Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-01-30
The Penal and Reformatory Ensti-
tutiGns of Vermont.

At the National Prison Congress,
which opened its session at Baltimore,
Md, on Tuesday, January 81, report
on the Penal and Reformatory institu-
tions of Vermont, by Rev. Franklin
Butler, of Windsor, was presented, the
substance of which was as follows
Thepenal and reformatory institutions
of Vermont are specifically but three,
viz: |. The State Prison at Windsor,
IL The County Jails. III. The State
Reform School, at Waterbury.
To these may be added, as institutions
bearing directly upon the prevention of
crime. ". The Home for Destitute Chill
dren at Burlington; V. Other Eleemosy-
nary Institutions for the Young.
l. The first and only Prison in Yer
mont was completed and occupied, at
Windsor, in 1909. 1t now consists of
three buildings that constitute one side
of a plot of ground Is by - rods square,
around which are erected walls Of gra-
mite and brick twenty feet in hight and
four feet in thickness at the base. In
side of the walls, workshops and other
necessary buildings are constructed.
Four stories of cells (104 in number) are
built in the new brick structure for the
use of the inmates. From 1909 to 1872,
twentv-one hundred and one persons
have been committed, averaging little
more than thirty-three per year. The
average term of sentence is a little over
three years. The pardons number 724,
and the escapes 26-less than one in two
years The dea'hs amount to 81-being
/ q : per year. The number of inmates
on July LIST, 1872, was SO, of which four
were females.
The government of the institution is
vested in Board of three Directors and
a Superintendent, each chosen biennially
by the Legislature The associate sys-
TEN Of discipline is practiced. The labor
is contracted for work on shoes, at 20
cents per day, and tie receipts exceeded
the expenditures in 1872, by So, 654.31.
The discipline is in special charge of
the keeper, solitary confinement in the
dark cell being the chief punishment for
offences. A Communication law for good
behavior is an Indictment to good con-
duct The Chaplain performs the usual
duties of pastor. A library of about
five hundred volumes is provided. The
most common crimes are larceny, burg
larry and assaults; and the causes, bad
the use Of intoxicating drinks The
Governor has power to pardon in all
cases except sentences of death. lie has
no authority to commute. He may re-
prieve until the Legislature meets. There
is no provision for aiding convicts at
their discharge. They receive a decent
suit of clothes and a small sum of money
from the State, and must then shirk for
themselves. A chapel for religious wor-
ship, and some repairs of the old prison
for female conyicts, with larger adj
ditiOns to the library, are projected.
II. THE COUNTY JAILs.
At each of the shire towns of the four
teen counties, there is constructed
building for the temporary detention of
prisoners, previous to trial and acquittal
or sentence for crime They consist of
one or two large rooms and few cells,
designed for the safe keeping of persons
arrested. On conviction of certain minor
offences, the law sentences to confine-
ment in jail; as for example: lewdness
in females, theft of fruit, careless use of
firearms, and certain offences against
the prOhibitory liquor law. The county
Sheriff has charge of the jail and he
usually appoints jailer who has the
special care of the premises. Religious
services arc occasionally held in them,
put there is no general law or rule on
that point. Some efforts nawa heen
been made to effect Improvements in our
Jail system, but as yet no practical re-
suits appear. In this, Vermont has
nothing whereof to boast.
III. TIE REFORM sCHoOL.
The Reform School was opened at
Waterbury, in 1866. 1t was instituted
mainly on the plan of the school at Lam
caster, Ohio, viz. that of the family.
In 1872 there were reported III inmates
The limit of admission is under sixteen
years of age The sentences are during
minority, furloughs and discharges being
discretionary with the officers of the in
stitution. The congregate system is
now practised. Boys only are admitted.
They are instructed in the elements of
the branches of useful learning which
are generally taught in our schools, and
are trained to industry, morality and
good order. The results, thus far, are of
a highly encouraging nature.
". THE HOME FOR DESTITUTE CHILDREN.
The Home for Destitute Children at
Burlington was founded in 1865, mainly
by the efforts of Miss Lucia T. Wheel
er, daughter of the late President Wheel
er. 1t was at first designed solely for
the neglected and destitute children of
Burlington. Its sphere is now enlarged
to the whole State, and it now occupies
the Marine Hospital building and per-
manent fund of $4,000 is nearly raised
for the institution Its working force is
a matron, teacher, a seamstress and
cook. During the seven years of its ex-
istence, it has received 10 children, and
provided 81 of them with homes in pri- |
vate families. It's present number is IS. |
The value of the ''Home" as preventa-
tive of vice and crime cannot be COM
puted.
V. OTHER EXTRAORDINARY INSTITUTIONS. |
There are one or two other institu-
tions for the young, similar in nature to
that of the Home, at Burlington, but |
having no statistics concerning them, | |
am unable to give the desired informa-
ton respecting their work.
CONCLUSION.
Such is brief view of the penal aud
rsformatory institutions of Vermont,