The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-05-05
CHAPTER So.


AN ACT to authorize the working
of persons confined in the Jails
of the State, and TO protect prison.
ers.
Sec /. Be it enacted by tho Gener.
al Assembly of the State of Iowa
That any able bodied male person,
over the ago Of sixteen years, and
not over the age of fifty years, now
or hereafter confined IN any Jail in
this State, under the Judgment OF
any Court of record, or Of any other
tribunal authorized to imprison for
the violation of any law, ordi.
nance, bylaw, or police regulation,
may be required to labor during the
whole or part of the time OF his sen
tence, as hereinafter provided, and
such Court or other tribunal, when
passing final judgment of imprison-
ment, whether for non-payment OF
fine or otherwise, shall have the
power to determine, and sIiaif deter.
mine whether such Imprisonment
shall be at hard labor or not as con.
templated in this bill.
Sec 2. Such labor may be on the
roads, streets. or public highways,
on or about public buildings OF
grounds, Or ut such other places in
the county, where confined, and du.
ring such reasonable time OF the day,
as the person having charge of the
prisoners may direct, and not exceed
ing eight hours per day.
Sec. s. In the case the sentence he
for the violation of any Of the stat.
utes Of the States, the Sheriff OF the
county where the imprisonment is,
shall supcrintend the performance of
the labor authorized by this Act,
AMI shall furnish the tools, and ma
terial, if necessary to work with, at
the expense Of the county in which
the convict is confined, and such
county shall be entitled to his earn
ings.
Sec. 1. When the Imprisonment is
pursuant to the judgment OF any
Police Court, Police Magistrate,
Mayor, OF other tribunal OF any in-
corporated city or town, for the vio-
latlon of any ordinance, by law, or
other regulation, the Marshal shall
superintend the performance of the
labor authorized by the provisions OF
this Act, and shall furnish the tools
and materials if necessary, at the ex
pcnse Of the city or town requiring
the labor, and such city or town shall
be entitled to the earrings Of its con-
victs.
Sec. ). The officer having charge
,Yf any convicts for the purpusc spec
'ified in this act, may use such means
as, and no more than are necessary
to prevent escape, and if any convict
attempt to escape either while going
fiom or returning to the Jail, or while
at labor, or at any time, or if he re-
fuse to labor, the officer having him
in charge, after due inquiry, may, to
secure such person, or to cause him
to labor, use the means authorized
by Section 5l34 Of the Revision of
1860, Pforided, such punishment shall
be inflicted within the Jail or Jail
inclosure, Provided further that tho
time spent within the Jail inclosure
for refusal to work shall not be con-
sidered as any part Of the time for
which the prisoner is sentenced.
Sec. g. For every days labor per-
formed by any convict, under the
provisions of this Act, there shall be
credited on any Judgment for fine
and costs against him, the sum OF
one dollar and fifty conts, and no
person shall be entitled TO the bene-
fits.of Section 5O05 Of the Revision
of 1860, if in the opinion of the
Sheriff, thejudgment may be satisfied
by the labor of the person as herein
authorized.
Sec. :. That if any officer or other
person treat any prisoner in cruel
or nhuman manner, he shall be
punished by fine not exceeding one
thousand dollars or by Imprisonment
in the county jail not exceeding
twelve months, or by both such fine
and imprisonment.
Sec. s. 1t shall be the duty OF such
officer having such prisoner in charge
to preserve the same from insult and
annoyance. and communication with
others, while at labor, and going to
and returning from tho same, and
may use such means as are necessa
ry and proper therefor, aud any per
son persisting in insulting, anc
annoying, or communicating will
any prisoner, after being commanded
by such officer to desist, shall bt
punished by fine not exceeding ter
dollars, or by imprisonment not ex
ceeding three days.
Approved April Z, 1870.