discontinuance of the female
epartment in the penitentiary on Blackwell's Island, all the women,
there, without exception, were transferred to the City Prison in
Queens. This institution now holds, therefore, in addition to the
women awaiting court action in Queens, also all wonien sentenced
to the Penitentiary and a number of women transferred from the
Workhouse; practically all of the seventy-odd cells of the female
Gepartment are doubled-up and a usual census of approximately
fone hundred and forty is maintained
The male prison is fast approaching its final limic of capacity, and
the total population will reach perhaps four hundred during the next
ar, as compared with an average of below two hundred for 1913.
"There is a spacious jail yard for exercise, used both for men and
women prisoners, although for the men it is somewhat dangerous
because of the insufficient height of che wall,
There is not sufficient work to keep all prisoners busy. This is
particularly true for the women. Sewing, begun during the past
year under leadership of the sewing teacher obtained by the
Commissioner of Correction, gives insufficient relief. Sewing is
carried on principally dusing the afternoon. ‘The cleaning of the
cells and of the other parts of the prison, some laundzy work for the
stitution, and repair of clothing, occupy the morning hours.
The laundry facilities are insufficient, and itis planned co get some
other institution in the department to take over the heavier laundry.
‘work as soon as practicable. All prisoners receive clean towels daily.
Considerable improvement is necessary in order to bring. this
prison up toa standard, Considerable appropriations have been
asked for during the past few years for such improvements, but
no substantial sum has as yet been granted.
488 Tae Patson Association of New York
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. A larger kitchen, dining-room for officers, storeroom
and laundry should be supplied.
2. A metal ceiling in the dining-room should be installed,
3. The walls of the jail yard showid be increased in height
so as to make it possible and safe to give the grand jury
prisoners daily outdoor exercise, which it is impossible to
do at present.
1 booth, for which appropriations are to be
asked, should be built.
5, Another important respect in which this prison needs
improvement is in the aumber of officers. The present
number Is entirely insufficient for the population of over
200. There should be at least one head keeper added for
day service, and one deputy warden, to be responsible for
the night duty. It is also suggested by the warden that a
steward and additional cook are necessary.
The distribution of these officers at present is as follow
Keepers during the day:
‘One officer aé the gate.
One officer at the receiving desk.
‘One officer on the flats.
One officer in the pit.
One officer for the fourth and fifth tiers, one officer
in charge of the general food supply, and general
supervision and maintenance.
There are no officers for the yard, and no extra officers
for appearing on writs, and other court or extraordinary
duties.
‘The night force consists of four officers, of whom
One is on duty at the desk.
One is on duty on the first and second tiers.
One is on duty on the third and fifth tiers.
One is off duty, which makes only three on duty.
Of the day men one is off duty every second Sunday, and
sometimes two are on vacation. The insufficiency of the
force is evident.
Insrecrions 489
‘The distribution of the five women officers on day duty is
as follows
One for each tier, making a total of three.
One in charge.
One supervising the cleaning and work in general.
At night there is one on each tier, making a total of
three.
6. Time clocks should be installed to control the night
officers. These clocks should be stationary and arranged
at different parte of the prison.
7. A matron’s dressing-room and bathroom should be
provided for, in the newly planned additions to the building.
8, The women should be required to arrange their bedding,
in a uniform way. This will also prevent lounging on beds
during the day. This would be of advantage not only in
promoting order but in keeping the inmates in good health
and enabling them ¢o sleep at night.
9. The remoyal of the civil jail from its present quarters
and the utilization of the space thus made available for
hospital and chapel, and the fireproofing of the parc of
the building where this is located, are recommended.
10. A new prison should be provided, to take care of the
women prisoners now confined here. Such change should
also provide a proper amount of work to keep the women
busy.
11. The structure connecting the courthouse with the
prison should be torn down. As it stands at present, it is
fa fire trap and a fire menace to the prison, It also makes
it easy to smuggle into the female department contraband
material of any kind. it serves absolutely no purpose
except as a poor workshop for a few men in the department
of the borough president, ‘Tearing down this building
would involve no cost, as there will be many willing to do it
for the material that can be obtained from it.
12. Transfers of prisoners to and from the courts are stiff
made by the sheriff, Prisoners are handcuffed and marched
through the streets, or put on the street cars. This is
brutal and humiliating. There is provision in the other
boroughs of the city for transferring prisoners in vans run
by the Department of Correction. ‘There is no reason why
that system should not be introduced here as well.
490 Tuts Prison Assoctarion or New York
13. Proper hospital facilities should be provided either
in the prison or in a conveniently located hospital nearby
The daily attendance of a physician solves only half the
medical problem. ‘There should be proper wards available
for treatment and observation of patients.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
1, Practically the whole prison has been repainted a
bright, cheerful color, inside and out.
2. New spring cots have heen substituted for practically
all the lattice-bectom cots hitherto in use.
3. The jail yard was replanted, and excellent conerete
walks have beon laid down. All the ahove work was done
by the prisoners, with practically no expense other chan
material required,
4. The prisoners are now fed in the central corridor on the
first tier instead of in the cells. Convicted prisoners are
seated in one half of this corridor, while court prisoners
occupy the other half. This is an innovation started this
year as an experiment, and has proved a success.
5. A new record system hes been installed in this, as in
other prisons of the department.
6. The dietary has been improved along the lines of
improvement for the whole Departmestt,
7. The new shower compartments on the ficst ter have
been completed and are now used instead of the disgraceful
old shower at the entrance to the prison, which was used
for many years,
8. Great improvement has taken place in the way the
women keep their ceils.
SECOND DISTRICT PRISON.
ierrenson Marker Puison.)
‘The capacity of this prison is:
Adule males
a Eee
?
Temday hatee™—indhnite capac, anywhere fom
[No separaee provision for ior een”
Inspections 4or
‘The Second District Prison is situated on Tenth Street near Sixth
Avenue, adjoining the second district magistrace’s court, and serves
as detention prison for that court and for the night court for women;
also for the housing of prisoners remanded by the magistrate of the
third district court, with which no prison is connected.
‘The ground floor of the prison contains the administrative offices
and a passageway leading to the court in one part, and the “te
day house” and dormitory for the “help” in another part. The rest
of the prison consists practically of two sections, separated by the
sciirway. One section contains the cellblock and the other suc-
cessive floors, a counsel room, keepers’ room and matron’s room.
In one of these there is a mezzanine floor which serves for storage
purposes and for the catcrer’s kitchen,
The cellblock consists of six tiers, completely divided into two
sections —one of two tiers, and one of four tiers, Fach tier consists
of fifteen cells. The two-tier section, with a total capacity. of
thirty cells, is used ag the male prison. One cell out of the thirty
js used as a storeroom and enother as a shower compartment, leaving.
coventy-eight cells for sleeping purposes. Cells are arranged back-
te-back sith no utility corridor between them.
“The light and ventilation for the corridors separating the eell-
block from the outside walls comes from large windows, and is
suificient for the corridor bue does not adequately supply the celle
The cellblock proper is of brick construction and the cell walls are
approximately one foot thick. The cells are 8 feet by 5 feet 5 inches
ly 8 feet 7 inches. The small size of the opening for the door and
the thickness of the walls prevent proper ventilation and lighting.
Each cell is equipped wich a collet, washbasin and two small
ventilators that do not, however, work very vwell. The paint is
somewhat too dark
‘There is only one cot in each cell, placed on the floor. Ordinarily.
(wo persons occupy a cell, so that it ie necessary either for hoch to
ecupy the same narrow cot or for one to sleep on the floor. In
tither ease the consequences are vicious and disgraceful. Sufficient
bedding is provided. Clean towels are given each prisoner daily.
‘our tiers of cells constitute the female prison and are in every
respect similar to those of the male prison. ‘The uppermost tier
is, because of the Gothic construetion of the windows, too dark,
Jnlike the male department, the galleries leading to the upper tiers
of the female department are screened with vertical bars. The
ipment of the cells is the same as in the male department
‘Three ciers on one side are devoted to colored prisoners; one tier
492 Tue Prison Association of New York.
for minors, one tier for the “help” (of whom there are generally
twelve), one tier for airls to be transferred to Bedford, one af the
J or For cases about to z0 to cour
lowest tiers for eromen intosica
A more detailed description
found in che Annual Repar? of the Prison Asso
The same overerowding
Department works hat
department, where the number of prisoners is almost always greater
than the capacity of the cells,
the “help” and > separate “ten-day house” is not sufficient
eliminate this overeronedin,
e existence of a dormitory for
Little or no change has been made in this prison sinee the begin
ning of the year, and practical
lage yeor still are valid. Te is to 1
they have been a
they have nile
ig the introduction
which coveis the wh
in food trom outside was cancelled
by order of the Commissioner of Correction, 2 caterer was allowed
the use of the kicchenette and has heen supplying prisoners with
extra food. His prices have, however, heen somewhat tan high,
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The kitchen should be removed from the collar. There
is plenty of room with much light in the attic for a model
elevator and sun by
Je into a comblaatto
the purposes of the kitchen,
electricit:
3.
4. The officers’ om should also be transf
5. A new floor with satisfactory drainage should be laid
juld be employed. A population of approx!-
mately 100 justifies such employment
7. The laundry facilities should be increased,
Inspections 493
8. Cots should be attached to the wall on hinges, similar
to the cots in the City Prison. This would make possible
doubling-up in the ceils, where necessary, in a more decent
manner than is now the case, when two men are forced
to sloep on a small two-foot cot, unless one agrees to sleep
on the stone flcor.
9. Greater care should be taken to supervise prisoners in
the basement where both male and female prisoners are
confined,
10. A new coat of paint should be applied to the whole
prison.
MANHATTAN.
There i no prison connected with the magistrate’s court of the
third district, Manhattan. Prisoners remanded by this court over-
ight are transferred co the second district, or Jefferson Market
Prison, This is one of the busiest courts in the city, so that the
small size and otherwise inadequate features of the temporary pen at
this coure have been move troublesome than in any of the other pens
jn the city. There are three sections in the pen, two under the
jurisdiction of the court avtendants, and one under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Correction. One pen under each jurisdiction
is used by men and one pen for women is used in common.
supplied with a toilet and washbasin wich running
hese, however, are often out of order. The pens are separ-
sted from each other by wooden partitions. The several windows
afording light and ventilation are insecurely protected by metal
The walls separating the pens from the judges’ chambers,
rnd from the stairway which gives access to the large courtroom,
ace of plaster and lathes, It is a wonder that there are not a
large number of escapes, One successful escape took place last
vets, A prisoner seraped che plaster and broke the lathes separating
the per he judges’ chambers and thus made his escape.
‘The male pen under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corree-
tion has been enlarged co double its size during the past year. Tt
1s formerly approximately 10 feet square. The number of people
occupying these pens varies from one to thirty or even forty. The
insatisfactory nature of these pens can hardly be exaggerated. ‘The
only excuse for their existence is that a new prison and courthouse
tive accommodations to the third district court and prison is to
be erected in the near futuee.
Tus Prison Association or New York
FOURTH DISTRICT PRISON (57th Street)
The capacity of ehis prison is
For sleeping parpass:
Mate alt, 9 calle, with 2 cote each — 1 cnt.
Bide edit 2 eae wish «cor each — a8 cot
Daritary with capac for si perso.
Not wie for Herping purpose
“Toning che days oe for coping puroer
The Fourth Distcice Prison is situated in_s7th Street, between
‘Thied and Lexington Avenues, directly adjacent to the Fourth
Diserice Court. Ie receives its prisoners from the Fourth District
Magistrate's Court, from the Domestic Relations’ Court and from the
‘Men's Night Court, all situaced in the same coure building close by.
The prison itself is probably the oldest detention prison in the city.
Ieis construcred on the pit plan. ‘Three tiers of cells face a corti
from which access is gained co all cells. The natural light is very
poor, bath in corridor and in the cells. Ventilation is good. Each
cell has an outside window, varying in size from 9 by 18 inches to
12 by 24 inches. The double cells have two such windows, A
complete list of the cells, andl more detailed description of the prison
as a whole, can be found in the annual report of the Prison Associ-
ation for 1913
he first tier is used for temporary detention only. For sleeping
purposes, all prisoners are transferred to the second and third tiers,
unless the overcrowding is so great that there is no room above,
in which case prisoners have to sleep on the wooden benches, with
which the firse tier cells are supplied in place of cots. Each cell is
supplied with a roller and wash basin, and the sleeping cells with
the necessary bedding. All heat for the cells comes from the corti
dor or pit, which is heaced by ewo coal stoves, one at each end. The
sare not kept over nights they are transferred, instead, to
Di rd Street. The large room for their
temporary det A mation is on duty ducing
the day. ‘The dormitory for housing the help is well lighted and
ventilated. Access to the pit is gained through the administrative
office
The population at this prison is probably less stable than that
in any other in the Department. ‘There is a constant flux, in and
out, in connection with the Domestic Relations’ Coure and the Men's
Insrections 495
Night Court. The number of prisoners passing through this prison
daily is several times the census at any given time. This makes
it a difficule prison to administer and keep clean. Great credit is
therefore due to che officials and particularly to Mr. D. Lynch,
the keeper in charge, for the excellent condition of cleanliness and
order that is always found to prevail at this prison.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. This prison is entirely too small for its purposes and
Js out of date and unmodern in construction. The only
recommendation that can be made is, that a new prison,
with a considerably increased capacity, should be substi-
uted for it.
2, Until_such time as that is done however, steam heat
should be introduced.
3. The windows in the cells should be increased in size.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
Outside of the new dietary and the new record system,
there has been no change of any kind. ‘The prohibition
against the introduction of food from the outside was not
extended to this prison.
FIFTH DISTRICT PRISON
(ie Pei og Boban Pa adiane Sse)
The capacity ofthis prison x
We er os co
pacity indelinies
Feral adule, tae
"No special provision oe tino
The Fifth District Prison is adjacent to the Fifth District Court
and receives its prisoners chiefly from there; also, prisoners from the
Sieh and Eighth Districe Magistrates’ Courts are transferred here
lover night, a8 there is no prison connected with those district courts.
‘The general scheme of the building is very similar to that of the
Second District Prison. ‘There are, in a general way, the same two
divisions, one containing the “ ten-day houses,” keepers’ and matrons’
olfces and dormitory for the“ help." The other section contains the
cellblock. ‘The administrative offices are on the ground floor under
the cellblock.
496 Tue Prisox Association of New York
In the Second District Prison, the vans delivering prisoners drive
into a courtyard within the prison grounds to deliver eheie prisoners,
At the Harlem Prison, chere is no courtyard but a large room with
a sulficiently large gate co admit a van, situated on a level with che
‘The cellblock is five tiers high. Three of the tiers, compleeely
separated from the other two, ate used xs the male prison, and the
other two tiers are used for women. The individual tiers of this
prison are the smallest of their kind in the city. There are but
four cells to a side, or a total of eight cells to a tier. This gives a
total capacity for male prisoners, of 24 cells; for female prisoners,
of 16 cells. OF the latter, one is used as x shower compartment and
fone as a storage room for clothes, leaving only fourteen cells available
for use. The bathing facilities for the men are in the basement, 30
that all 24 cells may be used. Other details as to further items in
the plan may be obtained from the annual report of the Prison
Association for 1913. The daily census is generally between forty
and fifty men, and berween six and eight women.
‘The kitchen, laundry. panery and general storeroom are contained
in the basement. In practically all other respects this prison is very
much like the Second District Prison. Practically at all times che
inspector has found the prison to be in a perfectly clean condition.
During one period, while a new steam-heating system was being in-
troduced, the conditions were not quice up to the standard, but that
vwas directly ateriburable to the alterations.
‘The female help employed in the basement is under cons ant
supervision of a matron,
PROGRESS DURING YEAR.
1. The innovations that have been indicated for the
whole department, namely, the improvement of the dietary
and of the system of records, have occurred here also.
2. The steam fitzing has been renewed and is to be followed
by a repainting of the whole prison.
3. An additional clerk has been employed to help out on
the records.
4. The office has been widened by removing to @ point
nearer the entrance the stecl gate separating it from the
lobby or entrance hel
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Concrete floors should be substituted for all wooden
Inspecrions 497
2. Drainage should be installed for the floors of both male
and female departments of the prison.
|. A new pump to supply the water in the tank is needed
because the one now used is said to be Insufficient.
4. A cook should be regularly employed for the prepara-
tion of food both for the purpose of assuring uniform
quality and for the avoidance of “ graft’ by colfusion
between the inmate and the “help.” Inmate cooks pre-
pare the food at present in all district prisons.
5, A special caterer system in a modified form should be
introduced so as to make it possible to keep out food bought
on the outside.
6. The screen system for visitors should be introduced.
SIXTH DISTRICT PEN, MANHATTAN
The pens serving for the detention of prisoners arraigned before
the magistrate of the Sixth District are situated in the basement
bounded by Washington Avenue, Brook Avenue
Since the opening of the Bronx County Jail, prisoners Beld for
vial, or for the grand jury. are no longer transferted to the Harlem
Prison, but to the Bronx County Jail across the street. Others
still eansferzed to the Hatlem Prison
There are two pens in the basement of the courc building. One
of them is used as police pen prior to che arraignment of prisoners
in the court, the other as prison pen under the administration of
the Department of Correction. ‘The two are separated from each
other by a steel partition. They occupy half of the room; in the
other half there are the desk of the prison keeper, the finger-print-
ing outfit and the entrances ta the court and to the compliant room
respectively.
There is no Moor drains excessive dampness, due t0 high cides,
is claimed to exist, because the pen is placed immediately over a
sewer, In addition, the plumbing trap in the Boor was zt om
spection found to he broken, and to have accumulated dire of all
kinds, The windows are so placed that it is possible to throw in
objects of reasonable size from the outside. The watchfulness
of the keeper at best is insufficient co guard againse this.
There is a toilet in each pen; the light is very poor, the gas has to
be burned all day, and there does not sccm to be sulficient pressure
ven for an ordinary lights the heat is inadequate.
2
498 Tue Prison Association or New York
The procedure at this pen ie as follows: The arresting officer
brings his prisoner and places him in che police pen. When his turn
comes he cakes the prisoner to the complaine room, makes his cor
soner to the police pen. Again, when
e court, chrough another stair-
way, comes down again t0 have the finger print taken and looked
up, goes up again with his prisoner to court for sentence or other
disposition, and then, if the prisoner is remanded, he hands him over
to the prison keeper, who then takes full charge of him and places
hhim in che prison pen, cheuce to he removed to the district prison by
the van calling at 4 p.m. Female prisoners are allowed to sit on a
bench or chair in the office, there being no female pen. The office
itself is protected by an iron gate to the exit so that the danger of
escape is small
No secregation is at all possible, At one inspection it was found
that in the same pen wich others, there was one prisoner 17 yeats of
ages two others gave ages of 21, but looked younger, Two were
seriously intoxicated.
There are three prison keepers for this and for the new Bronx
diserice pen of the eighth district and Bron: Domestic Relations
Generally, however, thete is only
one Keeper on duty at exch of these pens, In contrast to the cus.
tom in the districe prisons, these keepers do not reccive their ome meal
daily; their hours are from 7:30 2. m. £0 4 p. m. or such time as the
court closes; they have one day a week off, The plan and arrange-
mene of prison pens, even if they were in other physical respects
satisfactory, are not in accord with modera penology. The standatd
should distinedy be changed and a new criterion adopted for pens,
if pens must be.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE,
1. The whote pen system should be abolished and indi-
vidual cells provided ° t9 those planned for the new
prisons to be built for the Department.
2. Removal, if possible, of the pen from the basement,
because of dampness, the bad light which necessitates using
gas, and other reasons
3. As long as the pen remains there should be installed
a floor drain.
4. The plumabing trap should be fixed.
5. White paint should be applied as far as possible,
6. Electric light should be installed instead of gas.
Inspections 499
7. Mosquito netting on hinges should be attached to the
windows to prevent the throwing in of “dope” and to
keep out part of the immense amount of dirt and dust
which is blown in by the wind,
SEVENTH DISTRICT PRISON,
(West Side Prison, s3rd Sereet, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues.)
‘The capacity of the prison is
agalls
Shen, bee
. inaete
Adult female sae
(No separate provision for mina)
The rear of this prison adjoins the Seventh District Magistrate's
Court. The general plan of construction is similar to that of the
1d. and Fifth District Prisons. One section contains the “ten-
the counsel room and dormitory for the “help.” ‘The
ather section contains che cellblock consisting of five tiers of cells,
‘two of them completely separated from che others, used for women,
and the other three tiers for
Thete are eight cells co a tier, four on exch side, making a total
of sixteen for the women and twenty-four for the men; deducting
the cell transformed into a shower compartment, this leaves fifteen
cells for women and twenty-three for che men. Equipment of the
cells is as chat described for the other prisons. Further detail
given in the Annual Report of the Prison Association for 1913,
‘There is a considerable yard in this prison, which, however, is
rot used for exercising prisoners, ‘The prison van unloads its prison
ers in this yard. ‘The kitchen, laundry, storehouse, coal_bin,
tc., are situated in the basement and are not satisfactory. There
is insufficient light, and the cleanliness in most cases has been found
unsatisfactory in che basement, while the prison proper on the upper
Aoors was in a perfectly clean condition.
