New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-26
TIE PRISON ASSOCIATION or NEU-TORK

TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The Rev. L. c. Wines, Corresponding Secretary
OF the Prison Association Of Newiork, las submitted
the 2h Annual Report OF the Association TO the LeGlsla
ture of the State, printed copy OF which is on our
table The objects of this Society threefold-l HUI
name attention persons arrested, protecting them
from legal sharpers and securing their impartial trial
q Encoura cement and aid OF discharged conycts. o..
Careful study OF prison discipline observation OF the
causes crime and inquiry as TO the proper means OF
its prevention. Tho last Is considered the most i'm
porant Of its objects. The statistics of the work OF the
Society during the quarter century just ended show the
following figures under the first object named above;
% $50 friendess persons visited in the detention prisons
OF New-IOrk and Brooklyn, all or them cOun-
seed and OF them assisted $500 complaints care
fully examined; CHS complaints wthdraWn at the IN
stance Of Society trivial, founded mistake
passion; 1872 persons discharged The courts on recon-
mendatOn OF the Society. VINO ere young innocent
committed their offences under mitigating circumstances
evidently penltent total OF 1892 cases IN
which relief OF some Kind has been offered ny the AssOca
ton During the last % years the assistance given TO
discharged conyicts is summed up follows $500 per-
sons OF THIS class aided WIN board, ciothing, Tools,
railroad tickets or money! 4lD provided with perma'
ncnt suatons total of 29ii6 Aid has also been ex-
tended to thousands of persons connected with the fam
lilies OF prisoners For years few hundred dol
lars has been annually distributed on New Years day
among INDECENT families
By its act OF incorporation It is made the duty Of tho
Prison Association TO visit, inspect and examine, all
the prisons of the state and annually report to the Legs
ature their condition." There are State Prisons in
,
Penentaries most OF them receiving prisoners outside
of their counties, and OF them Gat Albany CON
more station-houses making about 100 prisons in ALL
These have been visited again and again. their condition
reported. Upon the whole, the financial moral and ill
dsral condition Of prisons has been deteroratinl
rapidly Of late years, and abuses have multiplied in
| alarming degree. one trouble III New-lork. as in
| other States, Is the fact that there is Gen.
| trail supreme authority, having powers to direct
the entire penal system The Association think after
much experience that there can be no successful reor
ty OF the 6s County Jas In the state not more than
| dark, cramped illyentated, and gloomy 0yercrowd-
ing is a very general evil. The degrees and kinds OF
the expert thrown together. There
even proper separation OF the sexes Men and women
not, with few exceptions reported confined in the
same apartments, but they can generally converse
monster evil IL has been reporedto the Grand Juries
| in several counties, and the Association has
denoancea ag ana agn Uu 80 'I reoMn
tie records Of the alsnO statistics Trustworthy The
| with regular employment Inspection has not shown
the existence dnyrhere OF what may properly be called
discipline" There is total lack Of all means in the
1ails for secular education and OF religious instruction.
The food given 49, as general rule abundant and good
There are few exceptions. The manner OF supplying
the food per capita ny contract Is opectonaple. Inc
sanitary condition OF the als is not good as could DO
ton The Association advises that county ais should be
made simply houses OF detention aud Their primitive
character should be abrogated II also advises separate
imprisonment for each individual.
In regard State Prisons the attention Of the
lowing points The influence OF politics; the contract
system OF labor financial management; reformatory
agencies employed Political influence Is the bane OF our
whole prison system, whichever party tho controlling
influence comes from. The contract system Is equally
bad for the state finances and for prison discipline
In Wisconsin, under direct state management, the aver
earnings of the conveis In 1864 fully thrice per
| diem what IL was III NewIOrk during tho same year.
The contract system prevents all opportunity TO reform
| the conyicts.
The ASSOCIATION to the Prison article the
Constitution framed In 1867, which elected last Fall
and that similar clanse be The people
fnP sem rat Il
Board OF Managers. with five members, 10 which the
supreme central authority much desired by the Ass0
citation should be given Their power should extend 10 all
county and ohoroca as as well as 10 general prisons
| throughout the state.
The remainder Of this very interesting report is de-
voted tO considerations OF the aud prevention
crime reformation convict labor relation free
labor The Nautical Reform School OF TIN, harbor
praised and the Society urges the establishment OF
Separate State Prison criminals The Treasurer
account credit account uf Sl591l o. and bal.
nuco the same side, of S!iU -. 2La donations for
! las1 amounted Ia 2a.O,i.