New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-03
BLAcKWELDs ISLAND INSTITUTIONS
THE REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY IN REGARD
10 THEM, AND THE COMMENTS oP
RFCoRpER sMYTH

inc January Grand Jury discharged yesterday
ol heconer smyth. IN the Court OF General Sessions.
Lno Grand Jurors visited the city institutions on
DiaoA"eus Island on Friday, and they embodied tho
resuit OF their observations IN report which was
signed by Theodore B. woolsey, the foreman. and
Lockwood De Forrest, the secretary OF the Grand
jury and was handed to the Recorder The Grand
Jurors can attention TO the crowded condition of the
hinsnonse and Workhouse Tho number Of men in
ue 'Ainshouso is s93, and Of women 04e. "of this
NUMBER the report continues, $50 were sleeping on
sua" beds laid on the floor Of the wards The num-
Der Oh officers (ony thlryonel is not sufficient for
'ne proper caro- and supervision Of the inmates. of
whom $50 are confined to bed with acute or chronic
diseases" Buildings now under construction will re-
neve the over-crowdlng to a certain extent
Inc Workhouse Is spoken Of as too small for tho
present needs Of the CITY, and unfit for use as prison
OF reiormatory. Each cell Is occupied by at least
iour persons, and the wing Of tho building Will
anou only partial relief The report continues
Inc association Of young and old offenders in the
worAhouse Is one Of tho worst features of
inc institution, since among the older offenders
~ 10 found some Of tho most degraded men
ana women In the city, who in the Workhouse have
constant opportunity 10 corrupt others This inevita-
Oily results in the increase Of vice and crime In this
city, as the comparatively innocent young girl or
boy committed for the first time to the Workhouse
ana thrown into close oompanionshp day and night
Win such persons, must become contaminated, and
In all probability will become confirmed ofender'
In the last year s4e boys and o01 girls under twenty
years old were committed TO the Workhouse. about
onehaf Of them for the first Time The report says
TO save these and other boys and girls and TO pro-
tect the city from them the Grand Jury recommend
that two adult reforaatories DO established by the
CITY authorities. Tho constant accompaniment for
short terms Of old offenders is also great evil to
which the attention Of the judges Of this city and Of
the Legislature should be directed. During the year
1883, Of tho total commitments, numbering 1925,
10 per cent Of the men wcrc FOUNDERS, and Of the
women about 40 per cent OF the total commitments
about onehah were sent UP for ten days. Ono
woman was committed twenty three times in twenty
Eve month";
Recorder snyth has for many years advocated the
establishing Of & reformatory for young women. He
thanked the Grand Jurors for their investigation, and
said that he agreed with the Grand Jury that tho
forms they suggested in reference TO tho institutions
on Blackwels Island were needed and that he would
forward their presentment TO the proper public au
thorites lie had used HIS influence for several years
past for having reiormatory institution somewhat
like the Elmirs Refomatory, where females who for
the first time had committed criminal offence, IN
stead OF being committed to tho Penltentfary or Work
house, they must be under the existing laws could
DO sent and be given the same opportunity Of reform
ing that was afforded 10 young between the ages
Of sixteen and thirty who for the first time had com
mltted crime amounting 10 felony. From IS to
so per cent OF the persons committed TO that instu
ton never came back into the criminal courts. That
was the very best certificate OF the work of tho In
stituton. The suggestions made By the Grand Jury
were very valuable, coming from body OF citizens
at heart and who had always taken such deep In
terest In the enforcement Of tho criminal law.