‘One of the most serious evils of this prison, up to last year, was the
condition of the stairway, which was very poorly lighted and so
constructed as to place keepers going up and down in jeopardy
of attack by prisoners. This condition has been almost wholly
remedied by breaking chrough the wall on one side of che stairway,
where it faces the office, and substituting vertical bars in its place.
sco Ta Patson Association of New York
A similar improvement in the wall separating the prison building
from the street has made possible the access of light and air to the
administrative office.
‘The population of this prison generally averages about fifty.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
1. The improved dietary and record system, as for the
whole Department,
2. The structural improvement of the staircase and
front wall, referred to above.
3. The installation of electric tights throughout the
building in place of the gas that had theretofore been
used.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, Of all the district prisons, this one is probably most
unsatisfactory. A very radical change would have to be
made in order to bring this prison up to a modern standard.
EIGHTH DISTRICT PEN, NEW YORK CITY.
‘The pen serving as a place of temporary detention during the
sessions of the Fighth District Magistrate's Coure and the Daniestie
Relations’ Court for the County of the Bronx, is situated on the
‘ground floor of the court building. Ie is used from about 7:30 a. m,
tuntil 4 p. m., or whatever time the court adjourns. ‘The prisoners
are not retained over night but are transferred to the Harlem Di
tice Prison. The court building is new, in fact not quite complet
but the pen, one courtroom, the clerk's room, ete., have been i
use for some months past.
The plan of the building for the purposes of the masisera
court and pen is very faulty. Parallel to the main entrance on the
ground floor there is a wie long room, running through more than
half the depth of the building and used merely’ as an approach
to the pen; otherwise itis wasted space. Back of this, and occupying
the back part of the ground floor of the building, the pens are sit
uated. ‘The building here is somewhat over 38 feet wide. The
ppens proper are about 10 feet deep, giving a total pen area of about
38 feet x 10 eer. This is divided in two parts, one-half being oc
‘cupied by the police pen and the other part by the prison pen. This
gives approximately 10 feet x 20 feet for each. ‘There ate three
windows, two of them small and one of them with darkened glass,
Inseecrions sot
giving insufficient light. In addition, of course, they receive light
from the immense unused space through which the pens are reached.
The part of this unused space near the pens is shut off by bars from,
the rest of the room.
the prison pen itself is divided in two parts, x larger part for
males a smaller for females they are separated by a steel partition,
ind there is a toilet in each. The prison keeper has a desk in a liele
niche apposite his pens. ‘The police pen has no toilet. ‘The larger
part of the police pen cannot be used because there protrudes through
the floor for about 4$ feet in height and for 8 feet by 12 feet of
area the upper pare of an exit from 2 moving picture theater built
Tose to the court. That leaves practically a space 8 feet by 10 feet
for the police pen. This is ridiculously small and inadequate,
Practically all of the pen seeins zo bave been built directly on the
round, so that the floor is extremely cold. ‘The steam heat is
very inadequate, there being only two radiators for the entire
space occupied by the pens and by the wide, useless approach. The
cement Boor is nnfinished
The stairway, leading from the pens to the courtroom by which
ovisoners are brought to the court of returned to the pen, is narrow,
very steep, and the treads are very narrow. Ie is a dangerous
The fingerprinting room and complaint room are so located that
he prisoners have to be eaken through the public hallway to and
from ther,
As a whole the pens are thoroughly unsatisfactory
RECOMMENDATION MADE.
‘The accommodations for the prisoners detained during
court action in this building should be entirely remodeled
and considerably increased.
NEW YORK COUNTY PENITENTIARY (Blackwells Island).
The warden is Pacrick Hayes.
The capacity of this penitentiary is c104 cells.
‘The New York County Penitentiary is a consolidation of the
New York and Kings County Peniventiaries, the latter of which
was abolished less than a decade ago, and all laws relating to it
wore made applicable to the New York County Penitentiary. ‘The
soz THe Prison Assoctation or New York
prisoners may now be sent to this institution for either misdemeanoes
fr felonies, and for any length of time less than a life sentence
‘The custom, has been, up to recently, to send no prisoners with 3
maximum of more than one year and $1,000 fine. During the
The
penitentiary has been
due probabl of Sing Sing, whi
emphasized many of the unsanitary conditions prevailing at Sing
Sing, and made it seem preferable to the iudges to send men to
this penitentiary instead.
As a matter of fact, while sanitary conditions on the whole are
better than at Sing Sing, the difference is not very great. In the
case of prisoners sentenced on indefinite terms, some difficuley arose,
in that there was no authority eo parole such prisoners at the end
of their minimum, since the parole law for fest offenders gives
power co the Board of Parole to discharge prisoners from Srate
isons only. A good deal of difficulty was experienced ia obtaining
release for a few of these prisoners with indefinite terms. The
Penitentiary consists of the cellhouse, several buildings containing
the kitchen, powerhouse, messhall, officers’ quarters, and afficers|
dining-room, store house, eee. the industrial building containing the
shops, a number of buildings, snd shacks used for vatious purposes
and at some distance from this main gvoitp of buildings, the quae
and stone shed. There are no walls enclosing the grounds. This
fact, while apparently making for more freedom, is, a a matter of
fact, a hindrance to freedom, in thae the secority of the walls would
make liberties possible that without walls are deemed hazardous
On the same island are situsred a number of other institutions
In close proximity tw the south of the Penitentiary is situaved the
City Hospital, constieuting part of the Department of Public Chat
ities, To the north of the quarry and farm of the Penientiary
immediately adjoining these, are the buildings composing the home
for the aged and infirm of the city of New York, and also undet
the Department of Public Charities. Further north, are the Work-
house and che Metropolitan Hospital.
‘The penitentiary proper consists of the cellhouse and administra-
tion building. The cellhouse consists of two original wings, buile
some four score years ago, and of two cellblocks added later. These
swings are on either side of the administration building. The two other
cellblocks, buile as later additions, extend to the north and to the
Insrecrions 503
west respectively of the older celiblocks; three of these cellblocks
fun north and south, and one east and west. The two original
callblocks contain 249 and 256 cells respectively. The west exten-
sion contains also 24o cells. The northernmost, ot latest addition,
contains 368 cells. The cells in the original blocks are 3 feet 8
inches by 7 feet 6 inches by 7 feet 6 inches. In other words, four
inches wider, eleven inches longer and six inches higher than the
the cells in ing built a few years eatlier. Besides, they are
ine
hot subject to the frequent dampness that makes the Sing Sing cells
disastrous to the health of its inmates. ‘The cells of the latest
adition ave § feet 6 inches wide and 8 fect long, The cells in #
block therefore would be preferable to the other cells, were it not
for the fact that the population always exceeds the capacity of the
penitentiary, so thae doubling-up is necessitated. ‘This takes place
naturally in the bigger cells. Daring the past year the census of
the penitentiary has been increasing so fast that toward the end
of the year it was feared that despite the large number of transfers
to Hare’s and Riker’s Islands, and to all prisons in the Department,
the smaller cells would also have to be used for doubling-up.
In the Administration Building are situated the offices on the frst
oor; the hospital, schoolrooms and chapel and some employees’
quarters on the floors above. All other buildings of the penitentiary
situated to the west of the cellhouse so that they are not visible
‘when crossing from Manhattan to the penitentiary
The building containing the mess hall and kitchen adjoins the cell-
hhouse immediately north of the administration building. Two
buildings contain storerooms, storage department, the mess hall and
Aitchen for keepers. Another building close by contains the boiler-
room and dynames. A little noreh of this group is the bath house,
containing the shower compartments. ‘The coal bin, a number of
sheds used for various purposes and the place for emptying, the
buckets are grouped to the north of this set of buildings. ‘The
northernmost building contains the induscrial shops. There are
eight separate shops on the three floors of this industrial building,
namely’ pitch brush shop, street broom shop, brushes and corn broom
shop, shoemaking, printing, tailoring, knitting, painting and bed
shops.
This institution is the only one in the Department where indus-
trial work is carried on to any considerable extent. Between $150,000
and 200,000 worth of commodities are manufactured annually and
sold to other prisons in the Department and to other departments
of the city administration
504 Tue Prison Assoctation of New York
‘The Prison Astociation began late in the yeai 1913 to make a
study of the industries of the Penitentiary, but it was found that
with the facilitioe ac the disposal of che new adminiscration which
took office on January 1, 1914, the Department was in a position ta
fer up itsel
cof the industries and chat of the discipline of the
institution have undergone 2 number of investigations during the
past year, by the Department, by the Grand Jury and by the office
of the Commissioner of Accotmts; and while a aumber of unsacis:
factory conditions were discovered there was nothing of palpable
seriousness thar would require any other changes, $0 fae as the in-
industries were concerned, chan macters of bookkeeping and super
vision. The changes and improvements to be listed below will make
some of these points clear.
The organization of che discipline of the penitentiary is entirely
along the old lines of repression, Ir is true that the general caliber
of the prisoners is probably considerably lower than that of the inmates
of State prisons. The insecurity due to the lack of walls and to the
proximity of other institutions and co the facr that there is a constant
stream of visitors, oficials and parients going ¢o and from the various
institutions on Blackwells Island, makes the administrative problem
very serious. It is nevertheless a fact that the principle adhered to
thy the administrative head has been too rigorous and repressive
[A series of riots took place early in the year that resulted in the
injury of a number of keepers and prisoners
‘were given far these riots, but che explanation lay pr
in the fact that the prisoners understood the effort of the new
administration to lessen the repression as an attempt to lessen the
authori arden. With great skill and tact, the warden,
Mr. Hayes, with the co-operation of Commissioner Davis, quelled
she riots.
Te has been indicated already that the census of the penitentiar
has been tremendously increasing during the past year. This necess-
itated the addition of some ten keepers to the staff, not enough, but
at Teast an improvement. This extraordinary increase, which would
‘cause administrative difficulties in any institution, is even more
harmful in an instiention like the Penitentiary, where the extension
of sleeping accommodations is practically impossible, and where the
acquisition of additional needed equipment is such a tedious matter.
So, for example, there was not enough crockery for the addiciona!
Prisoners, no additional work to keep them busy and there was the
aftermath of the riots to keep the atmosphere sensitive and over
charged.
Inspections 505
Early in the year attempts were made by the Department ta
ure money to build a hospital and reception house. Plans were
sared and 2 study made by the Prison Assoctation af the potential
hospital population, The salient findings of that study were as
follows:
A oumber of distinct weaknesses of the medical service in the
penitentiary were found, namely, to quote:
The gta cna of aly on physi, a oly one hone hl
Ista of oro alk fernished wards one mae and one female
wot und), Cotunie en ad ene ede reapeceys
sade of inmates op amici.
and iv used lage as an
3 oe
tse not Rimeian ae 3 teguator of sanitary conditions and
‘a No attompe made to render the heaptal 2 cottestve instrument
yah cre kee
ie isting bord consis al approximately the sue physicians a che mesial
‘ iat Wenotse 2 fay rca yey mich es ger et han
tae vy Tne inetd mk a oe the Spl Se
mich omge ectvasy San content wich goed
It was found that there was an average daily hospital population
F nine, while approximately double that number should have re-
crived hospital cave, bad a proper service been developed. No
sdequate medical attention was being given to venereal diseases,
tuberculosis and drug addiction. ‘The average number of medical
tivarments on the sick line were found to have been twenty to
twenty-three per day.
The recommendations for the improvement of the service were
made ag follows:
Jb od ae i id nd poy nn,
Hist Re TERI» enue cate ioe nets
Salle tecnica ca fe Su eae
Pe
ieee
tals Balt ha bas hates
fata
: roene ccumstanset, there Ws no
‘Sage for noe making medial examigasone on xdmsnon,
The warden should coapeate with sabtead of mina, che medical departmeae,
506 Tar Prison Assoctarion or New York
oes ot pesfrm 2 shadow of this work Pret
Ceperument ahold do extesne greeter work. Under this
2° Som sen of ecole ot ny sacar ere frst othe
radical department Stee
Se present are ensrelyunestofactory
(ir may not be irrelevant to say hete that the Penitentiary, or
rather the city of New York, has not yet complied with the law
requiring the finger-printing of each prisoner admitted to the Peni
tentiary and the forwarding of such Singer print to the Bureau of
Criminal Identification of the Prison Department in Albany.)
RECOMMENDA
‘The present penitentiary is
‘The living x
means of occupation, the rigid repre
cipline, the lack of edu:
of classification ané many other matters precluding a con-
sistent plan of reformation; all these seem to indicate the
only possible solution, namely, the removal of the Peni-
tentlary to new quarters (on Hart's Island, according to
plans) and the Introduction of a new regime more in accord-
ance with modern views of penology. It is useless to
into details in recommendations for this institution, because
evergthing needs improvement, the sanitacy aspect, the
discipline, the Industzles, the hours of keepers, their number
and average caliber, ec.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
A considerable number of sdministrative and structural
improvements have taken place during the past year.
1. The system of records and the dietary have been
changed, as in the other institutions of the Department.
2. The abolition of the stripes has begun and a gray
uniform has been introduced to take its place. This change
has not yet been completed, but is progressing and within
a short time it is expected that stripes will have disappeared.
Inspections sor
3. Letter writing and visiting privileges have been in-
creased. Visits are now allowed once in two weeks, instead
of monthly.
4. All the women from the women’s side of the Peni-
tentiary have been removed to the city prison in Queens,
and only cnough matrons retained to receive new admis-
sions who must technically be received at the Penitentiary,
\d only then transferred by the Commissioner to another
institution
5. For the industries, important improvements may be
recorded: for example, the capital fund of $40,000 for running
the industries, which was granted in the budget for 1914,
became available on the first of that year.
6. A cost-account system for the manufacturers has been
introduced by the Secretary of the Department of Cor-
rection. There was no such thing in existence up to the
past year.
7. A number of shops have been repaired; some to a con-
siderable extent. ‘This has made the shop buildings safer
but not iarger. The contemplated extension of the shops
hhas not been carried ont.
8. Au instructor of shocmaking has been employed during
part of the year and tho position has been made permanent.
‘This means a considerable increase in the efficiency of the
shoemaking department.
9. The great improvement in the Penitentiary, namely,
the substitution of large modera windows, instead of small,
catirely unsatisfactory windows, that had heretofore been
the only source of fight and ventilation for the cel house,
was completed during the past year through the efforts
and persistency of Warden Hayes, to whom credit is due for
this whole work.
10. One end of the south cellblock was reconstructed,
the dati cel’s that it contained were removed, and a con.
siderable increase of light and fresh air was obtained.
11. A cross wall in the southernmost cellblock was built,
in order to rearrange the method of separating women
from men. This would have been a great improvement
had the women remained at the Penitentiary. Upon their
removal, however, this wall was no longer necessary because
the whole cellbiock was to be occupied by men.
12. The so-called “dark cells,” a series of ordinary cells
508. Tur Prison Assoctarion or New Yori
the west celiblock, with considerably diminished opening
in the doors, have been painted a blue color. These cells
are now said to be used exclusively, the old dark cells having
been discontinued by order of the Commissioner.
13. The approach to the entrance of che Penitentiary was
changed so as to prevent visitors who came to the Peni-
tentiary from going too close co the prison walls while
approaching, This has meant the construction of a splendid
piece of conerete pavement work, some filling in and replant-
ing.
44. Considerabie work om roads, and the improvement
of the electric lighting system on the Island, were also done
by the prisoners.
18. The mess hail was extended so as to supply capacity
for an additiona 125 prisoners. With the tremendous
increase in the census, it is of course, even so, not large
enough, so that two sittings are necessary.
THE WORKHOUSE, BLACKWELLS ISLAND.
‘The warden is Mr. Frank W. Fox.
‘The Workhouse is situaved on Blackwells Island, opposite Seven-
ticth Street, Manhattan, and may be reached by boat from the
Seventieth Stree dock of the Deparment of Public Charities, or
by boar of Department of Correction from Twenty-sixth Sereet and
East River.
Prisoners are committed 10 the Workhouse for periods not ex
ceeding six months.
The large majority of the population consists of persone con-
vvieted of intoxication, disorderly. conduct, vagraney, prostitution,
non-support of wives, automobile speeding, infraction of traffic
rules and other city ordinances,
As to sleeping accommodations, the Workhouse is a combination
of the cell and dormitory system. That is, the cells are in each
case as large as dormitories and accommodate anywhere from six
to thirty-four prisoners. These cells, or dormitories, are of the s0-
called outside type; that is, they receive their Tighe and ventilation
directly from windows in the outside wall, and are reached
from a central corridor, along both sides of which the cells are at-
ranged,
Insrrerions 509
‘There are two wings, one for men, and one for women. The
general construction of the cells and dormitories is the same for both
‘wings, except that on the women’s side all cells are of the same
size and are used generally for six inmates. On the men’s side,
only the lowest one of the threo tiers has cells of this size. Those
fon the second tier average about fifteen cots; those on the upper-
most, or third tier, contain as many as thirty-four cots apiece. The
unit or typical cell is 14 feet long by 7 feet 10 inches wide by 10
feet 10 inches high and contains one window, 2 feet 6 inches by
5 feet. Most of them have six bunks, hung on hinges. Some of
them have only four or five.
Ie is a sad commentary on the City’s appreciation of the dangers
of physical and moral contamination, that the Workhouse still exists
in its present form, To this institution are sent the dregs of the
population, boch from moral and physical standpoints, as well as
those who are in no sense to be considered criminals; such, for
ample, as those commiteed for non-payment of fines, for infraction
of city ordinances, and the like.
‘There was an average daily admission during’ 1913 of forty-five
inmates. With the large increase of prisoners during the past yeat,
this daily average has increased probably fifty per cent. Approxi-
mately the same number are discharged every day. This means
that there is a constant coming and going, so that the individual
prisoner receives litle or no attention. He is placed wherever there
Js a vacancy in che cell or dormitory. ‘This means that there is no
classification on any basis—age, character, offense, physical con-
dition, previous record, personal cleanliness, or any other important
aspect, This means necessarily wholesale contamination, physical
and moral. It is no exaggeration co say that there is probably no
institution in the State which, from the standpoine of modern pen-
logy, is more abominable than the Workhouse. The only wonder
is chat any prisoner manages to remain healthy and to leave the
Workhouse uninfected,
To illuserare by one detail chese dangers, let it suffice to say that,
there being no toilet facilities in the cells or dormitories, buckets
rave to be used for this purpose and chat the number of buckets
per cell, or dormicory, is between one-half and one-third the number
of occupants of the dormitory. Anything more revolting than this
is hard ro imagine.
‘The clothing worn by the prisoners on admission is fumigated
and stored until their release, but there are insufficient facilites
for pressing and cleaning the cothing before the prisoners are dis-
charged.
sto Tu Prison Association or New York
Clean bedding is given to every inmate upon admission, but the
clothing of individual men and women is not returned to the same
prisoner after laundering. Prisoners are allowed to wear their own
shoes and socks and some other persona! wearing apparel, like
sweaters, ete Women are not allowed to wear corsets
‘The daily routine begins at 6 a. m. and fnishes at 4 p.m. The
ights are turned off at 9 p.m. ‘The periods of so-called labor are
from 8 to 11:45 a. m. and from 1 t0 3:30 p.m. There is, however,
very little labor to speak of. No industries are carried on, other
than repaire for the institution proper, and the domestic labor of
cleaning, cooking, laundering, etc. A Titele work around the grounds
and some serubbing for the adjacent insticuvions under the jurisdic.
tion of the Department of Public Charities, is all there ie available
to keep the population busy The same increase in census, noted
for the Department as a whole, is true of this institution,
During the past year the fireproofing has been almost completed.
Both male and female wings were completely freproofed, with the
exception of the roof in the female department. ‘The administration
building was being fireproofed during the year.
The Workhouse possesses the largest hospital and most extended
medical service in the institutions of the Department of Correction.
In addition to caring for a very large number of its own inmates
the hospieal here does all the more serious work for the other in-
stitutions. For example, all operation cases are transferred here,
and all other cases of serious illness, where transfer °> awe dangerous
to the life of the prisoner. The facilities and work of the Work-
hhouse hospital have been described at length in the report on the
medical servi Department made during the pase year by the
Prison Association. The most salient facts in the findings of that
report were the following:
‘The bed capacity. of the hospital was 62 male, and 55 female,
swith an average daily census of approximately 75. Thie does not
ude the clinic work, that is, light treatments, such as laxatives,
medicine for colds, coughs, ete. Such treatments amount 2o some
cone hundred and fifty per day. ‘The average number of admissions
pet day during 1914 was between 60 und 70. ‘The work is under the
general supervision of a medical board, consisting of 14 members
There are four resident physicians, who work without pay. There
are one male and one female trained nurse, three female practical
‘nurses and one male orderly. It was found that the organization of
the medical department, as well as the actual work, were far below
standard. There was ineiciency and neglect, aggravated by friction
Inspections su
within the medical staff. The dangerous mixing of healthy and
diseased inmates in the cells or dormitories hardly came under
the notice of the physicians and they took litele or no interest in it
In fact, because of the large amount of medical work and of the
requirements for such work in the Workhouse hospital, the numerous
tvils found in all institutions of the Department in reference to
‘medical work were found proportionately increased at this institution,
‘The following recommendations, which were made in reference to
the medical service, hardly give even a skeleton statement of the
real needs of that service:
The staff should be ceonpenined in eecordance with methods propoved for the
Depagten
ns adrian shoud be made of every prisone in accordance with
jue teins as che Hospi! in accordance
In other respects also than those of unsatisfactory sanitary con-
ditions and poor medical service, the Workhouse deserves severe
ctitcism, ‘The management and 2dministration have been found to
w loose and incapable of grappling with some of the worst abuses.
