The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-13
Annual Report or the New York Pr,so"
AssOetalton

Annual Report OF the New York Prlsoa
Association
This important and highly valuable report, from
most useful public body, has been before us some
time. 1t is deserving close attention, end relates
10 matter Of such high social magnitude, that
here is not citizen, from the highest TO the low
est, who is not in fact, personally, however indi-
reetly, interested in this subject.
The Executive Committee commences its report
with congratulang The association, which il re-
presents, upon the nderful progress which, as II
asserts, continues TO be made every year the
| improvement of Prison Government. Itsays:-
Few that witness the present improved condition Of
cosvctr In our larger prisons have conception
Of the hh degradation, corruption. vice ana iafsmv
| which attended them in former Years Such = oondi
ticD night well give rse 10 the IDEA that criminal
could he reformed; but has arrived aud the
piCpect Tor the is indeed cheering the heArr
oI TIT pbiIsDthropst.
Though the style IN which these sentiments are
expressed is rather ford and inflated, as, indeed
ina, ef OF the whole report generally is, We hope
for the sake Of humanity, that the statement here
made Is tue; for We believe it quite the
oi The general opinion held by all those who are
at all acquainted with the Interior regulation of
our prisons generally, and of our city prisons par
| ticuarly.
| The nature and character Of the New York
| Prison Asst ciailon is singular, and some whai
anomalous. IL appears 10 be mere voluntary
| seciatOn--a selfformed society-one of those
Felt created bodies, called by themselves the "be.
neyols Mt institutions of the day." The original
founders OF the society formed themselves into
body, having for their object, visiting the prisons,
and aiding and benefitting the prisoners as much
as possible. To carry on their abors they, as is
usual IN such cases. appealed the public for its
voluntary contribution Afterwards they were
made corporate body by an act of tbs Legis-
lature, and power was conferred upon the officers
Of the Society of visiting the prisons throughout
the State Of New Yoik-of examining into their
condition and management--and il was sngularly
enough made their imperative duty, by act Of
Legislature, TO visit all the prisons of the State,
and report annually to the Legislature upon them.
We venture to say that this Is a singular, and
rather anomalous birth and origin of Safe
power, for such is now, IN fact, this association.
Origin, however, il generally of very little con-
sequence, present conduct and behavior, that is
all important; and we feel bound to say, In re-
ference TO this association, that its conduct and
management, under the powers conferred upon i,
Is the most admirable, the most useful, the mos
mentorious that can be conceived, Judging from
Its own report-and we have no other means of
Judging.
1t appears that, from the fret, the visitors of the
association had great difficulties to contend with
Some idea Of the immense labor cast upon them
may be formed from the following:
The Association took, a. their model, the system
inspection which has been adopted and carried for
some years in England at great expense, and which,
Parliament TO lrsilats overwhelmingly on the SUD-
ject and which has produced in that country great
and valuable Improvements in prison govern nent.
The Brish inspectors Of prisons bad however. one
great advantage over US In respect to the labor
CURED in the tack The keepers Of their various
prisons were required TO Keep very minute tables
ttarty and it only necessary for the nspestors
to compile their reports from those tables. The As
ttciatiop had, however. no tuch advantage.
The books bept our prisons gave very imperfect
view q the actual state things
necessarily involved personal examination into vari-
matters In regard TO which the records Of prs
ops offered no assistance whatever Thus the stats
tics Of our state prisons rendered personal interview
With every prisoner necessary and from those inter-
views Obtained Of information 10 regard TO
the statistics Of crime complete aud satsfAc,ry
tsn was ever before obtained In ths couutry. But
there personal interviews made com ittses the
depotorss Of many secrets Of those prison. houses
which cubs, qusutly ascertainsd had been conceal
ed. nom the official inspectors. We free uenty
remisd.d Of sort Of roi. which had been adopted by
the officers Of state PRISONS and prevailed In them
all that Briscpsr VAS never to be believed In any
statement he might male. This was convenient rule
fer the officers In respect to The sorld Outside but
not acted upon BY them inside for they daily aud
hourly In the habit Of taking their word 10 regard
matters Il business and discip line Our commit,ees
therefore rather disposed to adopt their practice
than their theory. Yet our experience 1dmonistsi
to be careful how received any such statement aud
never did give faith to any unless. upon examins.
tion, We found II satisfactorily corroborsted other.
vile.
Here. indeed, was a labor ana toll. II would
thus appear that the Institution has, by its officers
rot merely inspected the prisons, but ahmed, in
spected and conyersed with every individual con
tine IN our prisons. Ii Is not TO be wondered at,
ihert FORE that the officers Of the prisons, general
ly, kicked aud reb.led against such power, iuas-
much as il must be manifest to the shallowest mind
that their situations, their character and their
places, had at least some little connection with
the grace and favor Of the individuals who posses
sed such supreme authority. IL must also be mani
fest that If any cunning, ar,ful men among the
prisoners should be able to succeed, by plausible
tales, in working upon the feelings and pejudlces
Of the benevcleni visitors, then again, also, there
was some danger TO be apprehended by the Of
fcers. All these little things work and operate
powerfully In this world, and no one can deny IT,
OF the discoveries Of frauds, deceplons, and IL
legal conduct practiscd at of our prisons and
brought 10 light BY the visitors OF the association,
the following are remarkable and egresious In.
stances t.
In one ~ state prisons IL was found that I.-
ct the state which required that every Aros bought
BY the sgsrt Oh oud b. ersmtb-d by the clerk, snd
conn With the Invoice thsre-f entirely d.rr
gsfd.d. ara that distinct book for purehases
vas keyt. ~ required by Law IL found. upon fur
tb.r examination. tbat II vas not the general practice
that piison &C txsmine the purchased ther
the STATE got ell u paid for. and thu. Afforded 90
sbuncaut opportunity for pscustion, which the laE
had 10 yso stt' pied &c guard against. rhs prsccs
had tesD prevailing some time az that prison yet 10
had ret,r trtn meBtohea 10 any OF the reports t.
Leatslstufe
IA enc 81 the state prisons II found that the
fsrht lad made up bis snbua report a. @ convey
80 The legislature the idrA that the earnBs. u the
rcnNits had ntsd O. within few hundred ara
81 the sxp.pses; but, on our sssnins,ion We disco
ver,d aud reported 90 the Legislature that the *.
pence the year exceeded the earnings nearly s2t
eco exclusive 81 repairs alterations aud aIdi.
ticnen scme $4,000. ARD the truth q our statement
de manifest b. the fact thst before the year
cut. the Legislature was asked o. make au appro
prs;icn TO that pfison Of S2oOOO and Afterwards OF
much larger amount.
ihrnuzh saitise ~ The a.i.z a..