New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-09
PRISON REFORM.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEw-YoRK PRISON
ASSOCIATION.

/
ASSOCIATION.
The work Of the New-YoIk Prison AssOcia-
t dnring the past year. embodied in the annual re-
mort OF its Executive Committee to the Legislature has
embraced three distinct objects: The ameoraton Of the
condition Of prisoners, whether detained for trial or
finally ocnvictcd the support and encouragement Of re-
formed convicts after their discharge; the improve
ment Of prison discipline and government At the stated
meeting of the Executive Committee held in June, the
General Agent was authorized 10 visit the county jas
and penal institutions within the state Armed with al
duona authority by Judge Barnard of the supreme court
he visited, during the Autumn and Fall lis in the i0l
lowing counties Rensselaer,, Washington CLINTON, rank
In stLawrence, Jefferson, Onondaga, llerkmer Fulton
ORANGE Duchess, aud Rockland. In addition to these
he spent several days IN the penal institutions az Sls
Sing Auburn, and In Clinton County. The Pllnclpd oD
Ject contemplated in THE Our was not So much 70 eN
anime infinitely the condition Of the JaLs ana 70 opta
statistics with reference TO the inmates, as 10 ADOPT sc
measures as would secure IN oach county OF sIe 20
committee Of trustworthy men et1Sr rliSiyIS Sisit
the iais in their neghborloods, hold relsous
and interesting reading matter and Introduce such moral
appliances as tend 20 reform cohNlct@ -. ,-.,..,
The majority OF the shers and aieIs In these lnstu
tOUs me gentlemen Of high moral character, maniesty
co,sideratc for those placed under their care, and
anxious 10 have religious services IN TIER resltctNo
government of the prisons within inc STATE ShaDny rs
Is the exterior Of the county jail the interior IL even
more coufOrtless and domoralzmg. The classification
Of the prisoners attempted but the Young are thrown
into the company OF Oh ohelIorS, and a.,
soCiatI0ns are formed which m are exceedingly
pcrilOus 10 the former class Inc inmates nceH
active employment, instructive books, humane treat
mcnt and above All, the visits Of worthy men, capable
mapping for them an honest life Inc need OF en-
plovmtnt is especially felt by those who are awaiting
trial, and who have every right TO he Iegalded as 3
cent until proven guilty Ihgse persons snoud, ~ lTS
have facilities for providing lor I1e uvDclucht ~
Them thus saving their innocent children from want ana
ruin. Very little is done to elevate Ine moral CnadaeiH
e. made, not a book newspaper Is furnished not a
sermon preached, not prayer offered, nOr solc aton
expressed by the church or ~ the World except III rare
~
ing local aid in the religious and moral instruction OF the
prisoners confined in county ia5 has been adopted ana
40 or more counties OF the state The cooperative labors
Of these local organizations have been very efficient ana
the sphere Of usefulness OF the Association mas btcu
greatly enlarged by thcif dsnere.ted Christian efforts
In the penal institutions or tine S,.tS lAG PtA,rd
itned to their statements, many Of Which have been
OF Thrilling interest The introduction Of food better III
quality and greater IN quantity has had most DeEe-
fetal effect. The abolition Of cruel punishment has con-
tibuted powerfully to the reformation OF conNicts
There Is need, however, OF n more thorough ana remu
ncratye system or labor II II costs tne ste 90 week
COthe and feed each prisoner and TO defray the gen
earning ron 80 10 w WecA WIN tG
that all he over the expense OF his Imprisonment
shall be paid to his wife and children, or If single to n
self when be is discharged from custody ana the result
will De that crime will not cost the state anything
TO he expensive failures to reform prisoners
Let the wardens aud Keepers Of prisons he men OF clean
hands and sympathetic heart let facilities for ndustn
Gus labor be afforded to every healthy prisoner uhner
the stimulus Of wholesome dietary regulations, anu nha-
".
strain he prisoners to respect in future all laws human
The General Agent has also at the instance the Judge
Of the Criminal Court inquired into the antecchens Of
prisoners awaiting trial Counsel and aid have been in
parted TO prisoners under detention, and in many III
stances discharges have been procured Tor III
uocent persons who have been committed on III
sufficient grounds. In addition 10 the relief given
10 the accused and the liberated, assistance has
been extended to the families Of conyicts;
The Association has sought in the case Of discharged
prisoners to bridge the gulf between the prison ana
honest work. and TO encourage his efforts to reform ana
lead honest life by opening TO him sphere OF Ienu-
relapse into sin may rest with himself ana not win sOc-
ely. One hundred and seventy liberated conyicts have
The results OF the abOr of the Association during the
quarter OF century OF Its corporate existence are as
loiioWs PERSONS Nis.u anu III
prisons 5000; complaints examined ZzyVi Complaints
Withdrawn at the instance Of the Association GAS per
sons discharged on the recommendation OF the Agent
1927 released prisoners materially aldtd l5oV. re-
formed COuyicts provided with permanent situations
3q OF the latter class az least 90 per cent have become
respectable citizens, and are pursuing careers Ot useIu
The income Of the Association derived from State and
city appropriations and from private gifts has not
almost entirely expended III CONTINUING 10 tnc IeeI Oh
prisoners and their families. by tho terms OF its charter
the Association IS simply state OIG1hzaslol; nu5
through the breadth Of It's nyesgaionst mas developed
into such large proportions that the Secretary has been
almost entirely occupied with official correspondence
Y kindred associations, at home and abroad. An
earnest effort will be made by the Association 10
the passage nv the Legislature Of the Prison clause of
proposed constitution Of the Constitutional COnVen
the Governor. This clause which Is regarded as
desideratum by all friends Of prison reform, removes
the government Of prisons from the domain OF pocs,
and invests all power OF appointing WdTuclls, chtlll.'
and subordinate officers in SPECIAL Prison Board, when
shall De nominated by the Governor and shall serve ten
The resignation Of Dr. Wines the Secretary Of the Asso
citation eight years will take effect February ISL,
one month after the annual meeting.