For example, there was almost unlimited smuggling in, not only of
rugs and purely contraband material of that kind, bue a'so of food
tnd luxuries of various kinds from charitable institutions on the
Island. When fling in for supper 2t 3:30 or 3:45 p. m. any number
of prisoners could be seen with large bundles or packages under their
coats, There was no pretense of concealing them from the keepers.
There seemed to be a perfect understanding among them that this
wholesale smuggling was a matter of course. ‘That drugs and liquor
‘were smuggled in along with food and luxuries was inevitable.
hhumber of cells became headquarters for the drug traffic in the Work-
house. -Some of the employees were directly involved in this drug
smugaling. Through clever detective work, conducted by the Com-
TBee Pare One of Reports, pages 72-75
512 Tur Prison Association or New York
nisioner, and particularly by Deputy Commissioner B. G. Lewis,
Tumor of these emplayecs were discovered, among them one of
the physician of the Workhouce hospital. This energesie and per
Stent detective work tightened the displine and improved the
ophere of the Workhouse fora wiles But apparently fe id not
Whetcr eis Tooenease nberent in the extremely inadequate and
ten vicious general arrangement and living conditions of the Work
foune or whether the faults de principally to lax administration,
Ie hardto eel “The Workhouse, ae fe in 4 blot upon the face of
they in reapece cos phyvial conditions, in reaper tothe moral
IMteton which se apreadoy n-eapece to he Tales for extension
rahe use of habicforming Gruge which ie offers, and in respect 0
conomis wastfanesn, because of the lack of proper employment
forthe prisoners
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
There has been a considerable attempt to remedy at
Ieast some of the evils of the situation during the past
year:
1. The improved system of records and dietary have of
course been introduced, as in the other institutions of the
Department.
2, The fireproofing has been continued and the Work-
house is now more nearly a safe place from fire danger than
it ever has been before.
3..A woman physician has been employed to make
examinat on on admission of every female prisoner.
jent, to have immediate charge
to be
to ascertain the calfber of the incoming inmates and
tribute them in the various cells, or dormitories, with the
least danger ¢o themselves and to others. Both the woman
physician and the woman superintendent have been salaried
from private resources during 1914, but appropriations have
been granted for them in the budget for 1915.
1 teacher has been employed on s'milar terms.
Inspections 513
6. The extensive crusade against the use of drugs, and
against prisoners and employees who were responsible for
thelr spread in the prison, was conducted during the year
with great suecess. A number of convictions resulted, and
so far as can be judged, also a considerable reduction in
the extent of the smuggling in of such drugs. It has not
of course been entirely eliminated.
7. A large room, formerly used for idle women to loaf
about in, has been turned into a ward for female drug
addicts.
8. A new system of medical treatment for drug addicts
was introduced by the medical board and the resident
physicians.
9, With the cooperation of the Department of Health
of the city, the Wasserman tests for syphilis and com-
plement fixation tests for gonorrhea have been made on
every incoming prisoner. The results in some five hundred
cases, among those first examined, show the discouraging
figures of 59 per cent syphilitic, and 38 per cent gonorrheal.
it showed that 79.45 per cent of the total number examined
had either syphilis or gonorrhea, or in other words, that
hardly more than 20 per cent of the total number admitted
were found to be free of both these diseases.
Thus, a beginning has been made to remedy most of the
worst evils of the Workhouse, so far as they could be remedied
{in the present location of the institution.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE,
Nothing except the most radical changes can be recom-
mended for really solving the most difficult penal problem
in the city, that of the Workhouse.
1. The present institution, called the Workhouse, must
be entirely abolished as a physical unit and as a system.
‘The institutions to take its place must provide:
(a) Absolutely satisfactory improvements in classifica-
n and segregation.
(b) Legal provision for the discharge of prisoners, or
rather, for various individual prisoners, for whom the
present stereotyped sentence is not fit.
(©) A sufficient supply of labor to provide every prisoner
with eight hours of hard work daily. For this purpose,
514 ‘Tue Prison Assoctarton or New York
preferably a combination of farm and industrial colony,
as is planned for Rikers Island, is desirable.
1 (@) Modern medical service, adequate and corrective.
' (@ A system of checks and control which would enable
‘the head of the institution to be fully informed of all that
goes on within the prison.
2. The present institution must be Improved in its sani-
tary conditions in the celis or dormitories, in the bathhouse,
and in the medical departn As [ong as the buckets
must be used, there should be one bucket for each person.
3, Every prisoner should be discharged with his clothing
and person in presentable form.
BRANCH WORKHOUSE (HARTS ISLAND.)
‘The warden is John G. Murcha.
Harts Island has an area of approximately one hundred acres,
4 few of which at the southern extremity of the Island are private
property.
‘Two distinct institutions are situated on Harts Island: the City
Reformatory for Misdemeanants, described elsewhere, and the
Branch Workhouse, The latter consists of a male and a female
The male department is at the southern half of the
Toland. The female department is situated at the northern end.
department
‘Male Deparinent.— It is hardly poss ble to give the capacity of
the male department. There are three dormitory buildings, generally
referred to as Buildings Nos. 2, 4 and 5, in which the number of
beds varies according to the population. ‘The usual census has run
between four hundred and five hundred; during the past year it
has risen to nearly one thousand. ‘The dormitory in Building
No. 2 is probably the most unsatisfactory of them all. Te is ex
cessively inflammable, with very inadequate provisions for escape.
Building No. 4 is little berter, chough more spacious. Te contains
besides the dormitory, also toilet and washrooms, a schoolroom
anda small messhall, One of the dormitories in this building
is set aside for the so-called reform-school boys. ‘This. group is
composed of a number of boys regularly sentenced to the Work-
hhouse, who, because of their age, are separated from the rest of
the population. ‘They work, sleep, eat, and study separately from
the rest of the population, so far as the inadequate facilities of
the Island permit, They ate not allowed to smoke and are given
\
Inspections sts
inseruction in the schoolroom by a teacher employed for that pur-
“This group should not be confused with the inmates of the
iy Refonmaony.” They are ately dina.
‘Building No. 5 is the only one of the group that is not highly
inflammable. ‘This building contain, the largest proportion of che
population. The prisoners in thie building are classed, to some
txcene, im respect to their distribution in the dormitories, ‘The
cldand decrepi ae kept separace, The sek the able, the workers,
the night workers, and so on, ae, s0 Far as possible, kept in eoparate
Sormitories. This building sls contsine the hosp tal for the Branch
Workhouse and in one of ts extensone a group of male tubercular
patients. Other uildings ‘on the grounds. contain the. kitchen
Eeundey, powerhouse, fe factory, canpenter shop, orderlee quarter,
ccc. The mesihall for the prisoners i contained in am extension
of Bulding No. 5.
The “ cooler?” building of comparatively recent date serves as
disciplinary department for bath the Branch, Workhouse and the
Gay’ Reformarory. It is fireproof, and is constructed of brick,
sth a concrete floor Te contains 20 slitary cell of which sixteen
sre 8 feet 6 inches by 5 fect 7 inches by ro fee 4 inches, and four
zee wien, namely, 6 feet 3 inches wide, They ate arranged along
dhe outer walle of the building, facing the center eortdor or lobby,
trom which entrance into the elle is gained, hip corridor i fairly
lighted and ventilated, The doors of the individual celle are
Of slid sea, and he ventilation is obtained through the side walls
tnd rof of th celle The cll tafe ace separated by 4 considerable
space from the roof of the building. For s more complete and de-
tiled desription of the Branch Workhouse, we refer to our annual
report for 1913.
male Depariment.— ‘The female department also consists of fame
houser. These are only ne story bigh and so the Sre danger isnot
seis. There are two wards or dormitories and x disingoom, con
Sctucing che main pare ofthis department. Duting the past yetn
ivionsl quarters have been added to be used as ware for tuber:
cla women, who are now Being transferred fiom all parts of the
Department to this institution, By the end of the year accommo:
{actos for some thirey tubercular patients had been added.
The dificulis on thie Island because ofthe inadequate facies,
the shortage of keeper, the distance from the city and the low
lier of the general ran of the inmates, have been very great
For that reason thie institution is probably the mose unsatisfactory
ne in the Department. It has repeatedly called forth unfavorable
comment fom professional visitor.
‘Tue Prison Association or New Yors,
516
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The wise policy of using Harts Island for such medical
cases as the tubercular and drug addicts who need a good
deal of fresh air should be further extended. Up to date
this policy has undoubtediy been very beneficial.
2. The inadequate medical service on the [sland should
be improved. ‘There are at present three hospitals in the
various parts of the Island and only one physician to carry
on the work. ‘There is no provision for a subssfeuze for this
Physician fhe leaves tn Island, so that he fs not only over- |
worked but the conditions of his tenure of office are unfair.
‘An additional physician should be supplied and an adequate |
}
|
i
i
i
3. The number of keepers should be considerably
increased. For example, in Building No, 5 there have been
usually only five keepers for over three lnundred prisoners.
It is a wonder that more escapes do not tale place from
this Island.
PROGRESS DURING
In accordance with the intentions of the Department
to establish a Penitentiary on Harts Island and a work-
house on Rikers Island, the prisoners transferred from the
Penitentiary and the Workhouse on Blackwell Island
are so distributed between Harts and Rikers Islands as to
build up the population in accordance with this plan,
Therefore, during the past year, most of the transfers «0
Harts Island have been from the Penitentiary (particularly
persons committed from counties outside of New York and
other prisoners serving sentence of not less than six months).
‘These constitute the large majority of the population.
From the Workhouse, the old and decrepit, and boys
intended for the “reform schoo!” group, are transferred.
2, Also, in accordance with the intention of making this
Island the tubercutosis colony of the Department, the
practice of sending both male and female prisoners sulfer-
ing from tuberculosis to this Isiand has been considerably
extended, Additionai accommodations were procured In
the women’s department by overhauling and ficting up
some old frame buildings. To one of the tubercular wards
for the women a sleeping porch was added, and a kitchen and
dining-room building for the tubercular women was built
BAR.
e
Insenertone 37
directly adjoining the tuberculosis ward. This. bull
is practically fireproof, built of cement blocks and concrete
entirely by prison labor under the direction of the warden.
3. "The office of the warden was Femeved tora beter
sization and more adequate quarters;
404 visitors" booth has been erected under the direction
of the warden in one of the dormttorln, in tach’ enon
that visitors will be separated trom the’ prisoners wheee
they Viste by a'metat screen or mesh, Ths will obviate tre
necessity of the humiliating process of searching chore
‘stor, and serve largely to eliminate the dander of bing,
ing tm druga,
5. Beds were supplied for the isolated cells in the diac
ciliary butding. "These were cemented nto the tony
10.8 to make them safengainst improper use bythe lomatoe
Thin has been a great improvement, "The warden hes
shown Boost cape of making the Dest of hs poor
inciities.
6, The new system of record keeping and the new diet
ofthe Department have been introduced, ass
BRANCH WORKHOUSE (RIKERS ISLAND)
Wnder general supervision of Warden John J. Murtha of Harts
Island),
Rikers Inland i planned eventually 10 bea ity farm, andr the
Deparment of Corton. Te cons of sbost one eaieed oes
‘Suiginalland, wit sever hundred sexs oflee in ge eee
ly'the dumping of material by she Suet Clenone Denese
Tcnd wilenbace tinted hewen fo and fe handed
ss Te is intended that te Workhoue_ on, Bekele ee
thal be abandoned snd that ints Paces new moder wets
‘Ail be sablated on this Isand,"Whesher tha msoeon ee
fra form sil bes purlyagteatural one, or ether toee ge
lusty wil be etablshed onthe Ita ie yr eos entree
fies pesent coon Rikers Inland xa off somdctle eee
Sea lage number of prisoners ifthe proper elites se mpl
‘se present the accommodations soni of fur lame Jnmforee
in two groups, Washroom and bathroom connect the tee fo
ties ofeach group. Other buildings, uch av mecha seers
shape and the wardens rsdnce ie ananged long See
518 Te Prison Association or New Yor
fairly regular order. All buildings are of frame construction. A
detailed description of the buildings may be found in our Annual
Report for 1913. ‘This prison is at present in the transitory stage.
Ieis, in a way, one of the most hopeful prisons of the Department,
if the plans for its development are to be realized
‘The following were the recommendations for this institution in
our report for 1933:
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The substitution of electric lights for lampe is impera-
tive, especially with the extreme fre danger which the
frame buildings are now under.
2. More men shouid be sent to this institution.
3. Its agricultural possibilities should be exploited.
4. Some disposition should be made of the additional
200 to 250 acres of filled-in land entirely unused at present.
5. A large number of fire extinguishers should be immedi-
ately installed.
6. Horses and carts should be provided for continuing
and increasing the amount of grading and road work
undertaken.
7. These recommendations are at best of a cemporary
character only, for there should be a more constructive
plan organized for the inclusion of this branch workhouse
in the gencral indusirial scheme of the institutions of the
Department of Correction.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR,
1. Very important improvements have taken place, in
the introduction on tho Island of a telephone system and
of an electric lighting system for all buildings, to replace
the kerosene lamps heretofore ia use.
2. One additional dormitory has been built, and a second
one started, so as to further increase the capacity of the
ake it possible to begin work on the
an asset to the city.
A considerable increase in prisoners to be detained here
will be necessary for such work. Therefore, plans have
been prepared for a disciplinary building.
‘The class of prisoners to be transferred to this Island
to do most of the work in the Department, are the follow-
Insrections 519
Gunmen, jostlers, and persons addicted to the use
ut habieforming drugs, and wite deserters. "A disciplinary
building is considered necessary to keep this group in work-
ing order.
‘4. Introduction of the new record system and dietary.
FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE AS.
FOLLOWS.
1, A large kitchen range and some other kitchen utensils
necessary for the preparation of food provided for in the
now dietary should be installed. It has been found impos-
ible with the present equipment to do justice to the
dietary.
2 ie eas tn GS ia ta
improved. At present, it is excessively time-wasting and
difficult to reach the Island.
‘THE CITY REFORMATORY FOR MALE MISDEMEANANTS,
(HARTS ISLAND).
The capacity of this reformatory is 4 dormitories, with an original
capacity of 65 beds each, or a total of 260. The number of beds
in each has heen increased from time to time until they have reached
90 £0 95 per dormitory, or a total of 360 to 380.
‘The City Reformatory was established for the reception of mis-
demeanants between the ages of sixteen and thirty, who had not been
previously convicted or sentenced, to be detained for an indeter-
minate term with a maximum of three years. Inmates may be
paroled or discharged at any time before the three years by the Board
of Parole, consisting of nine members, of whom the Commissioner of
Correction is one exofficio. The others consist of two justices of
the Court of Special Sessions, a city magistrate of the First Division,
1 city magistrate of the Second Division of the City of New York
\d four other persons appointed by the Mayor and removable by
the Mayor. ‘The Board serves without compensation. The Special
Sessions justices on the Board are elected by the Board of Special
Sessions. ‘The powers of the Board of Parole are described as (1)
prescribing the conditions under which the inmates may be dis-
charged, paroled, or conditionally released. (2) Regulating the
retaking and reimprisonment of such inmates.”
520 Tur Prison Assoctatton or New York
‘The law further provides that the Board of Parole of such Refor-
matory “shall adopt a uniform system by means of which shall be
determined the conduct or merit of each inmate sentenced to such
reformatory as the condition of increased privileges or of release
from their control Each inmate shall be credited
for good personal demeanor, diligence in labor and study, develop-
ment of character, and for the results accomplished, and be charged
for dereliction, negligence and offenses. Each inmate’s standing
in merit and conduct shall be made known to him as often as once
in each month.” Provision is also made for the transfer of prisoners
if ie is found that they are first offenders, or that they are less than
sixteen years of age, or more than thirty at the time of their commit-
ment, or if they prove to be incorrigible. Transfers are made to
the House of Refuge on Randalls Istand, or to the Penitentiary on
Blackwells Island, as the case may be.
‘The institution is situated on Harts Island and consists of four
buildings, three comparatively new and one an old building orig-
nally part of the Branch Workhouse, but taken over by the Refor-
matory some time ago. Of the three new buildings oneis the “cooler,”
which is used by the Branch Workhouse and the Reformatory in
‘The main building is of fireproof construction, and consists of two
Jong wings running parallel and connected in front, so that it presents
an elongated “U shape. The two wings contain on the first floor
the following: Room for visitors and bathroom on one side, keepers’
quarters and sitting-room on the other side. The second and third
floors contain a dormitory on cach side, making four dormitories
in all. The central connecting part contains the offices on the first
floor in front and the Board of Parole room in the back. On its
upper floors are keepers’ and teachers’ quarters.
The dormitories are all of the same size and of exactly the same
construction. They are 127 feet by 20 feet, approximately 15 feet
high, lighted and ventilated by 44 windows and have also artificial
ventilation. They have terraza floors, steel and concrete ceilings;
the brick walls are painted a light tan. For each dormitory there
is a washroom and toilet, accommodating twelve inmates at a time.
‘The four dormitories are occupied by the four divis ons into which
the Reformatory population is divided, according to age, character,
etc. There are now almost one hundred beds in most of the dor-
mitories that were originally intended for not more than seventy-
five. This has been necessary because of the overcrowded condition
of the institution.
New Hampton Farms. Some of the Boys.
Insrections 521
‘The shower-room on the first floor contains 32 showers and a
number of toilets.
The second of che new brick buildings is che industrial building,
containing the trade schools. Ie is a two story and basement build
ing containing on its first floor a tin and plumbing shop and a car-
penter shop; on the second floor, electrical shop, printing shop and
tailor shop. There are toilets and washrooms on every floor. There
are to iron stairways connecting the two floors. ‘The whole building,
as well as the administrative and dormitory building just described,
is practically fireproof. There are two standpipes with hose on
each Boor.
The third building which is the “ coolery” has been described in
connection with che Branch Workhouse
The fourth, or school building, is the old building referred to
above, Tes outer walls are of brick, but in no way is it Rreproof.
Te consists of a spacious cenceal portion, with four small wings
jucting out, ovo ar either extremity. ‘The large central portion
contains on the first floor a large study and lounging-room for one
half its length. ‘This room contains benches, has part of its walls
painted black to he used as blackboards, and has a number of stools
and some tables, There are four fire extinguishers and a srand:
pipe with hove aetached in this room. ‘The floor is wood, the ceiling
mecal
‘The rest of the central part of this floor is occupied by the mess-
hall, with a capacity for 300. Te also has a fire extinguisher and
standpipe with hose atrached. One of the extensions of the messhall
contains the kitchen. Ic is in a dilapidated state and anything but
ceproof despite its concrete floor. Ie has a plaster ceiling which
is falling off. Tr contains a range, two caldrons and other necessary
utensils. In a small pantry adjoining there is an ice box and a room
for storing vegetables, The other extension on this floor contains
the officers’ dining-room, storerooms for clothing, barber shop, a
music room and inmates” toilet
The second floor contains the lounging-room, and a large school-
oom in which generally three classes are conducted at the same
time. Ie is extremely antiquated and unsuited for its purpose.
There are three fire extinguishers and a standpipe with hose in
thie room. It has 2 metal ceiling, wooden oor and four doors
riving exic to fire escapes. These, however, are bolted,
Above the messhall there is a large room used as a singing-room,
where a large number of inmates are taught singing daily, generally
in the evening. This room also has four fire extinguishers.
522 Tr Prisox Assoctarton or New York
The extensions on this floor contain 2 separate schoolroom with
fire extinguishers and hose, and toilets, one of them right above
the kitchen with a concrete floor and drain, which, however, do not
prevent a certain amount of leakage to the kitchen. There is also
a roam where inmates may practice on the violin. The northern
extremity of this building is used as 2 hospical. Te contains a ward
with six beds and nine separate rooms, one of which is used as a
drug room, one as bath, one as attendants’ room, and the rest as
separate rooms for patients. ‘The hospital is reached by a separate
stone stairway. There axe four fire extinguishers for ‘the hospital
|A subway connects this building with the main or administrative
building.
The general scheme is to divide the inmates into four divisions,
as referred co above, and to have two divisions work mornings and
go to school afternoons, and vice versa. Much emphasis is laid on
‘music, vocal a8 well as instrumeneal
Labor aside from that required for domestic purposes, that is,
cooking, clesning, and so on, takes the form of trade construction in,
the trade school or in the manufacturing of cement blocks, farming
for odd jobs. The cement block industry has now heen largely
taken over by the Branch Workhouse,
A typical program with gang sheet for 2 day is given as an
example:
Tailving
‘Shoemaker eepaiting)
Britlaying and plastering
Inspections 523
‘The following isthe wa of employes
Overse, Matin J Moots, om
ogi ay Sa i ah fs
1,300 eh
jedicsanaae:
All recive maintenance
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. As a reformatory, this institutfon has not had half
a chance, and therefore it is rather unfair to judge it on the
basis of a reformatory. The only recommendation, but a
very serious one, is that it be given a chance, especially
now, when it is (0 De removed Inta the country, to develop.
into’ real reformatory, worthy of the name. ‘This means
a complete reorganization of the system of marking, of
discipline, of the regulations for the granting of parole,
as well as of the classification of inmates, and thelr segre-
gation in a properly conceived group of buildings in accord-
ance with modern principles of reformation,
A separate statement is given below of the workings of
the New Hampton Farms, which is technically part of this
institution.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
‘The principal item of progress has, of course, been the
opening of New Hampton Farms on March 18, 1914. At
the institution proper, the better division of work between
the Reformatory and the Branch Workhouse has been
accomplished, so that inmates of the two institutions are
now not brought in contact so much as before. Thus,
for example, the service of loading and unloading boats,
and the messenger service has been taken over entirely
by the Reformatory.
