St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-20
CORRECTION AND CHARITIES.
The State Board Takes q Prison
Census.

The State Board Takes Prison
Census.
The state board of correction and
charities has taken its eighth semi-an-
nual prison census. The total number
or prisoners in the state of Minnesota
Dec. 81, 1891, was &c., of whom S3S were
serving sentences and 124 were await
ing trial. The number of prisoners
awaiting trial is fifty less than the num-
Der Dec. 81. 1890, and is the smallest
number ever reported. Of the S3S
prisoners serving sentence, 467 are
state cOnvictS and 81 are petty con-
victs, serving sentence in jails or work.
houses. The number of state convicts
IS one less than a year ago and only
twenty-five more than the number at
the close Of 1885, so that the increase of
state prison convicts in the past 81 X
years has been less than per cent.
The number Of petty convIcts is so
more than it was year ago, but most
of this increase is found in the Mime
apoliS city workhouse, whose inmates
have increased from 96 Dec. 81. 1890,
to l57 Dec. 81, 1891. The number of in
mates in the ST. Paul city workhouse
decreased from 1914 Dec. 81, 1SS9, to 1874
Dec. 81, 1890, and
Has Again Decreased
to lis Dec. 81, 1891. The total number
of prisoners of all kinds in the state has
increased 10 per cent in the past six
years and has decreased per cent in
the past two years. On the whole the
showing is very encouraging, and con-
firms the results shown by census bull
letlns. Census Bulletin No. 95. relating
to prisoners in county jails, showed that
while the average ratio Of county Jail
prisoners in the United States was 3l2
to the million, the ratio In Minnesota
was only loo in the million. Only three
states show smaller ratio-Vermont
with 80 in the million. Ohio with 137 in
the million and Maryland with 156 in
the million. of our neighboring states.
Wisconsin has 205 in the million; Iowa.
III in the million; Dakota, 100; Ne
braSka. POI, and Kansas 3O3.
That this favorable condition of things
in Minnesota is not accidental is shown
by the fact that the census of 1880 eX-
hiblted similar condition OF things.
In 1880 the average number of county
Jails prisoners to the million in the
United States was 253, in Minnesota 1874.
The state of Michigan showed the same
ratio with Minnesota; the state of Wis
cousin and of Vermont had each 1876
prisoners in the million. and the next
least-was iowa, with f57 prisoners to
100000 Inhabitants.
Census Bulletin No. ~, showing the
number of juvenile reformatories, ex-
hibits a similar result. Minnesota has
2lS children in the reform school for
every 100000 inhabitants Massa-
chusetts has 100; Kansas, 146: and
other Northern states have as small
ratio as Minnesota. The North Atlantic
states have 425 in the million. The
north central states Ito which division
million.
Census Bulletin No. 81, showing the
number Of convicts in penitentiaries is
equally encouraging. Minnesota had
332 convicts to the million. while the
general average is 722 to the million.
Only the states of Maine, New Hamp-
shire. Vermont, Wisconsin, Iowa, South
Dakota and Wyoming show as low
ratio as Minnesota. The states of Mas
sachusetts, New York, New Jersey,
Montana, Colorado, Nevada. idaho, Or
egon and California, together with all of
the Southern states except Mississippi,
have more than twice as large ratio as
Minnesota. California. with smaller
population. has nearly five times as
many convicts.
Census Bulletin No. LOG, showing the
sentences of convicts to penitentiaries
i'm 1890. shows the average length of
sentences to the Minnesota state prison
(omitting life sentences is four years
and 215 days.
Length of Sentences.
The following statement shows the
average length of sentences in a few of