The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-16

progressive classification and proba-
tionary parole has shown itself more
efficient than any other in reformato-
ry results.
In America our weakest point in
prison management is our county
Jail system, and thus far we have
been unable to remedy it to any large
extent.
The System in Massachusetts,
In Massachusetts, separation, or at
least classification, is now quite gen.
eral. In Pennsylvania there are a
few jails in which separation has
been enforced for many years. In
Ohio we have score or more of iails,
built expressly to secure separa-
tion of prisoners, and we have a stat
ute making it unlawful to keep pris-
oners in association, where the con-
struction of the jail will admit of sep
aration, but thus far, with few ex-
ceptions, the law is dead letter.
In Minnesota considerable progress
has been made, and recently law
has been passed cutting off State aid,
heretofore allowed for the support of
county jails, unless the separation of
prisoners is enforced, where separa-
tion is possible.
With these few exceptions, the
association of prisoners in county
jails, with all its corrupting influences,
is universal throughout the American
continent.
Thus far legislation, even when
enacted, fails to correct the evil, and
probably will continue to fail, SO long
as its enforcement is left to the county
| authorities, the same as it did in Great
Britain until the jails were put under
the control of central authority.
The Duty of the State
So long as the State imprisons peo-
pie for violating its laws, it would
seem to be its plain duty to care for
its prisoners, not only after convic-
ton, but also while they are awaiting
trial in county jails.
Prisoners are the wards of the
State, and certainly it is the duty of
the State to protect them from abuse
and from moral contamination in the
county jails.
For the State to arrest it's citizens
for violation of its laws, and then
turn them over to the tender mercies
of county authorities, in whose ap-
pointment it has no voice, and over
whose official conduct it has no con-
troll, is an outrage which ought to be
corrected.
Creation of a Prison Board.
The remedy would seem to be the
creation of prison board, as has
been done in Great Britain and Ire
land, and recently also in Massa-
chusetts, with power to dictate the
administrations of county jails.
In Great Britain and Ireland the
prison boards control convict prisons
as well as jails, but in America this,
perhaps, would not be advisable; but
certainly it is the duty of the State to
care for prisoners in county jails as
fully as it does for those in peniten-
tiaries, and until it does this it per-
petrates wrong upon its citizens.
The separate confinement of pris-
oners not only prevents the contain
mating influences of association, but
it also greatly increases the security
of the Jail.
Benefits of Separation.
Separation also prevents the annual
influx of tramps, who, under the laws
against vagrancy find a welcome
shelter during the winter months,
where they are boarded. at public ex-
pense and have jolly time with their
associates, and lay yplans for the cam
paign of the coming summer.
The State, also, ought to provide
district workhouses, where tramps
and all other misdemeanants sent
enced for less than one year can be
sent and compelled to earn living
by hard work, leaving in county jails
only prisoners awaiting trial.
This policy would make the con-
struction of large jails unnecessary,
except in populous cities, and would
be more economical and far more
efficient than the present system.
The usual argument against separa-
tion or solitary confinement, as it is
commonly called, is that prisoners
cannot get sufficient exercise, and
hence it would be injurious to health.
This objection, however, is easily
obviated In jails built upon the
Ohio plan, except in large cities with
too many prisoners, each prisoner can
have an hour by himself for exercise
in the central corridor. without seeino,