Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-16
NEW PRISON REFORM.
The County Society Wants Legislation
to Keep Boys From Jail.
FOUNDATION FOR A LIFE OF CRIME
Laid While the Offender Awaits Trial For
Some Petty 0ffense.
WHAT THE PRISON AUTHORITIES SAY

The Allegheny County Prison Society is
considering a proposition looking to the
elevation of the Juvenile class of Jail prison.
ers. This is matter that has been talked
of for some time, but nothing definite has
ever been done. The society is taking hold
of the subject in earnest now, and if their
objects are accomplished, the time is not far
distant when Pennsylvania will have legis-
lation making it possible to keep boys under
sixteen years from going to Jail at all for
petty offenses.
A large number of boys are arrested for
trivial ofenses, and committed to Jail for
court trial. In this county, especially,
where there is always very large Jail cal
endar, the important cases are heard first
and the petty ones left to the last. II boy
is committed early in the term he is in Jail
several weeks, and sometimes months, be-
fore he gets his hearing. His Jail experience
often lays the foundation for a life of crime,
and this, it is claimed, is not only demoral-
izing to the boys, but to society in general.
NO ONE TO BLAME.
There is no reflection to be cast on any one.
The lack of legislation is the only cause for
such q condition. If boy accidentally
breaks mans window, although he has
never committed crime in his life, if that
man insists on the boys arrest for malicious
mischief, the magistrate has no alternative
but to send the boy to Jail. The result
aimed at by thePrison Society is to provide
some plan by which bows arrested for all
offenses less than felony will be placed in
some secure place under the charge of
matron or keeper, entirely isolated from
prison surroundings and influences, until
he can have a hearing. An effort will also
be made to secure more prompt and speedy
hearings or dispositions of all such petty
cases.
Rev. E. r. Donehoo was seen at his West
End home last night. He said: sit used to
be that such thing as boy getting to Jail
was never heard of. Now it is a common
thing. Magistrates in sending them there
for such trivial offenseS, nearly three-quar-
ters of them so much so that they are SIM
ply absurd, are in a measure responsible.
They ought to advise against the arrest of
boys until they have inquired into the mer-
its of the case.
TRIVIAL oFFENsEs.
"Boys are arrested frequently in ALE
gheny for simply jumping over the fence |
into the parks, and the officers persist in !
locking them up for hearing. I am in
formed that Mayor Pearson has pro-
tested against the practice repeated
ly, and has complained to the
Police Committee in regard to the
matter. I have known a large number of
very unjust arrests and the effect is extreme
ly demoralizing in such cases. In Boston
the boys are strictly isolated from the jail
prisoners, each one by himself. Every day
a man, appointed by the courts for the pur-
pose, makes the rounds of the Jail. When
ever he finds boy committed for a petty Of
tense he demands an immediate hearing.
The boys get the preference over everyone
else. The Court hears and decides the
whole case. BOYS are never allowed to be
confined more than "a hours without hear
ing, and if he is convicted he is sent to the
Deer Island Reform School or to one of the
State schools. If it is thought advisable
the Court hears the agent, who is supposed
to examine into the previous character, and
if the boys reputation is good and be has
never been arrested before he is placed in
the hands OF the agent, who gets him home
and looks after him.
''It is essential for the good of the COM
munity that the boys cases should be dis
posed OF first In court, and there ought to be
a more strict surveillance placed over the
magistrates, to see that they are not too
|
they expect to get out of them. We must
stop this crop of criminals somehow, and 1
know no better way to begin than with the
boys. In this county 600 to 800 boys and
young men, who have never been in prison
before, must be arrested within the next
year if our criminal record is to be kept up.
They have not committed any crime vet,
but the ranks of the criminals must be filed
up at the cost of many darkened home
and the detriment OF society"
MR.. MILLIGAN's VIEWS.
Rev. J. L. Milligan, chaplain of the
Riverside Penitentiary, spoke in much the
'ame manner. He referred to law in force
n some other States where the court ap-
points guardians for the boys to be answer
lble to the court. If the boy behaves him
Ielf he is never committed, and after the
irst offense he is not followed further for
Many Of the boys arrested are
Taifs without home or parents, and little
ARE would prevent many of them from be-
coming criminals. 1t is the intention to |
rave legislation such as this passed in {
Warden Berlin said an effort had always
'een made to keep the boys away from the
Dther prisoners in the county jail. 0neside
# the north wing is used entirely for the
,oys. They are not allowed to associate
With the other prisoners.
Rev. D. F. McGill. pastor of the Sixth
]. P. Church of Allegheny, was seen after I
he prayer meeting last night, and said: 81
lotice by this mornings papers that have
been elected member of the Prison Society, {
md not being conVersant with the subject 1
annot say much about it. was not at the '
Meeting yesterday, and do not know what is {
proposed. On general principles, however,
can say that am opposed to sending boys
o prison. 1t hardens them, and makes
hem lose their self-respect. do not think
t is right to send them there, as the bad in ]
luences surrounding them only make them
Enrse. When Ynn nlana hovs W hera thar