New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-01
IDLENESS IN PRISONS.
DREADFUL EXPERIENCE IN KINGS
COUNTY.


PRECAUTIONS AT SING sING-DR. sPirzKAs
VIEWS ON THE WORK TO BE PROVIDED
The report made by DR.. W. H. Bates and j..
J. O'Connor from which it appears mat en-
forced ideness in the Kings County Penitenu-
airy has caused seven prisoners 10 become III
sane in a short time. and that others are on
the verge of mental collapse brought before the
public again the question which has frequently
been discussed in the columns OF The Tribune
When by the operation OF the new Cohsu'u
ton the contract shops were closed in the Nar-
Gus prisons 1t suggested that many Ills
would follow in the wake Of idleness ana SOIL
tary confinement, and the best authorities agreeu
with The Tribune in the stand when IL TOOK
at that time Steps were taken to reduce the
danger by giving employment TO as many con-
ycts as could he used to do jobs about the
prisons, and In order to keep the idle gang
down to the lowest possible number warden
Sage Of Sing Sing. devised many plans which
were put into successful operation.
Although the time between the enforced
shutdown and the operation of the warden
new methods was short, only few weeks 'he
deterioration in the physical and mental con-
dtion OF the convcts was noticeable TO the
most superficial observer Stone cutting, build
where the clothing and shoes for other state
institutions are made gave employment TO
majority of the inmates, and schools in draw
Ing modelling carving and other usefni arts
furnished means for killing time for convcts
who would have been unemployed but Tor THESE
provisions The consequence is that LOO of
the 1900 convicts in Sing Sing are now en-
ployed and the results are satisfactory
PRIEF IDLENEss HAD AN EFFECT.
Mr.. Sage says that he is unable to give an
opinion as TO what would follow long term Oh
idleness because he has had no experience in
that line 'Idleness. enforced or voluntary
he said lis detrimental under any circum-
stances and all authorities agree that men III
confinement degenerate if unemployed The
term of idleness at this institution was so SNORT
that little can be learned from our experience
except that during the few weeks the prisoners
were more excitable. less obedient, and not so
we'll physically"
Or Edward c. Spitzka said that all author
tiles agreed as TO the ill-effects OF idlehesS III
prisons. but they agreed also in saying that
many cases of insanity in prisons were par'ialIy
due TO causes and predspositions which ante
dated the Imprisonment.
with many" he said there has existed
TO insanity bef,re the crime was committed
Then there is a class with whom the excitement
and anguish connected with crme-remorse'
the uncertainty and suspense pending trial ana
conviction are causes which might do much
toward unbalancing the mind even If they were
previously healthy persons. The latter series Oh
causes are mos. likely to operate on those whose
crimes are no; in moral sense felonlous' pu' 'ie
outcome Of passion. In either or THESE TWO
classes the experience of prison physicians Is
that the worst outbreaks Of insanity occur III 'he
first three months of incarceration ana WIN
gradually decreasing frequency till the end OF the
first YEAR Those who become insane aller lie
first wear and who have passed the ordeal OIL
examinations and the first shock OF lhcaIcerd-
ton. may be regarded owing their insanity 10
the effects of prison discipline and prison sur
roundings.
UNDER ORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
"Tbis number has been variously estimated.
Sentiments lists have made 1t as high as one IN
every thirty-seven, an estimate when Is que 10
errors in statistical methods. Extremists, on the
other side have made the number one IN every
twenty five hundred. My impression is that IN
sanity occurs more frequently in the case of
long-term men than in the class known as snort
term prisoners. and a fair average would be only
oned popu,ation. One in one hundred and fifty or
,u.o hundred and fifty would he fair estimate.
"Those who like Delbrtck and kim, have
.,udied this matter closely nave found that an
overwhelming majority of cases of the insanity
IN prisons is due to the Pennsylvania, or solitary
confinement, system or other FACTORS lhN"Ni"6
morotony II is known that such SURROUNDINGS
favor the development of hanucinanohs Oh near
Ing. Add 10 this that even the most despairing
convict has some faint hope or belhe paiuoheu
or favored by an unexpected turn or the Wheei OF
fortune and his broodngs end dsappontmehts'
together with the fancied SOUNDS are lihei! W
develop decisions of persecution. lie iahcieS
~ he ,s heing bounded. rairoaded. watched
and deprived of his privileges for Interior 'ii'''-
cal purposes .. -.
at has been found that in the treatment oi
tina insane one Of the best preventives or de-
,,,s,ors is occunation What is remedy in the
.,,ros for developed insanity should be ten
,ires &C efficient as a preventive IN cases Where
,rsanitv is likely to develop and this, think
answers the whole question Of the desirability
., tho emp,oymcnt Of prisoners. even if no other
reasons existed.
Dr Spitzka referred 10 the report maze py
Jobn Baker physician to the Pentonve prison.
This renort shows that after the conVlctS VINO
were predisposed to insanity had been sifted out
of the % 600 who were sent to the English local
prisons In one year ffty-three became insane
or these. twenty showed symptoms OF insanity
IN the first two weeks; twenty Eight within SIX
montbs and five later than that time and be-
fore the expiration of the year
THE, KIND OF WORK TO BE CONSIDERED
.Nv experience with prisoners is limited"
said the doctor, but as a physician l came in
*
at this time because it shows that In order 10
he effective the nature of employment for con-
yicts should be considered. To put feeble old
man whose only real labor has been clerical,
at the cobbler's bench in stone pit, par
,.,dar exac;iny and thOughtlesS