The farm work on Harts Island by the Reformatory has
been quite successful during the past year.
‘There have been serious complaints by various inmates of
cruelty of keepers.
524. Tue Prison Association or New York
NEW HAMPTON FARMS (New Hameron, N. Y.)
(Part of the City Reformatory for Male Misdemeanants for the City
of New York.)
Inseecrep py Pamir Kuetw, May 22 To May 24, 19145 INsrecrep
ay E, R. Cass, January 2 to 3, 1915.
‘The purchase in 1913 of the six hundred and twelve acres that
comprise the New Hampton Farms exhausted the total money that
was available for expenditure on the new site to which the City
Reformatory, now situated on Harts Island, is eventually to be
transferred. There was no money available for the erection of the
buildings and the chances were that the farm would lie idle for 2
considerable period of time. In order to begin improving the farm,
to cultivate it so far as possible, and also in order to start the new
Reformatory that is to be erected on this site in a spirit consonant
with the principles of reformation, it was decided to transfer a small
group of the inmates of the Reformatory to the New Hampton
Farms and begin the institution by “roughing-it” until such a
time as the necessary buildings could be put up.
‘The sum of $7,250 was transferred from other funds at the disposal
of the Department of Correction. This was to be used for the pay-
ment of $2,000 in salaries for the four farm instructors, and for the
purchase of the necessary farm equipment.
Te was expected to realize sufficient on the farm products during
the summer of 194 to fully compensate the Department for this
expenditure.
‘The bunkhouse, which is the most important building on the farm,
is a one-story, roughly built wooden structure with an “A”-shaped
wooden roof, covered with waterproof paper. It is elevated from
the ground on wooden posts two or three feet high; the space
between the bottom of the bunkhouse and the ground was at
first empty and later was filled in with cornstalks
‘The interior contains forty-four bunks, arranged three high, run-
ning along the side walls, leaving 2 central corridor running the full
length of the building. There are several small windows in the side
walls and some window arrangements in the roof. Everything
is of wood. ‘The bedding consists of four heavy blankets.
Both the boys and the officers sleep in this bunkhouse. At first
there was no guard of any kind. During the latter half of the year,
when it was found that the new arrivals who had not assimilated the
it of the place were likely to escape, one of the older inmates was
ssigned to act as night watchman,
New Hampton Farms, Interior of Bunkhouse
Inspections 525
An old dilapidated farmhouse 2 short distance from the bunkhouse
contains a kitchen, dining-room, washroom and a small office. During
the summer the dining-room consisted of some roughly constructed
tables under the trees in front of this house. With the coming on of
the cold weather one of the rooms of this farmhouse was trans
formed into.a dining-room. ‘There is an open fireplace in the dining-
100m which seems to give satisfactory heat.
‘At the time of the inspection of the second date, an addition 26
fect by 32 feet had been built on to the tear of the farmhouse. Te
is incended to use this as a dining-room on the first floor and a8 a,
dormitory on the second, and the cellar is to be used for storage
purposes. The foundation of this addition was of concrete, and
that as well as the carpentry work was done by the boys, under
supervision.
‘This whole farmhouse is only. a makeshift and will have to bs
abandoned as soon as proper buildings are erected. Both the physi
cal facilities of the farm, and the intention of working out a spirit
at the same time chat the institution is developing, have resulted
in a rough and in many respects unsatisfactory form of life. Part
of this has been due also to the neglect of some matters by the officials
in charge.
‘The bays sleep at night in their outside shirts, undershirts, drawers
and socks, and many of them with their caps on. A fresh change of
underwear is given every Sunday morning after the bath. Te is
safe to say that this underwear remains on the boys almost every
ingeant for the entire week, both day and night. A practice of this
kind is most unsanitary and must undoubtedly be detrimental to the
boys’ views of how they should care for themselves. The under-
‘wear is not marked in any way ¢o a8 to make cereain that a boy will
et the same suit after it is laundered. This is an undesirable and
unsafe practice.
The blankets are never washed or fumigated and a new boy must
use blankets used by those before him.
‘At the time of the last inspection it was noticed that some of the
boys removed their trousers, rolled them into a bundle and threw
them under the bunks. This again is a slovenly practice and not
educative.
‘The boys tum in at 8:30 P. M., and at nine are expected to be
quiet. During the time which intervenes between 8:30 and 9:00
they converse with each other and exchange remarks similar to those
heard om any street comer where a group of boys might be assembled.
‘Ac the time of the last inspection there was no swearing nor vile
526 Tur Prison Association or New York
conservation, but on che whole the language was such as would not
be tolerated in the average bome, The inspector tried to ascertain
from the boys whether or not they thought the bunkhouse cold.
Some boys claimed ie was, and others said they didnot mind it,
while still others said ie was fine and good “for what ailed one.”
ere was much coughing, most of which seemed to be forced.
‘There was no doubt in the inspector's mind that if each boy were to
express his candid opinion at that time he would have agreed that
the bunkhouse was 2 very cold and uncomfortable place in which
to pass the night. The temperature on the night of January 2 was
24 degrees above zero and a very strong, cold wind was blowing
‘The whole physical condition seemed to the inspector unsanitary,
unelevating, uneducstive and unreformative
‘The kicchen staff at the time of last inspection consisted of three
boys, one of whom actually did the cooking under the supervision
of one of the instructors. ‘There is not one in the entire group chat
could be classified 2s 2 full-Redged or high-grade cook. Neverthe-
fess che foad served at the meals during the inspector's stay consisted
of good, plain food, satisfactory to the taste.
Te was gratifying to note that the instructors partook of the same
food as that served to the boys, and took their places at the same
tables in the dining-room with the boys.
On January 24, the noon-day meal consisted of mucson stew, bread
and coffee, to which was added mill and sugar.
Tewas explained by the superintendent that it is not intended to
tase very much colfee in the p ionof the same, but only sufficient
to produce something pleasing to the taste as a hot drink,
There are four cows on the farm and these were brought down from
the Otisville Sanitarium because their yield of milk was not suffi
ciently large for the purposes of thae institution. Te was said that
they were examined last March by officials and declared free from
tuberculosis. Since then and up to the date of the last inspection,
they had not been examined. Thete is a daily record kept of the
total quantity of milk, which range
scientific tests are made daily or e
the prade or quality of the milk
‘The boys do nor receive milk by the glass and no butter is served
directly to them. They receive no eggs. The butter and eggs are
tased principally in prepating desserts for the boys,
Supper on January 24 consisted of bread, mareatoni, apple sauce
and tea, Desserts, such as apple sauce and pie, are given two or
three times a week.
to determine
InsPecrions 527
Brealfase on the morning of January 34 consisted of hash, bread
and coffee. ‘The hash was quite satisfactory to the taste, and it
twas said that it is served three mornings a week, and, on other mom-
ings, oatmeal
Plates and cups are of crockery. These were satisfaccorily clean.
‘The boys sit at the table on long benches. There is practically
no inspecting to determine whether the boys have their faces and
hands washed and their hair combed before entering the dining-
room. It was quite noticeable that some of them had not combed
their hair
"After finishing cheir meal some of the boys assumed lounging
position at che eable and continued conversacio
gathered near the doorway, putting on their hats, and remained
standing there, watching their chums sell at the tables.
‘Sunday is bathing day, as well as the only day of the week when
every boy removes all of his clothing. A large fre is started in the
fireplace in the washroom, pieces of burlap are ehrown on the floor,
and each boy draws a pail of hot water and proceeds to remove his
ching aud then gives himself a sponge bath. Hoe waeer is ob-
ed by a most unique device. A forey or fifty gallon water tank,
such as is usually actached to an ordinary kitchen range, is placed
on its side and one end in the open Seplace. There is a faucet at-
tached to the other end. ‘The tank is Billed chrough a hole in the top.
‘There are usually four or five boys in the room at a time and an in-
structor is there to see that they bathe propedly and also to take
record of the boys that bathe, On the morning of January 33,
although here was a fire in the fireplace, the room was quite drauahey
and cold. ‘There scemed to he every chance for 2 boy to take cold
Ics questionable whether under conditions of this kind the boys
take the time to bathe properly. Fortunately, during the summer
time, the boys bathe sometimes twice a day in the Walkill River,
‘which runs chrough the farm.
The only privy now in use is locaced some distance from the fatm-
house, and on che other side of the small hill Iv is protected only
‘on three sides from the weather, and while itis necessary to have the
Front side open, 30 a8 co insure against undesirable conduct, it un-
doubtedly makes the place very uncomfortable. It is a question
whether, during very cold weather, the boys do not, on this account,
restrain themselves from attending to actual needs. At the time of
the inspection of January 2d and 3d, the cleanliness and eidiness
of the grounds surrounding the farmhouse were, on the whole, sat-
isfactory.
528 Tue Prison Assoctatron or New York
The old barn located on the hill near the farmhouse is in a very
broken-down condition and it it is really a surprise that it has not
collapsed. The accommodations for the horses are not satisfac-
tory, and those for the storing of hay and wagons and other farm
products and implements are inadequate.
The laundry work for all boys is done by one of the inmates, with
a very inadequate outfit, consisting of a small tin boiler, a tub, and a
washboard. The boy assigned to look after the laundry work is a
young Italian. His task is not altogether pleasant and one which
seems wholly unnatural for a boy. Despite the fact that the clothes
are said to be thoroughly boiled, considering the equipment the
thoroughness of this work is questionable.
The wearing apparel for the boys consists of a gray coat and trous-
ers (some boys wear two pairs of trousers), socks, underdrawers,
undershirt, mittens and cap, shoes, and, when necessary, boots.
The unsatisfactory condition and quantity of clothing is as bad
in the other institutions of the Department as here. It is hardly
adequate anywhere, and less so under conditions at the New Hamp-
ton Farms than at the ordinary institutions where better living
accommodations obtain.
‘The daily routine of the institution is as follows:
2
Stop work, except on very cold days, then at 4:39.
$30 0 7:00 Some boys have work todo, such as wathing dishes, emptying buckets,
80 Assembly for school. ‘The frst fifteen minutes of the school period
is devored to ciitrent events taken from the newspapers. The
pas se Gene ege ge tein ad enourage dion among He bo
At 8:g0 the boys go to the binkhouse, and at 9 o'clock they are
supposed to be quiet. It is 2 rule that there muse be at least three
instructors attending the school period each night. The school is
highly important and commendable
Every Sunday morning about 8 o'clock, service is held. The
boys assemble in the dining-room, seated as they would be if taking
a meal—that is, face to face. The instructors sit among the boys,
and the superintendent stands n one corner of the room.
At the time of the last inspection the inspector and visitors were
called on to give short talks, and then each member of the staff
likewise. Some of the boys were attentive and others were not.
InsPEcTIoNs 529
No congs or hymns ate sung, and there was no evidence of a live
spirited meeting. Ie is suggested here thae national anthems, or
‘other songe be sung before or after the service, in order to arouse
some spirit. The firse evidence of keen interest was made manifest
when the discipline of some of the members of the group came up
for discussion. The advisability of discussing disciplinary methods
with the entire group of inmates is questionable. All kinds of
suggestions were made by the boys, hardly two alike, The dif
ferent groups or cliques were active in proposing harsh treatment,
such as cleaning the privy, for the fellow who was not one of their
number.
‘The activities of the members of the staff were openly criticised
and complaints were likewise made. ‘The entire plan seems wrong
and may ultimately lead to disrespect and poor dicipline. At no
time should any member of the staff be subjected to open eriticism
before the entire group of inmates, by either an inmate or a superior.
Tris suggested that the question of discipline be handled by a com-
mittee representing the staff, and a committee representing the boys,
and that these two committees confer in private.
‘The good features of new Hampton Farms have been the close
personal contact between inmate and officer, the probable good effect
of agricultural employment, the reduction of the congestion in the
mother institution on Harts Island by the transfer of be
profitable investment in the raising of farm products and the avoid-
ance of losses through non-utilization of 2 splendid farm tract
‘owned by the city, and the endeavor to establish the right spicie
for a reformacory institution from the very beginning, even before
the buildings had been construceed.
‘The disadvantages, on the whole, have been the extremely unsat-
isfictory, and in some respects, perhaps dangerous, physical condi-
tions and the possible demoralization that may result, both from
such living conditions, and from too uncontrolled liberties of che
inmates in respect to their officers
RECOMMENDATION MADE.
If the New Hampton farms experiment is to be continued,
strongly urged that the living conditions be very con-
siderably improved.
M
530 Tas Prison Assoctatton or New Yor
NEW YORK COUNTY JAIL.
(For civil prisoners only.)
Census on day of inspection—16
Capacity—s4 cells
Sherif—Max 8. Griffenhagen
Warden—Thomas Rack,
The New York County Jail is situated on the corner of Ludlow
Street and Essex Marker Place. [eis aboue fifty years old and bears
the stamp of that date in consteuction. ‘The cellhouse is of an “L”
shape and one cellblock is placed in each arm of the “I”. The eell-
blocks are soparated by a wide corridor from the outside wall facing
the street, and by a much narrower corridor from the outside wall
facing the yard. This latter cortidor resembles in construction the
“utiliey corridors” but is not used for that purpose, there being no
plumbing for the individual cells that would require such utility
cortidor. Both celiblocks are four tiers high. Only one of them is
‘The light and ventilation of the celle comes both from the wide
corridor facing the street and from the narrow one facing the yard.
‘The cell door faces the wide corridor; the back of the cell, facing the
narrow corridor, has a large window cut in it so that drafe ventila-
ton is possible
A mote detailed statement of the construction and distribution
of cells may be found in our Annual Report for 1913.
Each of the 24 cells actually in use contains a large bed placed
‘on the floor, bedding which consists of 2 pillow, pillow-case, sheet
and three biankers, a table or two, chair, and in some of the cells,
a shelf or closet. Some cells contain also solid wooden doors in
addition to che iron gates.
The prisoners are allowed ro bring in as much of their own furni-
ture as seems reasonable to the warden. Most of the cells have some
‘rugs belonging to the prisoners.
‘The ventilation at the time of inspection scemed satisfactory
despite the fact that the large outside windows cannot be adequately
regulated from the bottom.
‘Some of the bedding was spread on the rails in front of the cells
for airing. On alternate days itis said the blankets are taken to the
yard and spread there.
‘All parts of the prison were found in a satisfactorily clean condi-
tion, The kitchen and pantry were clean and looked wholesome.
Inspections 53
{An individual cup is provided for each prisoner which he may use
‘when outside the cell, as well as when locked in.
Daring the period of inspection, another prisoner was admiteed,
raising the total census co seventeen. This is nearly the average
population, which for the firse eight months of 1914 was 17.36.
The maximum census was recorded for August 2s 25.9, the lowest
vvas in April, with an average of 10.23. ‘The maximum and mini-
‘ium population on any day during the year were 32 and 7 respec
tively, the former in July and the latter in April. Careful count
is kept of the toral number of days served
For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1914, 5,844 days were
ved, making an average of 16 per day.
The total cost for food supplies over that period was #1,932-40.
The per capita cose per meal for employees and prisoners is 8.05,
or 24.15 cents per day.
Prisoners eat their meals at tables set up in the corridor and in
their cells. A considerable proportion of them generally have food
broughe in from the outside eo supplement or substitute for the
priton food.
For the small number of prisoners indicated above, the following
stlf is provided
5,00 pgranquen and maineenance
‘eee ei oe ah SAS ECS
ok 5 pi ii and maintenance
29 per month and ta ae
$23 per month
diane 959,
biystdin, Dek. O'Been
Toul.
s engincers a $459 per dem
All bue the physician are allowed one meal a day.
PROGRESS DURING THE YEAR.
‘The present warden, Mr. Thomas Rock, took office
January 1, 1914, under the new sheriff. Mr. Rock had
‘occupied this position in a previous administration so that
the work was not new to him.
1, Ee was found that he had improved the yard and garden,
had cleaned out a spacious corridor opening into the yard
that had formerly been used for dumping various kinds of
old furniture, etc.,and had transformed it into an impro-
532 Tar Prison Assoctation of New York
vised gymnasium, so that prisoners could exercise in inclem-
ent weather when thoy could not be ont in the yard.
2. The larger part of the interior of the outside wall has
been washed with soap end water. The comparison between
parts washed and the parts unwashed emphasizes the
amount of dirt which had collected on the walls,
3. Four shower-baths were Installed in four of the cells,
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
Itis hardly worth while t any radical improve-
ment of this jail either in its physical aspects or for economy
in the staff of employees, in view of the fact that the County
Jail is to occupy one flosr of the new prison soon to be built
to replace the present Third District Magistrate's Court and
Prison.
NEW YORK STATE TRAINING SCHOOL. FOR GIRLS,
HUDSON, N. Y.
Insrecrep py Patir Kuriw axp E.R. Cass; Jury 16, 19n4,
Timm, 9:30 A. 34. 50 2:50 P.
Management and conirol
Section 204 of the State Charities Law, and Section 2184 of the
Penal Code, provide for the maintenance of the New York State
Training School for Girls between 12 and 16 years of age, either
destitute, neglected or delinquent, committed by any coutt within
the State having criminal jurisdiction. Girls thus committed
become wards of che Boaid of Managers uneil their twenty-first
year, unless marvied before that age, and subsequene to their com
rmiement; bus i less than fifteen years of age at the tinte of commit.
ment they may not be detained beyond their eighteenth birthday,
and in other cases may nox be detained for more than three years,
the Board of Managers consists of seven members, of whom
four are women and chiee are men, One of the latter is a physician
Section 201 of the Stace Charities Law describes the powers and
duties of the board as felloses:
“The board of managers shall have the general superintend-
fence, management and concrol of the institution over which ie is
appointed; of rhe grounds and buildings, officers and employees
thereof; of the inmates therein, and of all matters relating to she
InsPecttons 533
government, discipline, contracts and fseal concerns thereof,
and may make such rules and regulations as may seem to it neces-
sary for carrying out the purpose of such institution. The board
of managers of such institution shall appoint from among its
members 2 president, secretary and treasurer, who shall hold
‘office for such length of time as such board may determine, and a
female superintendent, who shall hold office during the pleasure
of the board. The board of managers shall fix the compensation
of the officers and employees of the institution, subject to the
provisions of section soventeen of the state finance law. The
managers of such institution shall cause the females detained
therein, or under their care, to be instructed in such branches of
useful Knowledge and to be regularly and systematically employed
in such lines of industry as shall be suitable to their years and
capacities, and shall cause such females ro be subjected to such
discipline a, in the opinion of such boxed, is most likely to effect
their reformation. The managers of such institution, with the
consent of any female committed thereto, may bind out as an
apprentice or servant such female during the time they would
he entitled to retsin her, to such persons, and at such places,
to learn such trade and employment as in their judgment will
be for the future benefie and advantage of such female.”
The superintendent acts as a representative of the board of
managers, and has complete control of the activities of the institution.
Pla
‘The school is situated on some 117 acres of land, partly within,
and adjacent to, the city of Hudson. There is convenient access
to the railroad. The scenery is attractive, and the location is
healthful. The following buildings comprise the institution: The
administration building, containing the administrative offices and
apartments of the superintendent, assistant superintendents, medical
officer, steward, parole agents and clerks, and some rooms for inmates,
for pupils, though these are said co have been condemned. One
building contains a large and beautiful chapel, well equipped, and
with a gymnasium in the basement. The industrial building’ con-
tains ten rooms for the book school and industrial classes. A
separate book school building is now in process of construction.
When completed it will allow the use of the industrial building
for trade classes exclusively.
The former “ prison building” has been completely demolished.
The power-house and coal bins are situated near the railroad tracks.
534 Tue Prison Association or New York
Along, one-story, dilapidated building, formerly used as a hospital
for contagious cases, now provides quarters for some employees,
and is also used as a storchouse and carpenter shop. The barn and
stable are somewhat removed from the general group of buildings,
Twelve cottages were in use at the time of the inspection, and two
were under construction. Four of the twelve cottages are of more
recent construction and represent a very much better plan for the
carrying on of the various activities of the coteages.
All of the buildings were found to be in a completely satisfactor
condition of cleanliness.
Te is to be regretced hae ehe building operations in progress
necessitated the breaking up of lawns and grounds in the main
campus. It will probably be some time before this part of the
institution grounds regains its normal, attractive appearance.
The industrial building at the far end of the campus was not used
during the winter, because ic has been condemned as unsaf
after the walls were reinforced with heavy wooden beams,
building was again pur into use. Iz was stared, however, ehat the
walls were again cracking. At the time of the inspection, the
of the building was quite noticeable, The interior of the industrial
building, thar is, the cross beams, stairway and the floor, are of
wooden construction. There ase only two fire extinguishers in th
building. On the rear is a large fire-escape of the standard stairway
type of construction.
