The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-08
REBORN IN TILE LAILS.
The state Prison Association's Observations
and Recommendations.

ALBANY, May I'm the thrty-fourth an
nual report OF tho New York Prison Assocla-
ton. which was presented this morning TO the
Legislature. tho points OF chief importance
which it comprises are:
Tho necessity Of reorganization OF the iails
and pentcntaries Of our State. so that they may
DO moulded into uniform and well-devsed
system Of correctional aud roformatory trent
ment for offenders.
The purging OF our criminal courts OF n class
OF shysters. who prey on the weak aud defence
less. who are brought to trial or are awaiting
the action OF the law.
The reduction Of the ratio Of criminals by
better treatment OF child offenders. and 10y in
creasing the responsibility OF neglec0ul parents;
and the necessity for fuller and broader study
In appendix f.. II. J., Dugdale contributes a
history OF the laws affecting tho penitentiaries.
tenders OF the grade OF misdemeanors and
keep them ut hard labor. Tho legislation
which has been passed In the last nifty years
has gradually changed tho character OF the In
mates so materially, that now all Offenders
from those upsetting nm ash barrel to arson and
murder. may be sent to these institutions. The
practice Of paying officers for the Transporter
ton OF convicts to the penitcntiary. while no
practical provisions are made for their return
10 their homes or the place OF their conviction
tends to make the penentiary the agent for tho
colonization OF convcts from distant localities
lntl Nne county IN Wlllcn ut IL
located In the paper on Reform IN tho
judicial and correctional treatment OF children"
the cardinal points of the subject may be thus
summed IN; The maximum responsibility OF
parents and guardians exacied by the courts,
the max mum OF violence offered to the sent;
mont Of domesticity and the ties OF kinship. and
the absolute abolition Of Imprisonment Of chill
dren under IA. except In the form OF mere de-
tention VIII awaiting trial.
The conclusions and Recommendations OF the
Executive Committee are not many, but they
are greatly needed:
First-That a national system needs to be
adopted to cnoctually separate the convicted
from the unconvlcted.
Second-That as the convicted cannot be
suitably provided in tho common jaia. and
ought not TO burden the county Sheriffs. the
common jail should cease 20 be used for cor
rectona or penal PURPOSES and suitable COR
rectional institutions are needed where the
hard-Abor sentence shall be carried into offect
ThiTdd-That To the officer upon whom is con;
ferred the power 10 enforce the iail laws should
also be given the power to enforce the hard
labor sentence.
Fourth-That the entire separation OF chill
dren from all other inmates Of the jails. and
the proper separation Of sexes and OF the dill
torent classes OF women should DO made obli-
gAtOry by the statute,
Fifth-ThNt tho jail records be kept strictly rs
the laws require.
And lastly. 1t urges an inquest into the ques-
ton ot jail and penitentiary management by
some conn etent commission,
In the Clinton County Jail the Inspector found
two young and athletic prisoners, one a black
smith and the other n farmer sentenced for one
year each, utterly idle.
locked in the same room with n debauched
criminal, who had been a hundred times in
jail and nine times In the penitentiary and
state prison, two little boys who had been
thrown into the county prison IA homeless
Migrants. and these were the pet companions Of
the degraded old criminal.
A young girl. the third time in jail in six
months was found in the same old prison. lost
To- hope.
In Niagara County Jail the Inspector found
several boy prisoners where the cells were
overcrowded. and these children were neces-
sarly exposed TO tho destructive influence Of
numerous degraded criminals who live on
shame.
The exchange OF competent and faithful
Jail Keeper for AN untaithful keeper was fol-
lowed by riotous disorder and twenty escapes.
In this cHse the culpable incompetency and in
fidelity Of the keeper ought 10 have been the
subject OF judicial and executive action. but the
people Of "A rich county supnely submitted to
tho misconduct OF the responsible officials
while other communities have suffered the con-
s"qu"nces OF the escape OF twenty artful depre-
dators
Iue Jails OF Columbia. Greene. Montgomery.
Oneida Ontario. Queens. Richmond. ana some
others are mentioned ~ rest houses for tramps.
and il is shown that a large proportion OF these
persons are habitual criminals the savages Of
civilization"
The Executive Committee OF the association
make recommendations to cover these evils.