The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-09
What John H. Patterson
Has Done for New Jer-
seys state Prison.
TEN YEARS or IMPROVEMENT
Radical Changes for the Better
in DicipIine and Sani-
tation.

Prison.
Most serious is the dutyaof even at
tempting to change bad men into good
ones. The qualities needed are entire
.se~lf-devotion, a calm cautious judg-
ment, great firmness of purpose, steadi-
ness OF action. a keen insight into tina
spring ofahuman conduct, a true sympa-
thy and morality above suspicion. These
are qualities possessed by the Principal
Keeper, as viewed in the light of his own
administration
Upon assuming charge of the prison
on April %, 1886, Mr.. John Fl. Patter-
SON ought to famhiarize himself with
the workings Of such an institution. He
at once resolved to administer a govern
rnent different from p~reconceived theories
and at variance with ali known methods
HIS reappointment on March IS. 1897,
bears testimony of the success of his en-
deavors. Critics. who aooked Upon his
ideas as absolutely impracticable. today
freely acknowledge the fa~r-reaching in
1uence of the humans treatment estan.
lished in that institution.
One of the first and most important inn
provements made by Keeper Patterson
was to abolish corporal punishment. The
repulsive sight of convicts hung up by
their thumbs or securely fastened in wags
has never been seen under his admins.
tration. So yStrictly must his deputies
abide by the law that not a single in
stance of Entertainment has occurred dur
ing the ten years of his keepership.
Lest this abolition of such barbarous
punishment be taken as an Indication
of a misplaced se~ntimentaDty. Keeper
Patterson thus reasons upon the prob
lem:-
IT is essential to a reformatory prison
treatment that the sef-respect of the
prisoner should be. cultivated to the ut
most, and that every effort be made to
give back to him his manhood. Hence
all punishments that inflict unnecessary
pain and humiliation should be abolished
as Of evil influence. and instead the PEN
atty OF prison offences should be the
forfeiture of some privilege or of a part
of the progress made toward liberation.
Corporal punishments ten to brutal
ize the prisoner. They can never open a
road to a mans heart. They destroy
They crush the weak and irritate the
strong and indispose all to submission.
and reform"
Each man is made to feel that he i.
a necessary adjunct to the proper man
agement of the institution. The effect Is
that the discipline has attained absolute
perfection. This is the direct result OF
reasoning and counssiling with the pris-
oners instead of punishment in the dark
cell. TIL latter is only used in cases OF
unusually refractory men. 1t now rarely
occurs that the cell is occupied at all.
only two -punishments being made in a
weekly average. This is a remarkable
fact for a daily total of 9S2 convicts-
Thus the experiences of many years has
shown how correct Mr.. Patterson's ideas
We're from the start, and that a good dis
otpline can be maintained without fire.
quent ~recourses to punishments. The ma
jority of prisoners are led to obedience
by the moderation and justice displayed
towards them by the administration.
They no longer look upon the officers as
their sworn enemies, but feel that they
are their friends, and the ideal under
greatly facilitates the discharge of the
Formers responsible duties.
Regarding the method of serving meals
to the convicts, a change has k
marched to their cells at snoontime to
remain there to be called to a table which
was spread in the hall of the wing. One
hundred and fifty would be present at
each sitting, all being required to COM
mence and finish the meal by signals.
Ten minutes was usually allowed for
each meal. Today the prisoners have the
entire noon hour to eat their meal, the
avoids the necessity for haste and also
gives the officers the advantage Of the
hour.
Formerly the washed clothing was dis
vicious system, as the germs of noisome
diseases were thus distributed among the
healthy. Now the sound convict can no
longer receive the garment of his associ,
ate. Every article of clothing bears the
owners name and after each washing is
returned to him. So rigid are the regu-
lations concerning underwear that ar
engagements are now perfected whereby
the clothing Of diseased prisoners is
kept separate from the healthy ones.
Under the former system the convicts
were compelled to battle in tubs. exposed
to one another as well as to the officer.
There was no prope tempering of the
water. A bathroom Is now furnished
with cold and hot water and ranged so
that every man has an apartment to him
self. Thep risoner. IS concealed from OBJ
s~ervation, except his head and feet, the
officer in charge commanding a view of
every prisoner.
room with a s~torekeeper is also a marked
over old and expensive
methods. TIL store, formerly kept by
various hall keepers. are now Kept by the
stipulated times are filled by the store
keeper. A correct amount Of the issued
articles Is kept, n it can easily be seen
an officer used more goods than
Is necessary for his purposes. On the
other hand, it is readily known whether |
he draws sufficient for the comfort and |
OF his men.
The bedding is clean and often renewed, |
and the heating, and ventilation we'll reg
A resident physician is always present
In the prison, and in addition a physician
OF high repute visits the institution daily. |
The statistical reports of these practition-
ers are the best testimonials of the good
condition of the place.
For the moral Improvement of the pris-
oners. In addition to the regular prison
chaplains, men and women of all denom-sl
are freely admitted to the prison
and allowed to onver with the in
A choir has been formed Of pris-
oners and song service is held at the
close Of every days work. This IS cal.
to awaken memories OF the past
and to soften The hearts OF the hearers.
Al copy of the Bible is kept In each cell |
9 supply Of instructive and enter
These are changed regularly every two
weeks.
The result Of the fire service is exceed
gratifying and the officers are thor
instructed as to their stations
duties connected with the same.
Another very essential reform i~nstitu-
ted By the present principal keeper has
of the workshop. In this hall prisoners
who are sent on errands from the differ
shops were wont to congregate and
there devise schemes utterly subversive
OF good prison discipline. This pu a check
on conversation with draynen from the.
tected in the ~conveyance of surreptitious
letters and various prohibited articles.
A night force was also established, re-
lievin& the day men from extra night
duty. The officers who formerly patrolled
the yard are now placed IN towers which