‘The fire apparatus for the institution consists of two Tong tines
of hose, wound on the spools of small hose carriages, one of which is
kept in a small shed near the center of the grounds, and the other in
the storehouse at one end of the campus. Fire hydrants are dis-
tributed about the grounds. There are two fire drills weekly in
the school building, and in the cottages. Tn each of these there is
a atandpipe with fifty feet of hose, and a fire extinguisher on each
The old cottages are built on the three-story plan, while the new
cottages, both those already in use and those under construction,
are built on the two-story plan, which makes supervision of the girls
very much easier. In general, the upper floor or floors contain,
sleeping-rooms for the gicls; the main floor includes the kitchen
<dining-room and officers’ room, while the basement is used for general
administrative necessities. Each cottage is designed for twent
six girls and three officers. The newer cottages are of a particularly
pleasing type, especially in that they allow the dining-room and
living-room to be turned into one large reception room.
IxsPEcTiONs 535
‘The institution needs considerable repair and improvement to
its physical plant. A summary of these needs, made recently,
calls for appropriation for 67 different items. Six of these, rotaling.
{819,18, ate for the removal of fie danger and provision for adequate
fve-fighting equipment, Iv is hardly necessary to emphasize the
importance of adequate fire protection. The loss of even one life
would be far more serious than the expenditure of more than the
amount requested, The serious attention given by the adminisera-
tion to fire danger, evinced by theit use of the fie drill (required at
least twice a week in every cottage) gives assurance thac the request
for completer fire protection isa serious one, and not merely a matter
of frills.
OF the other items requested, the most important ones are the
follosving:
1 psoectve fence
Gatehouse and puaed sone
Aepaie asd enewas of etic, team and water supply, et.
Eguipmene for the new erhocitcue
ison of aioe ond ceil fo faing pps
‘The erestion and tarnshing of sal
‘cain os poultey house, siggen, 2 coachman’s house, barns and stables
Mieseal balding
A nm dizlinary buldin, raberclar hospital, tnee adisonal coteages, 2nd an
sddidonal appropriation for schooinoure
Of these we consider che following of particular importance and
imeriting immediate attention before all others:
First: Erection of the following new buildings:
Thee addtional cousager,
Taber
New ple ain
ped it
The New York State Training School at Hudson is he only
institution ofits kind in the State. As will be shown by the censu
below, the institution is now occupied to its Full capacity. [eis also
stated chat in onder to avoid too much overcrowding many admissions
havo, with the content of magistrates, been deferred, while others
were discharged by return to the sherif’ on the basis of mental
unfitness. A maximum capacity of §00 is desirable, and additional
cottages would be requiced co provide for such a maximum. The
instturional capacity of the Stare reformatory instiotions of New
York is considerably below what it should be, and perhaps more so
a8 this school than elsewhere,
536 Tue Parison Association or New York
‘The tuberculosis hospital requested is a necessity that speaks for
itself. There are not less than six to cight per cent. of the inmates
of any reformatory suffering from tuberculosis, according to authori-
ties like Dr. Knopf. On this basis, we can assume a minimum of
15 to 20 cases of tuberculosis at this school for whom proper
hospital facilites should be provided,
With the elimination of the prison building, which was being
demolished, the institution is without proper treatment for the
seriously recaleitrant girls, For ordinary purposes a cottage devoted
to discipline is sufficienc and efficient, but for more serious cases a
separate disciplinary building is necessary. Appropriation should
be granted for such a building
‘We have referred to the condition of the presen
ing. Ie will probably nor be long before it will have to be finally
condemned. ‘The suspension of industrial training for lack of
dustrial build-
accommodations would be 2 mast serious blow to the reformarory
methods in this institution. The Stare should not wait until the
last moment to provide what it will have to provide under all cir
Te is 2 serious
provide satisfac
as are required to live on the grounds. We can hardly understand
hhow the inscitution has been able to get along thus far without 2
staff house. It is usually considered one of the most necessary
Duildings of a modern institution, The erection of such a building
‘cannot be t00 strongly urged.
Second: ‘The acquisition of additional land.
Additional land is requested for two purposes: First, $10,000
requested to guard against che possibilicy of buildings being eon-
structed close ro che school for purposes that might prove detr-
mental to the welfare and safety of the school. Secondly: $75,000
requested for 150 acres to extend the farm work and provide sufficieat
space to allow greater separation for certain cottages, for which 2
more isolated position is desired. This request is certainly wall
founded.
‘Third: The argument is sound for the protective fence, as given
by the superintendent, namely, for the protection of State property
against trespassing by undesirable individuals. Such 2 protective
fence is urged as a necessity.
Insrecrions 337
Fourth: Miscellaneous requests for repairs and renewals of
electric, steam and water supply, etc. ‘There is nothing that dis-
turbs the proper routine of an institution more than the frequent
disorganization of these material accessories to institutional effi
ciency. Te has been shown frequently that the whole system of an
institution can be broken down by leaking water mains or an inade-
quate steam supply, ete. Besides, i is very poor economy.
The following indicates the population on the day of the inspection,
both the population and the capacity of the cottage, a given by the
superintendent.
Corage. Population. Capaciey.
‘inieation bling
DY (Quarantine coltage ~eachoma) E
Rowseelt losie 9 and a inf
Aisne Pd
is
y
Diino
Cersied capacity
System and methods
Girls committed are broughe to the institution by a woman officer
of the school. Whenever 2 girl at any county jail or city prison has
been committed to the State Training School, the sheriff of the
county, or other responsible officer, notifies the superintendent,
‘whereupon an employee of the institution is sent for the girl. On
sisival at che institution such girl is quarantined for a period of
‘ovo weeks in whatever cottage offers a vacancy. ‘The advisability
f this practice is questionable. There ought to be a separate
suarantine and receiving cottage. Afeer the quarantine period,
the girls are distributed among the cottages according to a classifi
cation based upon the following factors: Color, age, previous life,
ten and the resules of observations during the quarantine. Two
sottages, Van Buren and Clinton, are devoted to colored gies
Seam e gah of tee costge i to ot for occupancy in mime, ing over
“Tce some ts Van Bune onal for salted i qusantied Ss Dix,
538 Tue Parison Association or New York.
One cottage is set aside for girls returned for violation of parole
‘The same cottage is used to a certain extent as a disciplinary cottage.
Girls are not necessarily kept in the cottage to which they are first
assigned. Transfers are made on the basis of subsequent observa-
tions of their character.
There are three divisions in che grading of girls, Every newly
admitted gitl is placed in the second grade, From this they can be
advanced to the first grade, or demoted to the third. Third grade
girls are kept in a separate cottage. second and first grade
girls occupy the same cottages. Tn the frst grade, further sub-
divisions on the basis of conduct are made. These are indicated
by ribbons or badges. The first, or red, ribbon is earned after six
months of good conduct; similarly che second, or whice, and the last,
for blue, Each ribbon is given at the end of six months" good record
Additional privileges accrue ko owners of ribbons, and the owners
of three ribbons constituce practically an honor group. This latter
class, for example, is allowed ta wear whire dresses in the chapel,
and to have other highly prized privileges denied ro the others.
Girls are paroled at any time after their commitment to the
insticucion, when in the judgment of the superintendenc and board
of managers they are St ro cake up their normal activities in free
life, Generally, however, parole dovs not take place until after two
years at the institution,
The clothing worn by the gitls at the institution is of plain gingham
of several patterns, the choice of which is given the girls. Such
choice extends also to the style of the cus. Asa vale, separate clothing
is provided for working hours, and for chapel and school, with
additional priviloges as referred to above. When released on parole
each giel is given:
ase x shire wait
5 ioe dees 2 mbitesprons 2 gingham aprons,
2 ul underwear 1m
pal shoes Stocking handkerchi gove ad
Activites
The activities may be subdivided into cottage, book school
induserial and general institution activities
Each cottage is a separate unit, supervised by a matron, who is
assisted to a certain extent by other officers living in her cottage
‘The girls spend by far the greater pare of the twenty-four hours of
the day in the cottages. ‘They take their meals, have theit rect
tion, do their personal sewing, ctc., there. They leave the cottages
InspRetions 539
for school and industrial training (including farm work and acti
ties about the grounds and campus), for chapel exercises, general
entertainment and outdoor recreation.
‘The routine in the coccages is very much the same throughout
the institution. A sample of the regular daily program was given
as follows:
AM,
work,
turn to cottage fr meal
M.
p.
ing bel fos schoo
5 Sshol Secon, except Friday and Saturday
Sane chsh spt Monay mi Sa
Bhpeteal cule classes
3 Catholic vee nfl bing
236 Erorearae service
5:00 Eptecopal servic, induces building
In each cottage the cooking, cleaning and some of the laundry
work is performed by the girls living in that couage. Girls tidy
their rooms before 8:30, the time at which they leave for school or
work, the majority of the girls leaving the cottage at that hour.
Some remain in the cottages and do the cooking, and others the
housecleaning, etc., all under the supervision of a matron. The
system is so arranged that each girl has her chance at every form
of cottage work. ‘This enables 2 girl to learn all forms of house-
hold work thae would fic her for such work after her release. A
certain amount of correlation exists between cottage work and indus-
trial training, such as dressmaking, laundry classes, cooking classes,
etc. The cating for the grounds in general, including lawns, flower
beds, walks, ete., is in charge of the farm and garden matron.
School.
Only elementary instruction is provided in the book school. Most
of the girls are required to attend the book school in the morning
or afternoon. With the present crowded condition of the industrial
building, che school syatem is not developed to ies full possibilities.
‘The various classes on the day of the inspection consisted of the
following:
Tue Prison Association or New York
1 she
Other classes were not in session, it was stated, because of vaca-
tions and vacancies. The spirie and mezhod of instruction at the
school, in e0 far as one could observe within so short a time as the
present inspection, seemed excellent.
We quote in this connection from the annual report of the schoo!
for the year 1913:
he exsrnes of conducting, sis witoxe book wich were, detoyed
becatte of the srachoms episemic, has been oF great inserst and val, bath to
he pons lating and the teacher, and well worth she extra preperation the part of
the tae
‘The school is considerably handicapped in ite work for lack of
room, Instruction without exthooks, and in accordance with out-
lines prepared by the teachers, has been worked out in a most
ratifying to
‘his instivu
successful form at che Elmisa Reformatory,
find that the system has proved ene .
Considerable practicable application of school work, both in arith-
metic and English, 10 the problems of the institution makes the
‘work both instructive and useful to the pupils.
Industrial Training
Trade instruction is divisable jmto two groups: One, that of
formal instruction given in the trade classes, which is considered
practically pare of the school; the other, work performed in the cot-
tages by the gitls, or elsewhere in the institution, part of which is
practical application of the things taught in the trade school
‘The trade classes are the following:
eines perinioci gay
Estey s sictose ty andy each
Gonkinl—a sectons — 1d ua sg ropeevay
‘The two sections in sewing represent advanced and elementary
classes.
‘The book school instruction and trade school instruction are di-
vided into morning and afternoon sessions, so as to give every gist
Insrecrions 540
‘chance to attend both book school and, a8 far as possible, the trade
School. ‘The work of the erade school is t0 correlated with the ine
ssitutional work of the same kind as to make application possible,
Cooking school classes are of four months’ duration. ‘The gitls,
in addition to the formal training they receive, also perform a consid-
cable amount of work in the sway of preparing pickles, preserves,
canned goods, et. The small size ofthe cooking class is caused by
the limited space in the classroom. There is but one classroom
available
Sewing is probably the most important single rade taught. ‘There
are four stages, ranging fcom simple sewing as a preliminary, to ad-
vanced dressmaking. The average class here, 00, lasts about four
months, but the weekly number of hours varies, depending upon
whether the sessions are held in the morning or in the aftemoon.
The total number of hours of morning sessions in a week are twice
as many as for the afternoon. ‘The showing of the sewing claes is
most commendable. Ie is found possible in these classes to make
all clothing, both for institutional wear, and for giels sent out on
parole
‘The laundry class lasts from 4 co 6 months, and inseruction is
given in the use of the various pieees of apparacus used in laundering
and ironing the clothing used in the institution.
‘The cortelation with practical work in all industrial classes, while
arrempted, and in the process of extension, has not yet atained the
grade of efficiency found in other institutions of the State. ‘That is,
while che industrial class eraining is pue to practical application
in coteage work, the ewo do not yet constitute an integral whole
The principal of the school, sho has charge of this branch of the work,
said that they were working at this correlation as one of the most
important improvements of the curriculum, and that they hoped
to perfect such correlation.
Teis to be noted that at school and at work che separation of white
and colored gia is not carried out, either in the grade oF in the in-
usrial classes.
Farm:
‘The faci activites at the school eannot amount to very much with
only 147 acres of land available, of which a good part is occupied by
the buildings, lawn, ete. Neyereheless, the value of the farm prod-
ucts raised during 1913, deczrmined by the standards set by the
State Agricultural Department, is said to have been $2,762.57, a
t0od showing indeed,
542 Te Prison Association or New Your
Discipline:
‘The ordinary discipline is carried on in the individual cottages
by the matron, under the direction of the assistant superintendent
Report is made of each punishment imposed, and record of it is
kept at the office. In extreme eases, of after three months of gen-
erally unsatisfactory conduct and work at the cottage, girls may be
demoted to the third grade and transferred to the third grade buil
ing. The forms of punishment in vogue at the school are chiefly
the withdrawal of privileges in much-prized devails, as to wearing
apparel, recreation, ete. No corporal punishment is allowed and the
privilege of writing monthly letters is not lost under any discipl
nary measures.
‘The daily routine is divided into what is called “periods of silence,”
and other periods during which talking is allowed. The silence
periods are particularly chose ac school, in the trade schools, at work,
at meals, and on passing through the grounds. Talking through
the silence periods is punishable, but the rule is not oo rigidly en-
forced; 2 certain amount of quiet communication is overlooked
especially in the trade classes and at work.
Medical Department:
ere is a resident physician who is responsible for the sanitary
condition of the institution. Careful physical examination is made
of every girl on admission. During the past year or two, the in-
stitution has suffered from a very serious epidemic of trachoma,
which at oue time placed the whole school under quarantine so that
rno new inmaces were admitted. ‘The epidemic began about June,
1912, and was gotten under control about February, 1913, but the
precautions then adopted are still being carried out. ‘The door
Knobs are covered with antiseptic gauze, and many of the gitl’
heads are similarly covered. ‘There are only a few cases of trachoma
now, and these are under care in Dix Cottage. This epidemic has
very seriously affected the work of the instieution.
‘The regular taking of throat culture for examination by the State
Board of Health is carvied on in the case of all girls admitted. The
school receives visits from an ophthalmologist and a dentist, and
other specialists if necessary. For dealing wich the fecble-minded
girls, the school has no psychologist ofits own. Through the coopera:
tion of the State Board of Charities, some examinations, by means
of the Binet-Simon tests, have ben made. This work can hardly
be considered adequate, however, without a resident psychologist.
Insrections 543
Recreation:
‘The usual standard forms of recreation are found at Hudson.
In addition to the regular recreation periods within the cottages,
there are general entertainments, games, lectures, and more
recently, phonograph concerts.
Roller skating has been introduced. A certain amount of the
physical culture may also be considered recreation, especially that
pare consisting of games, races, and apparatus work
‘The following statement of the weekly soutine of work in two typi.
eal cottages is of interest and value.
Moxpay, A.M.
00
0
B30
100
ras
Fab Daf fe made, eoams and corridors Sithed by gi nor needed in
830 ‘Storehouse pis are taken co work bythe socekeeper.
fe School gl taken 00
Byoto 49
Matton goes for school gil
jsrancine and punichatent trays served by laundy oer
PM.
nts “Trays sent co the kiechen by matron,
143 o> 1:30 Gi ge ready for atboo, Matron on Bet corridor, laundry ofcer
Recreation.
544 Tue Prison Association or New York
‘Toespay, A.M.
ich ofc ie dorm
isi bs dtron oversees fst corridor wotky and laundry
loliter second coridor ye ies eaiaie
Morning program esos ar on Monday, excepe thas Laundry ofr
wins hn upecive work when laundy work late from Monday
ished
Dressing for outgoing gis also done in tis coteage
P.M.
Kitchen offer off dary. Hee place filed by laundry officer.
‘Afternoon prow same ae gn Monday
Singing eco’ “Gide taken by spl
Weosseony, A. M.
Washing of all beddings therefore, program identical with chat of
“ PM.
Laupdey officer of duty, Matron, hae charge of both upstairs cor-
fers, oo ps taten to scooby supply ollee. Maron wives
Iidemeek fat
Singing schol Girls taken by sup ofices
Tucnapay, A. M.
Program fllows thas of Tuesday,
PM,
Matson off duey. Laundry officer har charge of both upstairs cor
dors, ale taken by spay olicer to seh
Singing tchodl ils taker by supply ae
Favoar, A. M
Program follows that of Tuceday.
P.M.
130 wish and Chae gs taken sevice by spol ofc.
{33 500 Allg hating the piviege, ea to singing school by matron
Servanay, AM.
Program fl tha of Tuc, A ee deaning done a it
{Goteage tater ity turn ceasing the cape
P.M.
Devoted to bathe, haiowathing and the gil? personal mending
Sse eich Ore te he mek. aay ws
Sonpar, ALM.
Diner for ie
Dinner freer; one oficer ff duty every other Sunday from 1 to6
Services in chapel,
Gilscaken far wall by matron.
Weapes
Inspections 545
Genera nates
‘Matson i always prepaced for unexpected, dutien, such
vivre and
ingpoctts through the Si
is and recering fend of uy a who may
cord bgoks man he written up, forthe more part at nighy a8 inecrptions are
Te imposible ro-do chit during the dy
sda vs must be caken fr tefeacton and for eve inspection atthe hospital
aod Thurndays fr dental work
CLINTON (COLORED COTTAGE) 2 OFFICERS, 24 GIRLS
Moxnay, A. ML
‘Assitane matron cals Inundey girl, kes 6 girls 0 do, washing
for git choking 1 for offen? Cooking,
Mavic’ ge ot atveady up, for dows work, She 3
so ceehe Ee Eat lng rece tm owe
iii eonkery 1 cianing vette and 5 deaing conor
Be .
Gite lets their rooms and matron inspects all raome and sand,
school
bo ae ch osha
i eal a platina
Tnvervicws with assistant superigendene and steward, if neesacy
fsbo. do noe po ta schol (an book hoo! laste om Nl
ina) Ssh ates work, pi corsors, clean sothes toon
uf ce ner at ee
ston goes fo school
Dinner “Afr dinner cortdors are dusted, dishes washed, Kishen
oor scrubbed, sange seamed, snk scrubbed aad polished; laundsy
feeubbed and pu i order.
PM,
Matron taker els to schoo
Git Jo nos go To cul, mend, do plain ironing, oF cen
Matton gots afer school gis,
‘get Hoe bath ye ek yall etd i,
Aeditane maton takes Eire downstic to fart supp, sto some
irik eo Gn oni
ARs supet rk i Jone which ces ol aout
Seceres nee wher del ek oer a rita
Gin locked in for nhs,
yea oractnly he same, as wating i done every
i nee of bh a ge Towel lings an
Han they ate pepety cede to age all Sing
Seo eP Sy PRL Tetyalng er po odie
‘The work isto atangat thar chee are only thee gle downstaice
ie Pree,
or sging school Sn cle casey ae segue program of
Gite
Ofer:
ig:
Sipe
in
Oper:
int
Oper:
Gin
iio
Ginte
fier:
inte
Oe:
int
Ofer:
Git
Ofer
in:
Gers:
ints
Ofer:
‘Tar Prison Association oF New York
LIVINGSTON COTTAGE.
Diary for on thin Jue
Somme
rear
mea stay, bend and il ott.
met LE ee tt ones idle cakes, tat oles
Dinar eat
beans, bt ren, ey Joby ck, bad pading il
Reth and bean esteat bee green creamed beats rae PUAN,
maeearer
sure
et taht balan ly bat, pov,
ead esac ard ad lB Lee cc, live oly chee
Fred ee Wot eake caramel podine
Moxon
Brea
Enron ream, oup, breed aed poalocy tant wheat mufins cos,
Dieser
Pock stm, creamed peas, cotcage pudding with cocoanut sauce
Re A Teamel Zoey, Enea dicnings aed potatoes, creamed pes,
‘phony shore cake, ta.
Supper
reamed goange, adhe bred, buses gingerbread pow.
f Seed ones fiche, Baking powder Bie
Ce ses nlaes cake, vanilla ee creat, ae
Turway:
Braal
Cornmeal creamy, syrup, beezd and milk, possum,
FRUSEIA Bled poraticn, Wench ous, vous, cafe,
Dinner
Roast beh, brow yravy, boiled potatoes, cream peas, rice pudding, chocolate
Peer Nien gtany, mashed potaton, Def greens, creamed pens, custard
the, cheer, ta a
ated enacroai apd cheese, eeuce,eadhes racket postumn
ESS SUSE, Bestia chloe den suadwiches,cotrant arts, mol
“ ‘Weonsspn
Brealft.
melo, bead ap ily eum.
