The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-14
FOR PRISON REFORM
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SENA-
TORIAL COMMISSION PRESENTED.
Cannot Use COnvicts on the High
ways-Intermedinte ~Penitentiary
Our System Out of Date.

oughly. The resolution upon which the COM
mission was based had particular reference
TO the employment of convicts in the max
ing of highways. The report disposes Of
this idea, however, by declaring that in the
opinion of the commission the building of
highways by convicts is not practicable in
Indiana nor best for the convicts. The cost
of such labor on. highways is declared TO be
as great as free labor and ii is claimed
that the working of %convicts in public
places where they can see and be seen has
a hardening effect upon them. The commits
sion does suggest, however, that at an
early day the State procure stone q~uarries
with the necessary buildings and stockade
where confirmed criminals can be used in
quarrying and crushing rocks for the pub
lie highways.
The commission then goes into a some
what elaborate discussion of the question
of prison reform, in the course of which
it declares that the Indiana system is far
behind that of other States. The commits
sion makes the following recommendation:
Therefore, in order to secure that guar
dianShip of our prison population the franz
ers of our Constitution declared 10 be the
object of Imprisonment, your commission
recommend:
"Ffrst-The establishment OF a reforma-
tory for certain classes of criminals con-
victed of certain grades of crimes.
"Second-The passage of a law making
the sentences of all persons found guilty
OF felony, indeterminate, with a right of
parole when they have shown themselves
entitled thereto. The indeterminate sentence
is now in successful operation in several
States, and where introduced meets with
universal approval. 1t has probably gone
further TO advance prison reform than M
other one thing. 1t obviateS many Of the
evils of the determinate sentence. 1t gives
each convict a chance TO work out his OWN
liberty. 1t says to the prisoner, 'You have
violated the law. You have forfeited your
right to the comforts and protection of
society. The court has determined that
you are a mt man TO be sent to prison. 1t
en- your liberty. That will depend on your
conduct. When you show that you are a
fit person to re-enter society, you can do
so, but not till then In all prisons having
the indeterminate sentence, the authorities
have established grades through which the
convicts much pass or to which they will
be reduced for commendable conduct or in
fraction of prison rules. These grades are
distinguished by difference in dress. The
grade of a convict is known and can be
instantly determined by the color of his
clothes. An inmate must remain a specified
time continuously in the highest grade be-
fore he procures his conditional release or
parole. A conditional release or parole
comes after a certain amount of commend
able conduct That is only conditional: the
prisoner being still subject to certain regu-
lations which, If followed. entitle him. aft
er a certain time, to an absolute discharge,
or, if broken. TO %rearreSt and Imprisonment
when he must again work out his right to
a release. 1t is apparent that something
will nave to be done at an early date to
meet the growing demand of the prison
population. Felons, like the poor, are al
ways with us. They must have care, both
for their own protection and that of So
ciety. Indiana now has two prisons, one
at Jeffersonville and the other at Michigan
City, at the extreme ends of the State. Both
are overcrowded. The Prison South has 5S4
cells, and 500 prisoners-nearly ~ to n cell.
The Prison North has 720 cells and SOL pris-
oners-131 more prisoners than cells, Both
keep a small number of cells fUr the re-
ception of fresh arrivals. so that in both
prisons a large number OF cells are occu-
pied by two prisoners. In every biennial
report the cuStodianS OF both prisons cry
for more room. 1t cannot much longer go
UNDECIDED. The fact is that neither prison.
at this time, is fortunately located. espe-
cially as to accessibility. At the time of
their location IL was otherwise. The Prison
North is poorly constructed. The buildings
are nearly all in a deplorable condition.
Tn" last report calls for large sums TO put
it fin a passable condition. The Prison
South also calls for large appropriations
for necessary repairs and buildings. II is
certain something must be done in this di-
rection. Your committee Is OF the unani-
nous opinion that the solution lies i'm the
construction of Il refOrmatory TO which all
persons convicted of crime, from the ages
of seventeen to thirty, inclusive, shall be
sentenced. Localities easily accessible by
rail could be induced to contribute land
sufficient for such an institution. which
should not be less than half a section, and
a good water supply, besides much towards
the construction Of the necessary buildings.
A stockade and temporary barracks could
be erected on the ground, and c~onvicts from
the prisons, under the supervision Of out
side labor. could burn the brick on the
ground, DO the stone. brick and carpenter
work, as well as much of the other work
in the construction of the necessary build
ings. The expense to the State would not
be near so much as it would cost to put
our present prisons into proper condition.
and of a size sufficient to properly accom-
modate the prisoners sent there.
'Third-To relieve the present congested
condition of both prisons and make 1t posi-
BILE to properly care for the persons convict
ed of crime in our State courts. we recon-
mend the passage of q bill to exclude what
are known as federal prisoners therefrom.
There are now thirty-five of such prisoners
In the Prison North and eighty in the Pris-
on South. The amount received barely COW
ers the expense of feeding. clothing and
guarding them. Nothing is paid on account
of the expense caused in erecting or main
tanning the prisons themselves. IL these 15
convicts were removed the enlargement of
the prisons asked for would be less urgent.
and the prisoners OF our State could be
better housed and cared for. Another rea-
son why this should be done is that the
presence of federal prisoners is very de-
mOraliZing in it's effects upon the others.
Their treatment must be different from
that of the other prisoners. They canno
be used on contract work, hence they get
many OF the easy 1ODS- BECAUSE ol ltllS
there is less to induce a states prisoner
to strive TO do better. for no matter how
hard he tries there is little to be gained
by his efforts as our prisons have been
managed.
'Fourth-We also recommend the passage
of a bill authorizing courts to suspend sem
fences in case of minor offenses, giving the
custody and care of persons convicted there
of to officials or societies who can and win
supervise the conduct of such convicts and
give them a chance To avoid being confined
l., SafI- or rrfCnrC nrn1 80 fh1r Ghnp- a do
sire To be good citizens. to their
discharge.
BILLS have been prepared in the form
thought sufficient and proper TO bring about
these reforms. and will be introduced by
this commission. when the duty will rest
upon his assembly to make them laws or
take the responsibility Of keeping our
great State far back i'm prison reform. civil
lization and humanitarian progress. An
other and very important change must be
made In our system of prison management,
if the best good of the State and those con-
fined therein is to be subserved. They
must be taken out Of politics. and while
we have not discussed and do not report
any plan for so doing. we feel and know.
as senators ana individuals, that much. il
not most of the good. that would come to
our State by reason of the passage of the
bills reported will be lost if the prisons
we now have and that proposed are not
taken out Of politics and the best and most
efficient officers secured TO manage and
control them without regard to their pOliti-
cal prediction. That this Legislature may
find the right way 20 accomplish these re
suits Is the most earnest wish of the con
mission