The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-25
PRISON DIS CIPLINE.
~~S~~e@-~~~~~~4~N~@-~~~>N~
ABSTRACT or fHR THIRD ANNUAL IIP0lf
INSPECTORS OF STATE PRISONS,
STATE OF NEW YORK.


During the year that has just expired, the several
prisons have enjoyed usual degree OF health, and,
with slight exceptic as, their financial condition has
steadily improved.
The number of convicts in the State, on the LIST
of December, ls49, was the number remain
ing at the close of 1850, oil.
There have been seventeen less convlcts a. the
Clinton and tbs male PRISONS than In the previous
year. There has been an increase OF 10 ~ nu-
burn, and Y al the male prison, sung sing Inc
greater increase Al Auburn arises from transfer OF
seventeen convicts from Sing sing, ana rom inc
fact that for the want OF employment al the later
PRISON owing to the destruction OF the workshops
by fire. the courts in the third judicial district,
fenced large majority Of their conucts to the
former prison.
The Arrangement of the prison districts by the
act of lS4S, chapter l4l, leaving il discretionary
with the courts OF the thrd judicial district to sem
tence convicts 10 either Auburn or Sing Sing, il
found 10 be judicous, as II enables the inspectors,
at all times, by giving an intimation 10 the judges,
10 have those convicted, consigned TO the prison
where their services will be most advantageous TO
the STATE and 10 preyt nj either trom being crowd
ed beyond its capacity 10 keep them in a healthy
and proper manner. Perhaps in another year II
wfll be expedeHt to have ali those convicted in the
third district sentenced TO Sing Sing
by examining the convictions OF the past year,
and comparing them with the population of the
several counties, II appears that in Albany they
amount TO in 2,4l4; Ere, in l20 Kings IN
3, 1884; Monroe, IN 3 9Es; New YORK., IN z, $40;
Onondsga, in 4, l27; Oneida, IN 4 709; Ontario
in 2,5O5; Rensselaer 10 1885, Otsego, in 10, l0l;
Suffolk in 1879, Jefferson in II, es9; Steuben,
I in e, $50; Duchess, / IN Is 374; Delaware, in
81, $50, and in similar proportions throughout the
Stale.
OF the 600 convlcts received at the several phi
sons during tbs same period, 50s males and "a fe-
males their frs conviction, 81 males and 4
females are on their second, males are on their
thud, and on their fourth
PARDoNs.
The executive clenl,ncy he's been extended 10
foriyive convcis, being sixteen more pardons than
were granted the previous year.
To the knowledge of the inspectors but one Of
the 1872 conyicts pardoned during the last three
years has been returned to prison, while many Of
them pursuing honest an0 upright csllings, aad
give hopetu evidence of positive reformation The
proportion OF pardons TO the average number of
convicts the last year, has been at Auburn in 3d.
NJ Sing Sing, IN 45s; at Citation, in %; al The
female prison, / in 20 The previous year the pre-
portion was al Sing Sing, in IS; at Auburn, l in
A; at Clinton, Ii SO
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
The sy stem of discipline introduced under the
law OF lS47, equals our highest expectations, and,
after three years experience, we are not little
grafited to be able 10 report that, under its mild
treatment, better order eyerywher PREVAILS labor
IS more chserfuy performed, and the moral and
PHYSICAL condition of The convlcts is vastly i'm
proved The lash and other instruments of torture,
which were calculated To lDiiame the PASSIONS nd
engender hatred and animosity, have been sup
planted by methods OF correction more con sistent
with the dictates OF humanity. The convict, no
longer treated like brute, feels that in pri-
son he can exercise the attributes OF man, and
that the condition OF no one Is so low thar human
sympathy cannot reach MIN, or SO degraded that
kindness and. forgiveness will not reward his good
actions and unaffected repentance.
The shower bath Is principally relied upon TO cor
rect the pcornglbe, and regarded as the reyerest
punishment resOrted 10. While IT has been found
an efectual instrument IN subduing the passions,
and reducing The refractory and turbulent TO calm.
mess and submission, rs effects upon the physical
system are inylgorating and beneficial.