Samet sz, Mend a ENCED piney, cost, cles sewed panes
Dinner
bil rice, eravy, tice pudding, lemon gauct
STE aoe gravy ated potatoe, etuce, ove of prane pudding,
nae bee brown ara
Smhipped cream, fe
Gite
Ofer:
Git
ire
ites
fers
Git
fies:
Gite
Ofer
Gite
ees:
Of:
cen
Inspections siz
Sapper.
Creamed macaroni, lettuce, onions, bread, butter, sugte cookies postu,
Fried bacon, creamed potatoes, creamed pat, Iectuc, live ll onions
"sunbcead’ Geese, sponge dieos, snow cake stewed branes with crest
‘Tauasoar.
Bueakfrt
Comnmesh, sypup, bead and milk, postum,
Creamed beth teamed potatos, eat, oe, ginger cookies
Dinner.
Rona re, bronn gravy, bred dreing,cetmed pra, cottage pudding
Pea soup, etpucons, creamed peas, leccce olive ol, mashed potatoe, fied
Baton, indian pudding, te.
Supper
Creamed poratae, lettuce, bread, butter, molases, cae, postum,
Behe ed poston’ ork dea lettace, chee iat cookie,
Pusmar.
Breakfast.
Qatmes, crea, syrup, bread and milk, postu,
Fried steak fred potttocy cakes, font, coffe
Dinner.
Creamed codfish, mashed potatos lttuc, bea
[Beet soup, croutons, creamed codfish, mashed
“eum peas, prone whip with cea
res, eceuce,ofve eal,
Supper
Potato mala, lence, sewed prunes, sues cookies, pou
Feied bacon, fied sg pork"and beans eeuce allveoly-sete, potato
lad, oat, rrewel pets, cream, ginger cookies, sponge cake, te
Sarvnoay.
Breakfast.
Hominy, syrup, toast, butter, mil, pottum.
Fred bacon, eeamed’ potatoes, wast, cle
ork ad bane ceed pes lee, mustard dren, banana ie cea,
[Rout bee, browa gravy, roaee potatoes, creamed peas, lettuce, live oil
‘ckled beets ral, carom cccrenty snow cake feed te
Supper
Chews andes, reamed re otags chee, baking ponder ics
Him and tags Saratoes chips, parker house roll, chese, laf cake, molastes
‘eokies, chocolate puddings whipped cre, cles
548
i:
Gin
Shier
Gites
Opec:
Gin
Ser:
in
Oee:
Gin:
er:
Gin
Opie
int:
Oper:
ints
Oe:
Tue Prison Association or New York
SCHUYLER COTTAGE,
Dietary for ome suck i Agus
Senne
Brest.
Oacmest, team, postum, bread mill 27.
Guanes ram, Rr ise wae aed mene, parker out
ae
inter.
lamb, mashed pores, eens, arary, evcumbers, jeer, cake.
BoD lamb! cashed estos tteam tae picked brew, ace tomatoes,
Grads Wess Se ea ake
Supper
Boiled vie, bread, mil, sized tomatoes cake
GRAY STE cated potions hor cue, cucumbers
Brel
Eating, post, een, bead 2909
Fuchs, Qed poutheyes, e, bread, bus, hash
Diane.
i pea soup boiled potatoe, eomatoes, bred re pun
SB, rpafedPyetese’ lowe sonmsocsy eked eet, bread bute,
tinge swdding
sun
Bread, milk, stcaroni, cucumbers coi
Cea D MA Mashed poeates bread, borer, cake ced tea,
Tuasow.
Pref
atest cram, postum, brady 8/10
Ghemeat ‘eu, "reamed posses, poached ee, toast, cookies, bred
‘reer
Dinner
SCRA Se SEAT oct pnn
* Supper.
Pek mr eo hate
‘imo
ee eS eee:
RGIS RIGS aceencay sactate and Ha the
BS erties, ns ie
Inseections
Tworsoar.
Breakfan.
Gigs Ravina, postam, been, mill, syrup
Lfiecns Farin, ercam, creamed beet, teamed potatoes wa, caffe, beady butter,
Dinner
are, Bef bam nraen eran, Breads paling
Fre Sa ann, mated port ray, best be Dee, team, He
Supper
Gigte Macaroni bread, cucumbers, cookies il
Browned ach, eeamed potacoe,cacumbers, bread, butter, ee, cookies
Frivar,
Brecht
Cornmeal reat, bread, syrupy postu, ail
Cornmeal, cream, seamed macker, creamed potitoes, cast, chakies 3,
ee Diner.
Creamed coda boiled potatoes, stowed tomatoes, bread pudding, cxcum-
Open Pee cy CEL
ve weap cael cna nena omatn, cubs, bread ie,
Sureen
Gist» Boiled ees bread, tomatoes, eyeurmbersy il
fiers: Codtsh caken ined potatoes, seed tomatoes, bread, butter, tem cake,
Sarunoav.
Breatfert
Sits, Eade eam, pnt Seed
cor: Farina cream, ereamed poranes, poached egg on roast, cinnamon rolls
read, bates, tay coe
Diener
Bean soup, ced eomatogs, bea, biter
Soap, rose lamb, mashed parse, sewed tomators, bees, gtnvy, bred,
ieee, ehocaste pudding, tea
otk, beans, hash cucumbers, bread, mil, cookie
she beans, breaded ealy scumbety ready bute eae, tea
The staff of the institation is as follows
3,000 per apmoma and maintenance,
10 per month and maintenance.
oe Perigont aad a
550 ‘Tue Prison Assocration or New York.
1 aesistane matron, at oc per goth ay sigan
$Titant meveons
9 asttant matron a
Feavrons temporay for si
1 general teacher
‘eacher 445.00 per month and #16 for main.
fal inmate SSisnnerponth at maingeonne
ise
ra
$5.29 persemum and maintenance
So 09 per mont and mai
tae ietuctor aed
{ featdent pha
{ Rospieal matron
1 gaedon mation pe
Mate emploje
Engiting ve
Set pec
Building and Repie:
4 ame pa
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
It is strongly urged that appropriations be granted for
the following improvements, found necessary in the course
of inspection:
(e) The erection and furnishing of a staff-house and
of an employees’ louse, $50,000,
‘tion of additional fand, $85,000.
(a) The erection of a protective iron fence (at a cost less
than the estimated price of $20,000).
(hy Fire protection, $19,180.
@) Miscellaneous requests for repairs and renewal of
y, Steam and water supply, ete.
Inspections 55
2. Girls in quarantine upon admission should not be
distributed in all the cottages. There should be a separate
reception cottage used exclusively for that purpose, or @
sufficient number of separate rooms in the hospital should
be so used.
3. Every inmate should appear before the parole com-
mittee of the board of managers within a year subsequent
to the date of admission, and the nature of her case pre-
sented and discussed by such committee of the board of
managers.
4. Coordination of the industrial classes with the trade
and cottage work should be extended and further developed
jong the lines in which a beginning has already been made.
5. A resident psychologist should be added to the staff,
for the purpose of aiding the administration in the proper
classification and assignment of inmates in forming a plan
for their training, and in order to contribute scientific
data to the subject of delinquency.
STATE AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL,
INDUSTRY.
Inapected By — Populason
uy 49984 E.R. Cae
Ra Bet tp Se
‘The Seate Agricultural and Industrial Schoo! is located at Industry,
Monroe County, on a tract of land of approximately 1,450 acres.
‘The school is 2 juvenile reformacory, and represents the cortage-
plan system on a larger scale than any insticution in any of the
ighboring States. It is the only Stave juvenile male reformatory
in New York designed on the cottage plan. It is for the reception
of all male children between the ages of seven and sixteen who shall
be legally committed to it, The school is under the conttol and
management of a board of seven managers appointed by the Governor.
‘The superintendent is appointed by the boards of managers and is
the chief executive officer.
‘There are thirty-two cotcages used for the detention of boys, and
these, as well as other buildings, lie seartered over the ground with
xno surrounding wall or other physical barrier between the school
grounds and the surrounding country.
552 Tue Prison Association or New York,
‘As the name indicates, there are two chief activities conducted
at the school: Agricultural and industrial. Each cottage is con-
sidered a colony, and the colonies are divided into two large groups,
called the farm colonies and industrial colonies respectively. Out
of thirey-two cottages, nine are considered industrial colonies and
the remainder farm colonies. A farm colony covers an average of
fifey gcres, while an industrial colony embraces about three acres,
There are two types of corcages. Those built more recently are
designed on a different architeccural plan from the older ones. The
larger number of cottages are built generally on the following plan:
‘On the ground, or first floor, about one-half of the length of the house
is occupied by the dining and living rooms, separated by a parti-
tion, so designed that free communication is possible. The dining-
rooms are equipped with large tables and a special table for the
supervisor, matron, guard, and an occasional guest. The living
room is also used as a schoolroom. There is no central school
hhouse, but, instead, teachers make their rounds from cottage to
cottage. The rooms for the use of the supervisors and matron
are also on the ground floor. ‘The supervisor and matron are man
and wife, and have full charge of the cottage in which they reside
The second floor contains a dormitory with from twenty-three
to twenty-five beds, also a roam for the guaeds, and a special room
equipped with toile: and bathing accommodations. In the more
recently built cottages the plan is very much better, in thar it gives
more room and allows a better arrangement of rooms.
In these, the bathroom and toilec is in che basement, the super=
visor's sleeping quarters on the same floor with the dormitory, and
a larger living room for the supervisor on the ground floor
‘The industrial colonies are located in the center oF the farm. Close
to these cottages are the administration building, teachers’ cottage,
the Protestant and Catholic chapels, and the assembly hall. At
some distance ftom the adminiseration building are located the hos-
pital, the contagious disease cortages, and at some distance from these
the superintendent's residence. Situated in about the center of
the group of the industrial cottages are che industrial buildings,
in which are the equipment for the various industries. There are
also five cottages for employees" families, a service cottage for guards,
and a few small residences for some of the employees, including the
chaplain and steward.
The chief advantage of the cottage plan is that it gives good op-
portunity for proper and fundamental classification. The adminis
tration aims to classify the inmates so as co get practically homo-
geneous groups that can be treated along the same lines.
Insrecttons 353
‘The farm colonies. are for boys who are less tainted with crime
and manifest more satisfactory indications of better development.
Boys who have a criminal history, who ate more difficule to handle,
and less promising, are assigned to the industrial colonies,
For detailed description of che syseem in vogue at the school,
and of the cottage life, the reader is referred to the report embodied
in the Annual Report of the Prison Association for 1913.
At the time of the first inspection in 1914 not all of the cottages
were visited. Some of the farm and industrial cottage groups, the
administration building, hospital cortages, creamery aid storerooms
were visited by the inspector, in company with the resident physi-
cian. In every group, or colony, work was going on and the activities
among the boys were quite commendable. Some of them were
doing chores in che cottages, others were working about the adjacent
grounds, while still others were occupied in work about the grounds
and at farm work,
On Sunday, November 15, 1914, the usual daily activities were not
going on. The regular morning services were held ae the Catholic
and Protestant churches, and the Jewish services in the administea-
tion building. ‘The boys, as usual, were brought down by the super
visors from their respective cottages and taken hack again, Com
sistent with the principles upon which the school is conducted, no
communication was allowed between the groups from the different
cortages, either before or after the services,
In Tonawanda Cottage some kindergarten desks have been in-
stalled so that the little fellows of that cottage will not have to sit
at tables too high for them. Oarka Cottage was being used for
the feeble-minded group of a more pronounced type. In Teugega
Cottage, which is the disciplinary group of che insticution, all the
boys were spending the afternoon in the large dormitory which is
situated in the induscriat building. ‘The day was stormy and cold,
so that all the children remained indoors. There were Forty-eight
inmates of the last named cottage. All of these were huddled to-
gether in the same dormitory, some of them lying on beds, others
idling about in the narrow spaces between the beds
‘The neatness and general condition of the boys’ clothes was found
to be considerably beteer than it was a year ago. ‘The shoes were
found to be badly worn, however, and in need of repair, especially
those worn by the boys in the disciplinary coceage.
‘The health of the instieution, according to the physician's record,
is particularly good, buc the hospital conditions are inadequate.
‘This fact was established long ago, and, in 1912 che Legislature,
554 Tue Paisox Association or New York
recognizing the immediate necessity for enlarging hospital facilities,
both for the general and contagious cases, appropriated $10,000
for the construction of an annex to the general hospital, and $3,000
to remodel and enlarge the contagious hospital. The contagious
hospital is usually overcrowded, and in the winter pacients ase obliged
to sleep on the front veranda, on mattresses in the halls, and in tents.
The inadequate facilities in the general hospital prevent the phy-
sician from keeping the boys there in order to carry on surgical and
torrcive works, wach as the temoal of adenois elarged tents
nd performing circumeisions. At the time of this inspection (July
iiehy the physician's veconds show the following cases in ced of
attention and awaiting a chance for treatment.
ferret sed dics onus Sd aden
plarged and diated ons
Entre eh coal
Ra novia eran,
Bessa relia cgiring dreamin
Primos equing Stewmasion
Varicocde
Inspections sss
vision. We do not think that division along these lines is proper.
‘There ought to be honor groups among the industrial coxcages as
‘well as among the farm cottages, and there ought to be night guards,
in some of the farm cottages at least, ae well as in the industrial
colonies.
The composition of the disciplinary cottage is the most serious
drawback of the institution. ‘The census shows that it houses twice
the number that the cottage was originally intended for. For
sleeping purposes, one-half of the boys occupy the dormitory referred
to. In this cortage all of the boys found guiley of serious infractions
of discipline are received, so that the so-called “worst boys” from all
the cottages are here congregated. Assuming that all of the “worst
boys” from the different cortages are equally bad, their assembling
together in the same disciplinary cortage, from which they are then
sent back to the various cottages, might not be considered as a very
serious evil. But a large number of the infractions for which they
are sent to the Teugega Cottage are escapes, and escapes occur for
the most pare within the first period of their detention in the school,
and they occur pretty generally from most of the cottages. Escape,
therefore, in a large number of cases is not a sign of turpitude, but
2 natural reaction against confinement. The commingling of these
offenders with the real “bad” boys is the thing that works the greatest
injustice in the matter of discipline by assignment to Teugega Cot-
age,
We have previously recommended that there be an additional
disciplinary cortage for the betver classification of these boys. Ie
has been found impossible to obcain the appropriation for an addi-
tional cottage. There is, however, no reason why one of the com
tages now used as an industrial cottage should not be turned into
a disciplinary cottage and the inmates of such cottage distribueed
among the other cottages.
We consider the opposition to this plan not to be sufficiently well
founded. [cis to be expected that any change will be found difficule,
but that is no reason for not making the attempt.
‘The superineendene is planning to ask for an appropriation for
an additional disciplinary cottage. Also he has planned to transform
Seneca Cottage, which is now one of the farm colonies, into a semi-
farm, semicindustrial colony, and to ask for an instructor in manual
training for that cottage. Ic would probably be necessary to go
over carefully the school curriculum and the industrial curriculum
of the cottages before deciding whecher this would be a desirable
change, and whether it would make for the better inter-relation
between farm and industrial colonies.
556 Tus Prison Assoctatton or New York
‘The fundamental principles upon which the school has. been
planned are, we think, not excelled anywhere in this Stare, and
probably not inthe United States. Ie is for that reason that the
above criticisms are especially important.
HOUSE OF REFUGE, RANDALLS ISLAND, N. Y.
Iysrzcrap av E.R. Cass, JUNE 3, 1914, 2:45 70 § FM
Capacity between 800 and 1,000.
Superineendent, Edward C. Barber
‘The House of Refuge is conducted by the Board of Managers of
the Society for the Reformation of Juvenile Delinquents in the City
cf New York, an organization incorporated in 1824 for the purpose
of conducting this school, Iv is the earliest reform school for children
in the United States. It has occupied its present site on Randalls
Island since 1854.
‘The Board of Managers is a self-perpetuating body, the members
fof which serve without compensation. Although the form of che
institution is private, the institution is practically financed by State
funds.
Boys under the age of sixteen
children’s courts or other courts having jurisdiction, in the First,
Second, Third and Ninth Judicial Districts of the State of New York.
By amendment to the law in the year 1913 there may now beadmireed
also boys between sixteen and eighteen, if found guilty of a misde
meanor constituting a frst offence anywhere in che Scare.
The House of Refuge is organized on the congregate plan, and the
system in vogue is an inheritance of several scores of years. | Present
methods of educating the delinquent young unconditionally con:
demn this system. Nevertheless the institution will have to be
used until the Srate Legislature grants sufficient moneys to build
and organize the New York Training School for Boys, for which 2
site has already been procured ac Yorktown Heights, but on which
listle work has so far been done.
The House of Refuge at present consists of two main buildings
a larger and a smaller one, and a number of other buildings used for
industrial and scholastic purposes. The ewo main buildings were
originally for the Boys’ Department and the Girls’ I
spectively. Since the discontinuance of che Gitls’ Department
oth buildings are in use for boys only.
received on commitment from
Inspections
nmates te cused co he extent of thee. divin The
eldest occupies one ving ofthe Inger main building for lpi
auares. ‘This consne of roms o cells with the ron wallemepele
pen, protected by Hight Barring, and. facing the ouvede wall ef
the building, Boye of the intermediate and of the jovngect group
Alexp in dormitories fn various parca of the two main bulkings,
This elassifcaton into three divisions is erred out not oni a tee
spect sleeping quarters, but throughout sll seivite of the seo
‘There are thre distinc playgrounds for the thacedivaions and, when
the census justfen it, three eeparate-dining-roome (with anal
census only evo dning-toome). The division somewhat breaks down
in school and the military dill but the extent of communication
possible on both of there occasions is comparaivly mall "The
Youngest, or primary division, is entirely separace from the other
two divisions, so thet to all intents and purposes they constivete
2 separate instcution. “Thi separation it posible by the ate of
the smaller “onain building”, criginallywstd by gil, and therefore
ait aur off from the ret of the grounds,
“Two other divisions exis in the school but chese ace not etene
vlly'a part of the clascation, One group consits of quran
tinal boys that i, boys who are held for two weeks ater thar ade
Ison under practically complete-quarantne
Wichin quarantine proper the thie divisions tha obtain throughout
the insittion ate alo maintained so that boys who eventualy ot
the oldese division inthe inettation do mot mangle with any bee she
Because of the probation syetem and the additional facilities pro
vided by the Jewhh Protectory, the Juvenile Asylum and Lincola
Arricultral Farm, the census of this inoctotion dutog 1915 had
fallen to abou halts sual number, Te wa less than fou handed,
2s cuntrasted with veven or eight hundred in previous year,
Daring the year 19ty because of the new law admieig certain
boys between ax and eighteen the census has agein een to cha
is kely again to reach its former sie
For details as tothe physical plan and the general system in the
institution, we refer co out Annual Report for ipig. There has bees
lle oF no change from the sytem sine,
Boys are given both scholac and trade instruction, the one in
the morning and eke other in the afternoon, Trade cases a come
ducted, and the boys in the various ade are required todo the prac:
tical work of the same nature throughoue the istewion,“Seholsee
tducation is given in cooperation with the Department of Edston
OF the City of New Work
558 Tue Prison Associarion or New York.
‘The inducements for teachers are not high, so that extraordinary
results cannot be expected. An examination of the curriculum and
fof the methods of instruction leaves che impression that there is
room for much improvement.
The conditions of cleanliness are generally satisfactory but at times
have been found co he poor. On the date of this inspection it was
found that the fire hose had been in the racks for a considerable
period of time so that it was a question whether the hose could with-
stand anything beyond a minimum of pressure. ‘The general ap-
pearance of the fire engine did not indicate that it could be put into
immediate service. ‘The steam gauge showed no pressure on the
boiler and the fly-wheel and pumping apparatus were covered with
dust and dire. It is said that a great deal of reliance is placed on the
service of the ewo fire hoats which are stationed in close proximity
tothe Island. ‘That, however, is insufficient protection against fire
In the washroom for the boys, a good many of the combs were
found broken. In the dining-halls the tablecloths were not clean
nor were the legs of the tables or chaits; and many tables sere still
covered with crumbs and apparently in need of scrubbing. The
water pitchers and soup dishes on the table were not satisfactorily
clean. ‘The clothing of the boys, when assembled on the parade
ground for setting ives, seemed untidy; their shoes unblack
ened, their hair too long and uncared for.
‘The institution is in the illogical position of being required to do
‘good work on funds that are reduced because ie is expected that the
whole institution will soon be replaced by a modern one, Many of
the unsatisfactory conditions found may be attributed to a lack of
funds and to the lack of interest that necessarily follows when an
institution is eveated by the official authorities in a “step-motherly’
fashion, and che impression is emphasized that its maintenance is
only a vemporary makeshife
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. There should be a distinct understanding as to whether
the institution is to remain or to go out of existence. The
present indifference has im every way an injurious effect
both on the physical condition and on the general runt
of the institution.
2. A better condition of cleaniiness should prevail in the
dining-room. The tablecloths should be kept free from
dirt; the dishes and other eating utensiis should be washed
clean; tables and chairs should be scrubbed thoroughly.
Inspections 559
3. Each inmate should be supplied with an individual
outfit, consisting of a toothbrush, hairbrush, and comb.
