Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-01-20
S:lsCEE.i4iN EOUS.
THE pENITENTIAt,Y OF VIRGINIA.

Through the kindness of Col Chas S. Morgan, have
been furnished request win copy OF his report ~
the Board of Directors nj tie Virginia Penrnary In
elancng this aoIe document confess We have been
surprised the large number OF convics now confined in
this institution and the "ca, o sentences that have
taken place since lie aiop!nn I'll Tue act o ue IAN OF
March l34S called Inc 'Clmga Code" which went into
effect on Tie first dy Of yrur. Col Morgan has taken
up subject Of "hori scntrnres and argued II WIN such
ability cearness force that It's strongest friends Will
Gro difficult resist his Iedso'a we invite the atten-
i i the members Vi the Legislature 10 the Report and by
ssy 1T leading them once, 10 the Suggestions and argu
Of the Supententen we here present The following
p!c,, for their consideration.
/, appears irom tie report that hundred and fifteen
free and slaves Tor sale and transportation
t=ivd within the year. being The largest number be-
fore received in twelve months AT the end OF the year
remained N prison one hundred ana thy-nine white
une ular and three black women ard sixty -four
free c0ored me being sixty coored against hun
dad and thirty nine white persons; and sixteen male slaves
farce femairs making III ui two hundred and twenty
sly persons
some curious tables AMI given by the Su
perintendent 10 cstablsu proposition which think
cures but lii IL proof Ii is TtGt application of
punishment TO crimes nay be mere appropriate than Others
III stalled that the penenary pnnsnmc"!s IN regard To the
length of sentences from 1912 the 1923 pretty moch
Ike force BY averaging the numbers received for
years beginning with 1872 aud making like average OF
pur years ending in 1923 uppcars that the increase
lodred Der cent and from this il is inferred that crime had
Increased Tbs laws underwent some changes from 1873 to
1928 An average il then made OF II years from 1879 10
1879 Inclusive when appears that under the laws then in
ts- Inc number received had diminished thry-eah per
ca below the ending in 1923 Ii is therefore, IN
had diminished durlUg taat period
cungc took place il e iuH /" 1913 and an average
~, e upon the four years iTna lo4 10 lS47 inclusive
wt-o appears that The number haa fallen ioy one per
cc, bsow the average OF 1873 Or the hrSt ut june 1915
IN. new criminal code inio elect, anu average Is
le upon the three last fiscal years commencing the first
,i October ls4S aud cnt;r the }0i September, 1851
from which i; appears that increase Of imprisonnen,s
thirty per the last preceding average and that
the actual increase OF tho year 1871 said average
from 1874 10 lS47 e4hiysX pr cent, 1t u.s. therefore,
contcnded that crime has increased, and that the punish
men,s existing previous 10 Tie so'oa of lie new criminal
code, appropriate IMAM those !G'jas 10 1873, or
al present in force under sat. coce.
The question then rccu.s wqr ~, characteristic diff
erencgS between the laws under ",cn crime appears 10
have increased and those under Which IL diminished The
renr is not sen this subject, From 1912 1928 the
minimum .: imprisonment. n many cases. were as
low as one wear and so likewise IN or the in force
Burom 1929 1872, c'e persons could not lie sentenced
FOR less co gears ard free not less than fires
and 1913 1884, rhc psrscnS were made punishable
for less than three gears. Tie Superintendent and
Board of Directors reconacld change IN tese short i'm.
risouments.
But the report goes further 10 show that the four and
hall wears from December, 1916 April, 1921, The clear
average loss manufacturing operations was 70 per
u and the OF transportation ool per an.
rnr Again that five years. from ls4A 10 s49 me clear
average annual gain State $3.50 a. AID the
p.nses transportation 1863 S. and that IN the last TWO
years the aggregate clear gain was nt S'9o So ana ne az
s s7%s Sc IS expense ''""''' '''" s'''S
We think the case pretty clearly made out, that there is
sensible difference in the application OF puulshents oot
treasury and Tie rights OF the people against whom
flonies committed 1t is not little curious that tweE-
yve per cent. OF The whole number OF conVcts are re-
r.iyed for year, and fifty per cent for less than three
rafs under the present laws. We should really IKE 10
now what sort ui mechanics could BE- made out OF such
materials wtL; cold. heart wifu and deliberate ielons
would for rec years imprisonment
when they well led. clothed aud cared Tor!
We observe from OF Governor Hunt, Oh New
urk that crime is increasing IN that State which is ar
huted 10 incmper.rcc. Ti3rc LILA prisoners in the
penenaries that STAT; and Viii increase in Virginia.
if there is change the present law. We Trust the
Legislature carly day. viii taac up the Report OF Tie
Board Of Directors and Superintendent, and that terms OF
imprisonment the State Penitentay viii be extended 10
length sufficient enable cunvcis to become mas
OF the trades taught in thai institution and to remove
from those weak wicncG enough Ia commit felony the
hope of receiving o't detected In their crimes
We may rccur ;.is H. po ggain at some future time.
R;rimor1 Republican, jan II, 1852.