SANITARY CONDITION.
The whole number Of d-s rs At tAs Auburn prison.
10 November 30, 1850 vas ................... o.
At the Sing Sing male prison, from direase Is
Do. do. do. drowned .........-
Do. do. do accidentally killed.
Do. Clinton prison. .................. 8
Toth...................... SO
The deaths at Auburn prison are equal TO in 70
80 of the daily average OF conyicis. At Sing Sing
they amount 10 IN -, Ii IL; but three of these
died by accident, the mortality from disease IS but
in 40, SIS AT the female prison they amount to
in %, al Clinton 10 10 39i The average num-
Der OF all the convicts being 500, and the deaths
from natural causes 30, II viii be seen that they
amount to only 40 5li, which exhibits sanitary
condition that will compare fayorably with any
similar institutions IN the country.
TERMS Of SENTENCE.
The terms Of sentence OF 720 convicis, being the
whole numb.r confined IN the Auburn prison, tex
elusive OF IL who are sentenced tor lfe) average
lined from to years, us from 70 10 years, and
S6 from 10 to y years. OF the 303 convicts re-
ceived 81 this prison duri0g the past year, the
longest term, texc-pnR one for hfe,) is ID years.
and the shortest years Their aggregate term of
sentence amounts 70 Tsp years and months, and
the average to years, 10 months and p days.
AT the sag sing male prlson, the terms of $50
convlcts, (not including IL sentenced for life)
rage years, mouths ano 10 80 days. Cf these
3o2 are Tor 70 years, l56 for 10 10 years, and
lS2 for ~ 70 20 years
The terms OF sentence OF ll3 convicts at the
clinton prison, (eAclnsve OF one sentenced Tor
lBe,) average yeafs months and Is lays OF
these % are tor 2 % years, p for % 10 years,
and - for 10 10 ~ yeats.
or the III female cOngicts the terms Of sentence
average 3 years, months and n days. Here 81
are sentenced for 10 years IL for 10 10 years,
and 4 for 10 TO III yesrs.
The aggregate Term If sentence Of all the con.
Victs an the STATE, exclusive of the n doomed 10
imprisonment for lite, amounts to :, 220 years
re object .. Si2te oflson confinement being not |
only to punish offences already committed, but to |
secure society against future voI.iions o. law, ~
improving the minds sud reforming ne characters
Of thoee who find their way here, II becomesa |
subject Of inquiry whether these desirable ends /
cannot better ~ Accomplished by 0h0rer term OF i
sentence on FIRST CONVICTIONS without delrlment to
the administration q public justice Snorler sen
very large number who are discharged from i
their hrst term never return 70 PRISON, and 4 u but
fair TO conclude that The necessary puvations AID Il
sufernps attending thrtr Incarceration, coupled \
with the me Ata instruction and reforming ipi icnces
provided by the beHehcence 81 the state, have de-
TERED them from further indulgence In their evil |
courses, and restored them 10 better condition Of
Life.
CAtsIs oF cRfME.
OfT32 csnvcts al uburn PRISON, 81 were never
instruc Ted IN any trade OF calling, whereby 70 cara
q subsistence SJs had been derived OF a home be-
fore 10 years ~ age, 1911 were deprived Of one,
and Isl Of both pareuts before b years ot age, $50
were intoxicated al the time OF committing the
offence. 394 were without occupation az the time
of arrest 81 we're enperate, 4bS bad received
no religious or moral instruction, and 5l2 had
never read the Bible, or ate nded divine service.
cri ical eSammation II the Couvicts 10 tn othe
prisons would exhibit a suli more depl0rable ptc-
fure a neglected education end early Abandonment
to vice and crime
OF the 6ai males 10 the sing Sing prison, $40
were under ~ years 4 age a the time "a their
conviction, 4S7 bad never been taught a trade, 80
could not read, 40 could read only, and thst adif-