These can be kept in small bags hung on the side walls in
the washroom, or kept in the cells, or on che dormitory
beds.
4. The boys should have it impressed upon them that
personal tidiness and cleanliness are highly important.
‘They should be taught to keep their hair combed and their
clothes and shoes clean.
360 Tux Patson Association or New York
LocKuPS
FIRST PRECINCT POLICE STATION, OLD SLIP,
NEW YORK CITY.
Maren 4, 1914, Insrecren ey Pra Kiem.
Captain in charge, C. J. Fahey.
The First Precinet Police Station is situated so advantageously
chat it offers the best possibilities for good construction. It is
placed practically in the middle of che street, constituting a miniature
Block, surrounded by four streets. The station was built in 1910,
‘The prison constmetion is excellent. The main prison consists of
three tiers, eight cells per tier. There are four cells in the row facing
the corridor, and back to back with four other cells facing the cor-
ridor on the opposite side, Each of these corridors is divided into
two parts, an interior and exterior. The outside wall consists of
enameled brick with rounded comers and edges, and offers very
pleasing and sanitary possibilities.
The windows for cach corridor are two in number and are large,
arranged in sections, and open obliquely, so as to supply ideal
light and ventilation,
‘The outside corridor is continuous around the whole cellblock.
‘The entire construction is of steel. The stairway connecting the
tiers is within one of the corridors.
Each cell contains water-closet and sleeping board, but no wash-
stand. ‘The washstands are situated in one of the corridors. The
floor is concrete.
‘There is a space of about two and one-half fect between the upper
most tier and the ceiling of the enclosing room which contains the
fushing tanks for the toilets. There is no bath.
Artificial light is supplied for the cells by an electric bulb in front
‘of each cell, attached to the outside wall,
‘The lowest tier is used almost solely
While the male prison is reached through a corridor leading from
the entrance hall, where the lieutenane’s desk is situated, the female
part is reached directly through this hall, Ie is in plan much
inferior to the male prison. Iv contains five cells arranged end to
end, instead of side to side, and faces a corridor lighted by one window
Tout 96 patice stations in New York City were inapected by the Prison Asso:
siagon dufing 984. Lack of apace prevents the printing of these inapectons, Of
‘which che above Mf cpa
Iysrecrions s6r
at each end. The central corridor has an opening above, protected
by a steel grating through which ie receives part of its ventilation,
The room above, into which this opens, is the matron’s room, and
contains also 2 lushing arrangemene similar to that in the male
department.
There is a very clever plan by which the garage for the automobile
patrol is connected with the corridor leading to the male prison
by a door, allowing the passage of prisoners directly from the inside
‘of the station house into a patrol wagon wichout the possibility of
public exposure. Both male and female prisoners can thus be
teansferred. However, it seems that this clever scheme is made
litle use of,
The number of detentions in the prison is comparatively small
‘There were two men and no women on the night before the inspection.
“There are two attendants and two matrons assigned to this station.
The uniformed force consists of 98 men, and the detective bureau
averages 6 oF 7. The number of arrests for 1913 was comparatively
small; there were:
Mindemeanors . oy
i
d
5
GLENS FALLS POLICE LOCKUP, GLENS FALLS.
Novemper 8, 1914, Insrecrep ny E. R. Cass, Time, 3:55 0 5:30.
‘The officials of the police department are responsible to the be
of public safety, of which the mayor of the city is chairman, The
chief of police is Fred D. Jenkins who is assisted by a staff of eleven
patrolmen. ‘There are also two male janitors, both of whom are
on duty during the day and are responsible for the cleaning of the
city hall buildings and the lockup.
There are about 300 arrests a year.
There ig no matron; it was said that about chree women are
arrested during the year.
‘The lockup is situated in the basement of the city hall building.
Te consists of three rooms in a series, numbered 1, 2 and 3. All
three rooms are of about the same size, 18 feet by 21 feet; the Aloo
are four feet below che street level. ‘The rooms are heated by steam,
lighted by electricity, have brick side walls, painted grey, and cement
562 Tar Prison Association or New York
foors. Room No, 3 contains a steel cage, 9 feet 8 inches by 14 feet,
and 7 feet high. The floors of the cage are of steel, the sides are bars.
‘The cage in this room contains three eells, 4 feet 10 inches by 7 feet
by 7 feet. Each cell is equipped with one iron hinged bed. ‘The
bedding consists of cotton mattress and blankets. There is also
an old style iron toilet with a flush in each cell, ‘The room has two
windows on the west side, 4 fect by 3 feet, and owo windows on the
south side, It is the best lighted and ventilated of the three rooms,
and it was said that for this reason it is mostly used, except in
instances where there are females and juveniles in addition to adule
male prisoners. There is also 2 wash sink and a hinged table on
the north side of the room,
Entrance to all theee rooms is from a central hallway
Room No. 2 contains a cage which has three cells. ‘These three
cells ate smaller in size than those in Room No. 3. The bad features
are that there is only one window, which is on che west side wall,
and that the cage is located close to the south side wall. Arcifieial
light is practically always necessary.
Room No. 1 has the same undesirable features. ‘The condition of
poor ventilation and inadequate light is somewhat relieved because
this room has an additional window. The cells are similar in size
to those in Room No. 2. There is a sliding iron door for each room.
‘A section of the plaster on the ceilings in Rooms 2 and 3 has
fallen to the floor.
The lockup was clean and well heated. There was no evidence
of dampness, although it was said that when the heat is not on there
is much dampness
RECOMMENDATIONS MADR.
1. Because of the lack of sufficient light and ventilation,
Rooms 1 and 2 should be used as little as possible.
2. A padded cell is a nécessity for police lockups. A
cell of this kind protects an inmate from his own violence,
also protects the management from unwarranted sus:
picions of rough treatment.
3. New blankets and mattresses should be provided.
4. The celling in Rooms 2 and 3 should be repaired.
5. A better circulation of fresh air could be had in each
of the three rooms if perforations were made at the top of
the iron door at each entrance.
Inspections 563
LOCKUP, TARRYTOWN.
Decemser 3, 1914, Inseecrep ny Panir Kuz, Tote 9:40
William B. Bowles is the chief of police. A. Humphrey was in.
charge.
‘The lockup consists of a small one-story brick seructure in the yard
behind the building containing police headquarters. ‘The brick
structure contains the male lockup, and a small, frame extension
provides quarters for the women. ‘The male department consists
of three cells, surrounded by corridors on four sides. A number of
small windows near the ceiling give light and ventilation. The
widest of the corridors contains a stove, coal bunk, sink and water
closet. One of the narrower corridors contains a toilet. Two electric
lights hang in the wide corridor referred to.
The cells are divided by solid partitions from each other, but
their outer walls consist of bars only. They have steel floors. The
rest of the room is brick and has a brick floor and flat, wooden roof.
‘On the wall a number of tin cups hang from pegs. ‘The cells have
two bunks each.
‘The female department joins this toom on the east. Te consists
of one cell with wooden bars, built against one side of the wall and
separated by a space of three to four feet from the walls on the other
three sides. In this space or cocridor there are 2 hydrant, a sink,
toilet, stove, and electric lights. In the cell there is a canvas bed.
Everything except the canvas bed is of wood. ‘The floor is concrete.
The lockup is cleaned by occasional lodgers and was found on
the day of the inspection to be satisfactorily clean. There had been
‘wo male lodgers on the previous night and four on the night before
that.
Two classes of inmates are confined in this lockup, prisoners
arrested for various offenses and lodgers or tramps. The latter are
by far the more numerous. The record for the last fiscal year is
as follows:
193s.
spe
e
564 Tue Prison Association or New Yori.
Enders, Prisoners,
et. 2914,
i
otal
Avertaes
‘The large number of prisoners in the month of May is accounted
for by the anarchistic invasion of Tarrytown in that month,
Prisoners are fed by the town. Lodgers are nat fed. No bedding
is supplied for any of the prisoners, whether male or female.
Tarrytown has a police force consisting of twelve men. Some of
these occasionally transfer men from the lackup to the New York
County Penitentiary. Such transfer, while apparently against the
law, is accompanied by 2 fee of $3.50, paid to the officer by the
village. No such fee is paid for the cransfer of prisoners from the
Tockup to the county jail at White Plains
If the lockup is not called upon to care for any more prisoners
than the figures here indicate, the present quarters may perhaps be
considered adequate, though certainly they are not modern, But
there is no provision for the confinement of minors.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, There should be at least three departments in the
lockup: For men, for women and for minors. Moreover,
the accommodations should be so calculated as to provide,
not for the average, but for the maximum. While there is
no pressing necessity for increasing the lockup, the village
should, as soon as possible, provide a modern’ and ample
place of confinement.
CENTRAL POLICE STATION, NEW ROCHELLE.
Jone 11, 1914 Insrectep ay O. F. Lewss.
‘The central police station is on Division Street, New Rochelle,
and is a three-story building, ficed with yellow brick, modernly
equipped and of excellent appearance.
The chief of police is Mr. Timmins. The number of policemen
and officers are as follows:
2 Hettenants, 38 policemen
In the rear of the station house there are 20 cells for males, and in
a separate room two cells for females,
Inspections
‘The male prison is two tiers im height, containing on each tier
five cells, back to back with five other cells. The construction is the
usual modern steel construction of the Pauley Iron Co.
‘On the night of the inspection there was one man in the male
section, charged with intoxication, ‘There were no women prisoners
in the women’s section, which contains two cells in a separate room,
the cell construction being similar co that of the male portion. Each
cell was equipped with icon hinged bed, toilet, and set washbasi
The jail was uniformly clean throughout. There were several
vacant rooms which could be used for additional cells if necessary
The population rarely runs over five or six per evening.
In the basement is 2 tramp room, approximately 2 feet by 20
feet. ‘There were two tramps sleeping on small, portable platforms,
approximately 7 feet long by 3 feet wide, which stand against the
wall when not in use and are laid upon the floor for use. The
station receives tramps over night and lets chem go in the morning
without breakfast. Chief Timmins stated that prisoners held beyond
court time in the morning (8:30) are given meals, which are brought
from a neighboring restaurant and for which the city pays 25 cents
per meal
Chief Timmins is an able and benevolent man, with real interest
in che welfare of his prisoners.
The station itself is one of the best of ies kind the inspector has seen.
KINGSTON LOCKUP, KINGSTON, N. Y.
Jury 22, 1914, Inspects py Pauuir Kein, Time 4:00 70 5:00 P. a
The cown lockup at Kingston, located ac police headquarters in
the city hall, is used especially for arrests in the eection of the
cowa in which ic is situated and is in charge of the police depart-
ment. James Allen Wood is chief of police. The lockup has been
recently painted a bright color of oil paint. It consisted originally
of four cells on one side and three cells on the other side, separated
by a corridor, Entrance is gained through a door opening from the
police office to this corridor. The corridor is lighted by a window
fat one end; each of the cells on one side has an outside window, and
tone of the cells.on the other side is similarly lighted hy an outside
window, while the two others on the same side are lighted only
indirectly from the corridor. The Prison Commission has caused
the partitions between the one lighted cell and the rwo dark cells
fn this side to be removed, so that now all three cells on this side
Tur Prison Assoctarion or New York
566
receive their light directly through one outside window. One of the
cells has a toilet, and running water, with basin. Each ell is fur-
nished with two wooden bunks, suspended from the wall.
The county jail, situated in another part of the city, is used as a
lockup for all cases in its vicinity. ‘This town lockup is used for the
other section of the town, except in serious cases, when prisoners
are immediately removed to the county jail. ‘The lockup was found
in excellent condition as to light, air and cleanliness.
‘There are between four and five hundred arrests by the police
force of Kingston each year, about twenty to thirty of which are
women. There are no facilities at present for confining women
under arrest in this lockup separately from the men. Chief Wood
says that he causes women arrested to be kept in the police office,
instead of confining them in the lockup used for men, and children
are generally paroled in care of their parents, or otherwise cared for.
Te is advisable to have facilities for keeping women prisoners. It
is, therefore,
RECOMMENDED.
1, That such additions or changes in the construction
should be made as will provide facilities for holding women
prisoners. Such changes in construction can easily be
made,
2. It is recommended that screens be attached to the
outside windows of the cells to make it impossible to pass
anything in or out of the windows.
CITY LOCKUP, ITHACA.
Tnapested— By— Population,
4 ER. Cass. aadule males.
EL Ca No prsaners
The commissioner of police is A. J. Holland. The police force
consists of a chief of police, E. H. Buck, and eight officers. The
matron of the county jail also looks after female prisoners here.
The lockup consists of zwo rooms located on the ground floor
of the municipal building. In the first room, which is 10 feet by
430 feet, there is a cage 13 fect by 7 feet by 6 feet high, in wh
there are two cells. These cells are equipped with iron hinged beds
which have tin bottoms. ‘The bedding consists of blankets. The
room is dark, but a fair circulation of air comes in from the windows
Insrections 567
in the other room and through the doorway which leads into the
front rooms of the police station. ‘The rear room is accessible by
means of a large-sized opening through the wall. The room is
18 fect by 9 feer by 12 fect. Near the opening in the wall is a set
washbasin and a watercloset. In the rear room there are four
windows. The room is very light and well ventilated, and it is
far more suitable for che detention of prisoners than the room in
which the eage is now located, Te was said that the authorities intend
to install ewo small cages in this room and probably two small
cells in each cage.
‘The interiors of both rooms are badly in need of paint and the
vermin should be exterminated. The chief of police does not seem
to realize this need and is not in favor of purchasing disinfectants.
Mechanics were at work in the other parts of the police station,
and it was said that very shortly the interior of both rooms above
mentioned will be repainted and a new toilet will be installed.
‘When prisoners are detained in the jail they receive three meals
a day when they are in fit condition to eat. ‘These meals are pur-
chased from a lunch room across the street and vary in price from
fiveen cents to ewenty cents, The matron visits the lockup every
morning at 9 o'clock.
Female prisoners are usually sent directly to the jail, and juvenile
cases are disposed of as quickly as possible, and, if detained, are sent
to the jail
Ar the time of the inspection of May 14, 1914, a generally unsatis-
factory condition of cleanliness prevailed. It was quite evident
that the janitor service was not satisfactory.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE YEAR.
1, The interior of the lockup, including cells, cage, and
side walls, has been repainted.
2. New washbasins have been installed.
3. A bug exterminator has been purchased. The need for
this was recommended in the first report of this year.
CITY LOCKUP, SCHENECTADY.
Novener 22, 1914, Insrscrep ay Puttar KiE1%, 5:00 70 6:00 F. Me
‘The Schenectady lockup is situated in the basement of the city hall
where police headquarters are also located. While itis situated in
the basement, the windows are of regular size and open into @ yard
from which they gain plenty of lighe.
568 Tue Prison Association or New York
‘There are three departments in the lockup: One for men, one
for women and one for boys.
‘The department for men consists of two blocks of four cells each,
separated from each other by the entrance corridor, and by corridors
is on three sides, so chat all corridors together
constitute an “E"-shaped structure. The cells open on the long
side of this which is lighted by two double windows and one
single window, "In addition, here is a seindow to the corridors on
each side. Entrance is gained through the central corridor dividing
the cellblocks. The inspection rook place in the evening, so that
the amount of light in the daytime could only be surmised. It
seemed, however, that it would be satisfaccory
‘The cells are supplied with wooden bunks hung from hinges on
the walls, No bed clothing is given.
“There is a sink in the long end of the corridor and a toilet occupying
part of one of the short corridors.
‘The construction and arrangement of this department is entirely
out of date and unsatisfactory. No classification of any kind is
possible. As a rule, tramps for whom there is no place Jeft in the
lodging house situated next door are kept over night in the cot
ridors, while the regular lockup cases are kept in the cels.
We are pleased to report that the cleanliness of the cells vas
entirely satisfactory,
‘The women's department consists of ewo cells, separated from the
outside wall by a corridor on two sides.
“There are a bed, a sink and a toilet in the corridor. The cells
contain wooden benches. One side of the “L "shaped corridor
gives access to the cells in the women’s department, and the
only window is on the other corridor, so that none of the cells
receive any direct daylight. This construction and the use of chit
department are to be condemned. No person ought ever to be
confined in these cells, although here, as well as in the men's depart
ment,.the cleanliness was above criticism. At the time of the
inspection there were no women inmates, so that the de}
was used for the one minor prisoner. Ordinarily, that
women prisoners are confined in this department, boys are kept it
the cage outside the women's department. ‘That cage should not
he used for the purpose of confinement,
Asa rule, prisoners are held in the lockup over night only, on, if
arrested Saturday afternoon, they are held over Saturday and
Sunday until the opening of court Monday morning. Food i
supplied to them twice a day by the police if they stay over Saturday
Inspections 569
and Sunday. There is an appropriation of some #600 by the city
for this purpose
The cleaning is the duty of the city marshal, who is responsible
to the chief of police. There is a matron who comes to the lockup
whenever she is called. Children under sixteen are generally sent
to the Humane Society’s headquarters in Albany. Tt is'said that
the Schenectady Humane Society is now erecting building of its
‘own in Schenectady.
‘The sergeant in charge at the time of the inspection was William
Paislee.
Transient lodgers, or tramps, who apply at the Schenectady lockup
for lodging are given a ticket which admits them to the city lodging
house. This is situated in the basement of the adjoining building
and has a capacity of twenty-three beds. The man in charge
exercises careful supervision over the cleanliness of the applicants
and makes them wash their underclothing if he has any suspicion
of the presence of vermin. It is said that a new lodging house is
being buile
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. This lockup should be discontinued or entirely re-
modeled so as to accord with modern principles of housing
prisoners. Plenty of air and direct sunlight should be
available, and classification of prisoners should be possible
beyond the mere segregation by sex. In an ideal police
lockup every individual cell would be separate and in-
accessible to inmates of other cells.
2, Prisoners held over Sunday should be supplied daily
with three meals instead of two.
3. That the lockup was found clean and well kept is
a credit to the management, but this fact should not be
taken as endorsment of the sanitary conditions in general.
VILLAGE LOCKUP, CANTON, ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY.
Novenmen 12, 1914, Insencrep ay E, R. Cass, Tate 2:00
0 3:00 PW
“The commissioner of police isthe village president, Fred Hammond.
The police force consists of a chief and one assistant.
‘The lockup has been in use since March of this year. It is located
in the basement of the town hall and consists of ewo rooms. One
‘oom is for male prisoners and the other for females.
‘There is no matron.
‘Tux Prison Association or New York.
370
‘The room for men is shout 20 feet by 13 feet, has a conerete loot
with a drain at one end, a sink, four windows on one side and
two windows on he other, These windows are 18 inches by 3
feet 6 inches and have transom fixtures with clear glass. In this
room there is an iron cage containing three cells, Each cell has
an iron hinged bed and a warer-closet. The bedding consists of
Blankets, pillows and a cotton mattress, The room can be well
ventilated and is heated by
‘The room for women is approximately 15 feer by 9 feet, and has
two windows and a wooden floor. It is not equipped with a water
closet, but has a sink in one comer. It has one iron cot bed. The
bedding was carelessly thrown in a pile on the bed. Ik consists of
Jlanket and pillows, Tx was said that only one woman
has been held in the lockup since ie has been in-use. The ewo rooms
im the women’s room opens
are separated by a wall. A doorway
into a corridor which leads into the male department. At the
entrance to the male department there is a wooden door and also
a steel door. Communication hetween the male and female depart
ments is not possible if the doors are properly closed. This lockup
is much superior to the one which was formerly used in the county
ail,
RECOMMEND.
1, The bedding should not
day. When a prisoner is taken from the lockup In the
morning, the bedding should be brushed and cleaned and
hung on a line in the corridor until a new prisoner fs brought
in.
2. The cage in the male department should be gaintod.
A cream color would be highly desirable,
3. Arrangements should be made to secure the services
of a matron when female prisoners are detained.
JONS MADE.
on ehe beds day after
POLICE LOCKUP, ROME, N. Y.
“ass, Tie 2:35 70 3140.
May 5, 1914, Inspreren ay E.R.
The chief of police is W. J. Kching who receives $100 a month.
‘The assistant chief is 8. H. Beckwith, salary $85 a month. There
are nine patrolmen and ewo station-house men (corresponding «0
desk lieutenants). ‘There is no permanent janitor and no regular
detailed matron. The matron’s duties are usually performed by
a city nurse or a woman connected with the Rome Board of Chatity.
Inspections sm
‘There were no prisoners in the lockup at the time of the inspec-
tion. ‘The population usually totals about 160 a month and the
average stay is twelve hours
‘The lockup is sieuated in the rear pact of the ground Roor of the
city hall building. The main section is a large room, 36 fee 9 inch
28 feet 6 inches. ‘This room is on the south side. ‘The room is
lighted by five small windows on the east end and four on the south
side. ‘These windows are about 18 inches by 12 inches and are
located ae the top of the wall. In this room, about 4 inches above
the floor, is a steel cage, 24 fect 7 inches by 16 feet 4 inches, with
four cells on each side. ‘The cells are back to backs there is no
utility corridor between them. Each cell is & fect by 6 feet by 7
feet 2 inches and is equipped with an iron hinged bed and a water.
closet. ‘The water-closets are of a crude design and are flushed
from the outside on the west end of the corridor. There is also a
sink. in the wese end corridor. This section is also lighted by a
skylighe arrangement in the roof ee
The female section isin a separate room, 20 feet s inches by 2 feet
1 inches, on the north side of the building, and coneains a. stech
cage, 12 feet 4 inches by 8 feet 2 inches, with two cells on each side
The cages set four inches above the or and the cela are the ame
in dimensions as those in the male department and are equipped
with water-loaet, and washbasin with running water connections,
This room is ighted by seven small windows and also by a skylight
inthe roof.
