The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-09-30
Fifth Report OF the Prison Association of
New York.


rated by the Legislature Of the State the ninth of
May, 1876 All persons then and thereafter made
bers were empowered as . Corporate body. The Asso-
citation was made liable to the usual privileges OF
poratons, and limited to holding real estate, the
yearly value Of which could exceed ten thousand
dollars An executive committee manage the Associa-
tons affairs The OBJECT OF the league is the sneo'
ration of the condition of prisoners whether detained
for trial convicted or as wtnessesthe improvement
Of prison discipline and the government OF prisons in
cities, counties states-and the support and en-
cour agement Of reformed convcts after their dis
charge, by sTordng them means Of obtaining
honest velih ood and sustaining the in their efforts
81 reform.
The socie ty 10 well organised with a large body OF
officers, who form the Executive Committee, which
makes report annually. The fifth report, of four
hundred octave pages has been printed. Its vsua-
bic and interesting work, made in conformity to the
instructions of the constitution Of the society The
report states that the opposition which tho committee
has had TO from the State Prison Inspeetors
has materially crcumscTibed its operations during
the past year that IN. duty OF pspec imposed
y the Legislature has only been performed in relation
10 the prisons in cur own immediate viciDity
At tine comus neemeut of the late session OF the lie.
gsiature, the inspectors, in their ounusl report d.
rected attention TO the fact that the Prison Associa
ton. represented by committee the 18th OF July,
1s43 claimed the right to enter the prison at Sing
Sing unattended by any officer thereof and take such
action they thought proper. The inspectors say
they understand that free access 20 tue prison or
part of the prison premises, aud full access to
Their books records or Other pspersvh every facility
for prosecuting enquiries they light desire was
rendered to the committee by the warden but that he
e.cpt d to surrender, for the time being, the whole
power Of the prison into their hands, and permit. them
IL proceed wholly unattendes by of it's authorities
These facilities not satisfactory and proceedings
by mRpdamus were commenced TO enforce the recoy-
piuon of the extraordinary power thus claimed,
which are still pending.
After presenting the statements Of the officers In
Sing Sing prison the report says that the only reason
why the prison authorti object to the examin
alton of the Association than 10 that OF committee Of
the Legislature IL because OF It's thoroughness and
CON plct.Eets As 1t ia undertaken by persons s1pe-
rienced In the yseres of the prison they
not readily be- hood GDked or deceived An iiustra-
tiop Of the reliance which he placed the reports
of men unacquginted with prisons, may be gathered
from sn exam 10 alton of recent prsssntmsnt of
OF our grand jures. They say: The grasd jury hav-
ing the which have bee to
their Consideration in concluding their lsbors OF the
present term of the sessions deem 1t their duty call
the attention Of the court and OF the public author
ties TO certain matters OF public interest which have
come under their cognizanee During the present
month, the grand jury have taken occasion to visit
The Institutions at RaIdalis Island sckwell leland
the City Prison in the Halls OF Justice and speak
in the highest terms OF the manner in which these
eftatIishmenss are conducted" Al this very time
there were scarcely Fifty hunks In the City Prison fit
for use and any the prisoners had not even straw
TO lie upon; abuses perfectly manifest to intelligent
observer, yet unsoticed by the grand jury little
whitevasb often covers up multitude Of sins In these
institutions.
The severe treatment Of prisoners is next ON ented
on Ana r..s rresentsd to shos the neeessity Of
having competent person. 70 examine It. prisons
Objections the PLAN answered and very tull in
eight Is gvep CT tho hostility OF prison inspectors to
the visits OF the association authorised By the State
This quarrel Is unhappy one, and n ust BE- serious
inconvenitnc to the aasciation.
FINANCES.
The finance committee reports, as receipts during
the past year the sum Of 81 g22 Ca balance hand
the preceding year $40 ll-nakiBs . total OF
OF which were expended
For discharged convcts rent Of office, &c. 81 $50 az
Fer printing report and stationery. 100 90
For ta2ncsl agent. .................". sol 90
For rent OF 1he Home. ................. 3J7 so
sio!s :,
balance on hand. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, ia a.
.ao9s Is
In presenting their object. TO the benevolent they
have TO encounter many enb~ rrassments The re-.
clsnston of the ahandonec hitherto been cousid
ersd hopeless an und~ taking that It is dhcut to
eonvncs large that IL is po-sibis whilst to
others the dieirt.d hpssmcnts of vice revolt
Ing that even solitary alteration from the paths OF
virtue throws the poor culprit without the pale OF
Dot consent to Undue ther hands with the slime aud
Nth OF society for 40 uncertain . purpose To all
such they say. our objects not solely to reclaim
the guilty but protect the innocsnt, and see that
justice rendered TO those whom suspicion rests
tn. Committee =, prtrn,,os, /. essrs.d With IN.
examination OF all cases of commitment TO city
prisons incidentally involving not only the Of
arrest but the nSs before the police
officials have Kicked against this and another quarrel
L. 4 -
no oe suGh
OF. a. $780, ~ ~ ~ . ~, "a s q, .a ,
o. Tbs MA md rtsi, ,an,., an vh,.hs 49,. 49,
s,e .t.t.a .bo~s ~, -. assac,a,,aa 4; s,u.s,s
agent IN III. cana. ~ human nh.rtv
The citv nriscn. .rs nv, .cmr.r..a rnnr I'll.
exur.ssion or AZ tbs economy OF the Ten
to,,rno.y Witch we noticed i'm tn. Herald some
so 1. made the subject Of rsnark and abuses
are pointed ont
The ststittics which follow having b.ep noticed In
the report Of the Ten o,erusrs Ne p.xt come 10 IN.
labors of the
PRISON DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE
Tn. ,.hor, n, ,hi. sonn,,t.. h.,. 49, .,,,o., an
try Tor the yexr bv the prohibt,on OF An
examine ton Of the prsons Of the state Tbs report
Gays
Long sensible, AZ We have been, o. the stationary
condtitn 81 our prson plans and disciplins Il has
bcsn anxious desire from the very organsa-
ton Of ssoeistion. to collect and costs facts
~ they are daily occurring In our Institutions,
with the experience Of other States and countries
TO sduee tfsrefrom the great principles which must
lie Of the basis Of all sound reform IL Is indeed trus
that intelligent observers erevhere are gradually APP
pIo1lnAurg 10 lasntiy otNess on the Questions OF