The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-28
PRISON REFORMS.
The Sing Sing Prison and the Wcstchester
County Jail-Jui&e COcbrane's Charge to
he Grand .Iurv.

The Sing Sing Prison and the Vcsichesier
County Jail-Judae COcbrane's Charge to
the Grand Jury.
In concluding his charge 10 the Grand Jury of
Westminster county, at Bedford, on Monday July &C.
Judge Cochrane sad;-With the examination of
such complaints as shall be brought before you your
duties would ordinarily cease, but feel 1t my duty,
under existing circumstances, to call your attention
to one or two other subjects, which think should
receive your very serious consideration. have,
on several previous occasions, at the dlf.
ferent sessions of this court called the
attention Of the Grand Jury the condition OF our
county jail. AS public oflcer l have been very
strongly impressed with the insaiciency OF the pro-
visions there Tor the detention OF criminals, and,
more especially, for the proper distinction between
the sexes among those held, not alone upon convc.
ton, but upon charges of crime not vet proved
against them. 1t Is, IN my view, scandal and dis
grace to THIS county, rich as IL is and pOpuous as
Il Is. that the authorities have not yet had
tne moral courage 10 cure this crying evil.
The prisoners Of both sexes are promiscuous-
~ confined In the jail fromnecessity There are no
separate apartments for the men and women
or for the Juvenile aud the adult and hardened GRIM
nals There Is no nnrmary connected with the Jail,
and decency and humanity both require that such
department shall be immediately added. The mat.
same charge made 10 grand juroros term after term
sS1 Sy q my ssy put ey ses q the
Providence has been mercsiful 70 those Who
live In the neigeborhOOd Of the Jail and
to its unfortunate inmates that no OF epidemic
sickness has occurred within its walls. But shud-
Ger every time these summer days come on lest the
cholera, small pox or some other contagious and
frghtul disease break out among the prisoners and
turn II into pest house. The jail could be provided
with suitable accommodations az no great expense,
certainly at no expense which 1t would not be pro.
per to incur In the name Of decency and humanity.
lhope You Will give it your consideration, and add
to the great volume Of formal protests your voice
and dehunciation OF the neglect with which this
institution has been treated.
criminal justice to see that the places provided BY
law for the detention Of criminals are properly CON.
ncarcerated, and at the same time with due regard
to the security and comfort OF the community at
large which has been outraged by the acts Of those
confined In Prisons should be devoted to their refor.
with due severity should not be overlooked
make these remarks because 1t - matter OF pub
lie notorley that the Sing Sing Prison is not now
criminals sent there, Within the past few months
number Of Its convicfs have escaped some OF
mann S z e a q S S% cfs
OF that prison, 50 far their jurisdiction permits
have made every EFFORT to retaks the fugitifes; but
IL may not be generally known that TO break prison
and escape sony subject to severe PUNISHMENT
IN order hat they hay BE Indicted and pSsS
here, and II they are NOT returned that bench War.
rant may issue according to law and they be SEN
fenced the sentence to take effect at the expiration
Of their original term Of Imprisonment. think It
Would also be proper for yo9 TO inquire into the
cent strikes and mutinies among the eonvicts in
that prison, and to determine, II You can, IN the
interest Of pubic justice and public security, the
cause Of those outbreaks. Various causes are
alleged n the public prints, some Of them rejecting
iDj1rfohsy upon the officers Of the prison. The
onicers say that there s not a sunlclent number
OF guards for the prison, and that under former
ADMINISTRATIONS the discipline had become
go lax that when they attempted to reform IL the
convicts Tevolted in the hope that they coula COM
pei them TO allow things to remain as they were.
The public should know what has brought about the
present state OF affairs at Sing Sing Prison and what
steps are necessary TO correct these evils Ii the
future. II the officers Of the prison are capable and
diligent II s due to them that that fact should be
made clear; but II they are direlict In their duty
and aid and abet In the escape OF prisoners OF are
10 culpaby negligent to render escape easy they
arc guilty OF a misdemeanor, and should be ID
dicted aud brought here for trial. do not think y6u
can discharge higher public duty than by patiently
investigating these important subjects.