A large central corridor, lighted by means of a skylight arrange-
tment, runs beeween the male and female sections, and opens inte a
laage tramp room, 13 feet 3 inches by 30 feet r inch, and located in the
southwest corer of che building. This toom is lighted by eight
small windows and is equipped with long, wooden benches, which
ate evidently placed together at night in onder to make a bed. No
bedding of any kind is furnished, On the south side of this room
there is a water-closee and set washbasin with running waeer con
nections. A large stove is situated in the center of the toom, There
in an exit to the street on the south side.
The lockup ae this station house provides fairly wel for the separa-
tion of male and female prisoners and tramps, and, under some
sireumstances, for juvenile prisoners. Te was said that when cee
cumstances merit, the county jail which is nearby is used for female
Prisoners.
‘The male department, the female department and the tramp
‘oom are badly in need of paint and were found to be sadly neglected
572 Ta Prisow Association or New York
from the standpoint of cleanliness. In the male department the
toilets gave forth a foul stench and the beds and bedding were full
of dirt, sand and vermin, It was said that the blankets are washed
three or four times a year
‘The same condition was found in the female department. It is
also used as a storage place for bieycles, carpets, ete.
‘The tramp room, with the exception of the toilet compartment
therein, was found’ to be the cleanest section, but by no means
satisfactory
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. It is urged that the authorities employ a janitor and
pay him a reasonable salary, so that he will be induced
to spend most of his zime during the day cleaning the jail.
2. It is also urged that the authorities realize the neces-
sity of cleanliness in any public institution and insist pon
the same.
3. The side walls, the cages, the cells, and mate and
female departments should be painted a bright and ser-
viceable color. The tramp room should also be repainted
‘a bright and serviceable cotor.
4. The blankets should be washed more frequently.
5. The toilets throughout the lockup should be
kept free from foul odor and thoroughly cleaned.
NEWBURGH LOCKUP, NEWBURGH, N. Y.
Jour 26, 1914, Insrecrep By Priuir Kirin, 3:00 70 3:50 P.M.
‘The lockup is situaved in the police headquarters on Broadway
and Grand Street. Admission is gained from the desk sergeant’s
office. The lockup consists of two floors, che lower floor intended
primarily for men and the upper for women.
‘On the lower floor there axe three ordinary-sized cells, and one
large ceil opening upon the corridor sehich is lighted by one door
and one window. Ventilation is obrained by che same means.
Both light and ait on this foor ave therefore insufficient. ‘The cells
are of steel with open bars toward the corridor for their full length.
‘There are concrete floors and a water-closet in each cell. A basin
with running water is found in the corridor, and there is also a sink
in the big cell, ‘The cells and the corridor were not clean,
especially behind the toilets where an accumulation of considerable
dire was found.
Inspecrions 573
The floor of the corridor consists of stone flags with rough surface,
making it hard even under better circumstances to keep it clean,
Each cell has ewo bunks suspended from the wall, and the large
cell has benches around its walls.
‘The second floor is reached by a wooden stairway from the cor-
Fidor of the lower floor. It contains one large room, with ewo
windows, and two small rooms. The large room contains a water~
dlosee, basin wich running water, and benches along the wall
that are wide enough to sleep on. The floor is of wood. There is
a steam radiator in the center of the room. The windows ate secured
by iron bars and open onto a low roof, and they are unprotected by
sereens. ‘There is one electric lighe in the room and the plaster is
in bad condition in several places. The flushes did not work quite
satisfactorily a coat of paint is badly needed. The two small
rooms contained water-closet, basin with running water, and no
clectric light. ‘The floors are of wood. One has a window con-
structed similarly to that of the big room, also opening onto a low
roof, and the other is lighted by part of a skylight secured by bars.
The doors to all chree rooms aze of solid wood with a small barred
opening some nine inches square. This floor was cleaner than the
floor below, bue not satisfactory, and the security from communi-
cation with the outside is insufficient
The number of arrests by the police department in 1913 was 5535,
or an average of 46 per month, making one and one-half per day.
Only about half of these are confined in the lockup, according to che
sergeant in charge, and only ten of these approximately were women.
The police department supplies its prisoners with food in case of
needs it does not keep them over Sunday, for lick of proper facilities
to feed them decently, but sends them to the couney jail instead,
where they are kept until opening of court on Monday.
‘The sergeant in charge stated that the unclean condition of the
lockup was due to the fact that the jailer was on his vacation and
so the cells were neglected, but that when the jailer, who ie also door-
man and member of the police force, was on duty, the lockup was
always clean.
‘Ac the time of inspection there was one man in one of the cells
charged with intoxication and disorderly conduct.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. The city of Newburgh should build a new police lock-
up in accordance with modern standards.
2. A higher standard of cleanliness must be introduced
and maintained.
374 Tur Prison Assoctarton or New York
3. The whole lockup should receive a new coat of white
paint.
4. The windows on the second floor should be screened
to prevent communication or the introduction of con-
traband goods. Access to the second floor and the second
floor itself should be rendered fireproof, Additional win
dows should be made to secure more light and ven:
for the lower floor, even at the expense of redui
number of cells by one.
5. The stone flags constituting the first floor should be
substituted by concrete flooring,
6. The flushes should be repaired and toilet bowls re-
placed by new ones.
7. A separate record should be kept of all prisoners con-
fined in the lockup for any period of time, just as such
records would be kept in aay city prison or county jail.
VILLAGE LOCKUP, CARTHAGE, JEFFERSON COUNTY.
Novewmer 11, 1914, Inspecte ny E. R. Cass, 11:30 10 12:00,
The president of the village, Charles Schaefer, is, by vireue of
his office, the commissioner of police. The chief of police is George F
Ullman who has one assistant and three specials. ‘There is no
matron. Ir was said that women prisoners are sent to one of the
hotels in town. ‘The arrest of females is at the rate of about two a
year.
The lockup consists of one room on the ground floor, southwest
comer of the town hall. The room is approximately 16 feet by
14 feet, has ewo windows, 4 feet by 6 feet each, and contains a steel
cage, painted black, in which chere are two cells, Each cell has two
iron hinged beds. ‘The floors of the cells are of irons the floor of the
room is wood. The walls are plastered and the cciling has a metallic
covering. ‘The mattresses in the cells are covered with a leather
case and the blankets are of wool. The beds were not satisfactorily
arranged and there was evidence of sand and dirt on the coverings
of the mattresses. There is a water-closer and sink in one corner
of the room.
Te was said that the number of inmates varies from one to six
each night. From January, 1914, to October 26, 1914, there were
The sum of fifty cents per tramp is received if he is
100 tramps.
It was said that about Go out of 100 receive meals.
1.
given a mea
Insrecrions 578
The village should have proper accommodations for females and
juveniles.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE,
1. The steel cage should be painted a light color, also the
side walls of the room and the ceiling,
2. The cells should be cleaned every morning and the
bedding cleaned and aired.
3. A fresh towel should be put into the lockup daily.
POLICE LOCKUP, WATERTOWN, N. Y.
Novenmen 13, 1914, Insezcrep sy E, R, Cass, Tistt: 3:00
TO 4:30 P.M.
The chief of police is E. J. Singleton who is assisted by a staff
consisting of a detective captain, night captain and seventeen
patrolmen, ‘The chief of police is reeponsible to the board of public
safety, the president of which is L. De Camp.
The lockup is in the basement of the city hall building, Ie is
43 feet 8 inches below che ground level and consists of three rooms.
‘The room on the northeast is 25 feet 2 inches by 17 feet 2 inches,
has stone side walls and concrete floor and is heated by steam.
There are two windows, 4 feet by 4 feet 9 inches. In che room
there is a steel cage, 9 feet 8 inches by 7 feet 1 inch, containing two
cells 7 feet r inch by 4 feet 9 inches by 7 feet, respectively. ‘The
foots of the cells are of concrete, Each cell has two iron hinged
beds. One cell has a water-closer. ‘There is also a watercloset and
sink in one corner of the room.
The bedding consists of mattress; blankets and sheets. Tt was
suid that each prisoner receives fresh bedding when admitted.
« the time of the inspection the beds were in a disorderly con
divion. ‘The room was badly in need of sweeping and the extreme
heat made the atmosphere oppres
The room was occupied by a 15-year-old boy who was being held
transfer to Industry. His transfer was delayed, awaiting the
return of a throat culture from Albany. This young lad had already
svene two nights and two days in this most unbearable atmosphere,
and would very likely have co spend another night and day there.
The janitor objected very strongly to the opening of the window
inorder to admit a sufficient amount of fresh air. His grounds for
objecting were that the boy would converse with other boys in the
strect through the bars of the windows.
576 Tue Parson Assoctation or New York
‘The second room, known asthe middle room, x20 fee by 21 fet
hau Beck aide mala contzere loon, and hoo on the east side 4 std
ere as by 6 Retg inches, comainng fou cll, 6 feet 9 inches
by 4 fect 9 inches by 7 feet 1 inch, respectively. The cells are
weedy dank and sho cage badly in need of paint. Te was aid
Tee thiTsccisa pened ft drama The atmorghere ac he fine
Sf the inspection wan wile and che stench from the tole iy one
cane ec conn sete bearable, The rom yaa Badly in oeed
Sf elcaning ‘The inspector aaked that the winlow be opened so
Ghat he eld stay in the room a suficlene tine to do his work
Shor after leaving the room a man under che indcnce of liquor
see pesathe down by a police ofier and placed inthis dry neton
THe is eile somorgheres Because the ian wae in his stocking
Tee ihe oflor Tred thae he would take cold and. ordered that
window be cloned, “Thus the man was left in an atmosphere
wig bce ler ey mi ag
aan cals equipped with eo icon hinged beds. The bedding
conats of carpet, One cell contains a watercloret, The stench
ftom this wacerelovet was mort vile °
"The hind noon on the norehease corner is a5 fest 9 inches by
a5 fet g itches and has Sve windowe. Te comtaine 4 see eag6
Prec Ich'hy 6 fee 6 inches, divided into wo cells feet 6 inches
Byes oct inches by 6 fees inches, respectively. ‘The room has
Phcercktce and» sink in one commer, also benches along the
Side wll "There is also 2 padded cell in one part of tit Toom
Only the sides of the cell are padded. The floor is of concrete and
theo of inom, Whae particular use this ould be inthe ese of
ULE? prisoner whe should be guarded against bodily harm, is 4
Jualoe "Thor oom war much cleaner than the other «wo.
a the eoutheast comer thefe is eeamp room, 10 fet 7 inches
by fary ich The room is equipped with a watevloset and a
Shean har eo windows Te waned het te tom ie Bled
se iba nth trampe, "Ae the time ofthe inspection the room
See umettitsbly warm. Wooden benches and small platform
Tre used az bede. No meals are given
The roplar lockup prisoners ave fed by the janitor who receives
steos ehces meal por person, "The janitor’ wife acts ax matron
“GI che rooms above mensioned ate accessible from the fot
akeve by mean of two wooden stairways. [eit question whether
Paid not be difielc to release the prisoners nthe event of fre
iia good star in the courthouse above. The rooms are on 2
ISee withthe boiletoom and in close proximity t0 i
Inspections 37
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1. A better condition of cleanliness should exist at all
times.
2, Inmates should not be deprived of sufficient light and
air.
3, Juvenile prisoners should be dealt with kindly by
attendants. Kind words bring better results, and get more
from the boys than a gruff tone and manner.
4. Arrangements should be made at the time of a young
boy's arrest, if there is reason to believe that he will be
sent avay, to have the lockup physician take the throat
culture Immediately so that it will not be necessary to
detain a boy two or three days more in order to get the
seturn from the authorities at Albany, Two or three days
in a Tockup for a young ad can do more harm than a much
greater length of time in a suitable environment ean over-
ome.
5. If the plumbing work is responsible for the vile stench
which comes forth from the toilets, it should be remedied
without delay.
6. All three cages should be repainted, but espectally the
one in the middle room.
POLICE LOCKUP, POUGHKEEPSIE, N. ¥.
Juty 15, 191 Ixsrzerep wy E.R. Cass axp Pini Kunin
Tine 11:45 10 12:30 A. a.
‘The police lockup is situated in the cellar under the police head-
quarters’ office. Te consists of three rooms, the flooring of which is
approximately nine fect below the sidewall, ‘There is just about
room enough between the ceiling of the rooms and the sidewalk for
windows about one foot in height. The Boor is of wood and built
directly on the soil. The walls are of brick. Wooden benches are
rung along the walls in all three of the rooms. Steam pipes are
near the ceiling.
‘The sizes of the three rooms are as follows:
17 feet § incher by 13 fee 8 ince.
15 et 8 inches by ‘9 feee ose
1 fee ginchee BY 9 fet 3 inches
One of the rooms is lighted by four windows; the others by ewo
2
578 Tue Pruson Assoctation of New Yor
There is an antiquated type of iron toilet in each room and «
sink with running water in the corsdor into which the rooms open
‘The tiles are fushed from the Roor above.
"Access to the main floor is had by a fal wooden stairway from
the lockup. In ease of fee any prvners that might be detained
trould probably be caught as ina tap.
“The windows are secured by bare and ako by dilapidated acrens
chat mabe it easy to pis things in and ov, Ava matter of fact,
there were found inthe eccoses under the windows, in addition €
piles of det and fith of long accumulation, whiskey botles that
may have been thus parsed in
“Fae whole lockup looked forsaken and neglected. ‘There was any
amount of dire in every conceivable place. Vermin’ abounded
nd disinfectants were not on hand,
"The rexponsbiity fr uneleanliness reste partly with the matron,
the sme woman who is employed as matron a the county jail and
partly with the chief of police, Chas, A. McCabe, whowe duty we
Eonceive ie to be to supervise the cleanliness of the lockup.
"To sum up, the lockup is inadequate in constuction, in location,
equipment aed faites of all kinds, Te i a fetrapy i insecure,
it lows a communiation with the outside, even to the extent of
passing in liquor. "As to cleanliness ie wax Beneath al ecm
nd inexcuably neglected.
No recommendations can be made forthe improvement of this
lockup. "Nothing but the building of a new place of detention wil
savafsctory ull the requirements for ai institution of thie kind
POLICE LOCKUP, VILLAGE OF BELMONT, ALLEGANY
COUNTY.
May 38, 1914, Insrecrep sy E. R. Cass.
Mr, J. J. Elliott is known as the night policeman and has held
this position for twenty years. There is no regular police force.
Mr. Elliott receives twenty-five cents per day per tramp. No
record is kept as to the number of prisoners admitted to the lockup.
He receives no money for men who are under arrest. He is respon-
sible to the town board, of which Mr. B. B. Ackerman is chairman
"The lockup consists of one room, located in the southeast corner
of the ground floor of the firehouse. ‘The Srehouse is a frail, wooden
structure. This room is only used for male adult prisoners. The
Inerecrions 879
county jail is used for women and boys. ‘The dimensions of the room
are a1 feet 4 inches by 10 feet. It is lighted by one small window.
Ir contains a wooden cage, 7 feet 10 inches by § feet, which has a
heavy iron door. The cage is constructed of thin strips of wood
and the interior is cotally dark. ‘The entive equipment consists of
a wooden bench and a wooden floor. At the time of the inspection
ic contained large pieces of paper, thrown about promiscuously,
and a discarded overcoat.
‘The space between these wooden boards would make a splendid
breeding place for vermin.
In one comer of the room there is a toilet with running water
connections. This was found in a very unclean condition. An iron
stove also forms part of the equipment. In the event of fire, the
lives of persons detained in the room of this lockup would be in great
danger. The room is inadequately ventilated and lighted. No
doubt the only attraction to this lockup in winter, in preference to
any other place, is the small stove. This, nevertheless, creates a
the principal industries of the town were recently destroyed by
fire, and, as a result, the major part of the population has moved
to another town.
POLICE LOCKUP, SALAMANCA, CATTARAUGUS COUNTY.
May 18, 1914, Ixsrecren ny E. R. Cass.
‘The police commissioner is Thomas Wilson. The chief of police
is W. J. Fellows, salary $75 per month; five patrolmen at £70 per
month. There is no matron.
The lockup is situated in the rear of the ground floor of the city
hall, The building was formerly used only as a firehouse, Te is
an old, non-fireproof, badly worn and dilapidated seructure. ‘The
part known as the lockup consists of a small room with one window.
In the room there is a steel cage, 18 feet by 6 feet, containing three
cells, The cells are 6 feet by 5 feet by 6 fect. Each cell has in it
to iton hinged beds. The beds are furnished with mattress only.
The mattresses were dirty and filthy and reeking with vermin,
No blankets are available. There is a tin bucket in each cell. In
small compartment, off to one corner of the room, isa washbasin
with running water connections, and a toilet. Both of these were
found in a wretched condition of uncleanliness. The steel cage is
painted black, which only aggravates the condition of filth in the
room. The side walls of che room are faced with narrow strips of
wood, and in many places the bricks of the side walls are visible.
380 THE Prison Association or New Yor
‘The female department is a very small room, approximately 6 feet
by 10 feet, off to one side of the chief of police’s office. While this
room is very small, and has only one window, it is fairly decent for
the detention of prisoners. Te has one iron cot bed, furnished with
mattress, sheet and pillowcases. There is also a watercloset and a
washbasin in the room. The room is on the other side of the build-
ing and separated from the male department by a space of about
fifteen feet. Te was said that the room is seldom used for women
because they are taken to more desirable quarters in a hotel. Young
boys are usually put into the women’s room, unless it is occupied
by women.
RECOMMENDATIONS MADE.
1, The accommodations at this lockup are decidedly in-
adequate, and crude in design. It is urged that the author-
ities tose no time in constructing a iockup which will be a
credit to the city of Salamanca.
2, A much better condition of cleanfiness should prevail.
Dirt and filth are unpardonable. if the present janitor
cannot give satisfactory service, a new janitor should be
employed.
3. The practice of using mattresses and beds should be
discontinued. In a lockup where prisoners spend only a
short time, and in most cases are in an unclean condition,
it is impossible to keep the mattresses free from dirt and
vermin, Instead of using mattresses, the iron work in the
bottom of the bed should be removed, and a heavy piece
of canvas, securely laced to the bottom of the bed, shoul
be substituted, This heavy canvas is very durable and can
be frequently washed
4. The entire interiors of the female and male depart-
ments are badly in need of repainting.
POLICE HEADQUARTERS LOCKUP, CITY HALL BUILD-
ING, ELMIRA, N. Y.
May 9, 1914, Insrzctep py E. R. Cass.
Police commissioner, Frank Lowey; chief of police, J. J. Finnel;
captain of police, C. Weaver. There are forty patrolmen and one
matron.
‘The population at the time of the inspection was one male adult
Inspections s8r
‘The male department of this lockup is located in the basement
0 feet below the strect level) on the north side of the city hall
uilding, The cellroom has five windows. Light is admitted through
a grating, and then through the veindows. In the cellroom there is
a large stocl cage, 36 feet by 14 feet, with six cells on each side.
Each cell is 6 feet by 7 feet by 8 feet.
‘The south side of the cellroom is a solid wall, and because of this,
the cells on this side are totally dark. ‘The cells are equipped with
an iron hinged bed, a blanket and a crude type of iron water-closet.
‘This water-closet system consists ofa sloping pipe line which extends
the fall length of the cage. There is an opening in the top of the
pipe in each cell, There is also an iron plate fastened to one side of
the pipe which is used to cover the opening. This style of toilet is
decidedly antiquated, and a menace to the health of the prisoners
confined in the lockup. The room is heated by steam, lighted by
electricity, and equipped wich an artificial ventilating system.
The city hall building is a modern structuse, and itis to be seriously
criticized that s0 little consideration is given to the lockup. The
room is gloomy, dark and damp, and is decidedly impzoper for the
detention of human being, even fora shor period of time, The
condition of dampness is greatly aggravated subsequent co mopping
the floor, which fs unevenly aid, and asa tesle puddles of water
collect here and there, and the process of evaporation is very slow.
The female department is on the north side of the second floor.
This consists of a small room, containing a steel cage,
side of the room, ‘The cells are five in number and similar in desigis
to those in the basement. The toilets are inadequate.
‘A superior condition of cleanliness prevailed in the female depart-
ment, and the sheets and pillowcases on the neatly arranged beds
were quite noticeable, There is one window on the north side
of this room. ‘The rays of light do not enter dizectly into the cells,
and as a result only the front part of the cells is lighted. Direct
vanslacon is also lacking. The floors are of wood and the cells of
shaun bays are sometimes detsined in the cll in this room,
mn che same floor there is also a nursery, used for young children
‘who have gone astray from their parents. a
The most serious objection to this lockup, and one worthy of con-
sideration is the location of the cells used for the detention of male
adult prisoners. The authorities should construct better quarters
for the detention of male prisoners. The present cellroom is nothing
more than a hole in the ground, and should not be tolerated any
Jonger than is actually necessary.
