The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-30
TWIN DENOMINATIONS
Is What Mr.. Griffith Seems to Think the
Norfolk and Portsmouth JaiIs.
1 THEY NEED REFORMATION BADLY
Thinks the distinguished Gentleman
and Tells Why-IIc Did Not Like
tho Noise lie Heard or tho OdOrs
Vhnt Greeted His Investigations
Recommends IL Reform Asso citation

Those who frequent the jails Of Nor
| folk and Portsmouth, as we'll as some
more fortunate humanity, will remem-
Dor a little, queer. old gentleman who
visited these Institutions of sorrow not
| long ago. asked q great many questions
| with his lips and eyes, and kept his
ears open, on both sides Of the river.
This gentleman was no less q parsonage
| than Mr.. G. S. Griffith, president OF the
| Maryland Prisoners Aid association,
| a man who apparently knew more about
| jails than the average mortal has for
gotten, Cor Is 1t vice versn?).
Well. Mr. G. S. Griffith, president of
| the Maryland Prisoners Aid nssocia-
! ton. has returned to Maryland, and In
! the columns Of the Baltimore American,
enlightens the world on the results of
his trip. MS follows
THE NORFOLK JAIL
II visited the city jail at Norfolk In
the absence of the sheriff, 1 was shown
through by Mr. D. b. Cain / found
about one hundred inInates-about the
| usual average. Seventeen are females,
who are kept separated from the males,
and about twelve boys, charged with
robbery, and one charged with rape. 1t
Is the custom in the Jail to allow all the
| prisoners out Of their cells at o'clock
III TIC III ic!IOOD iOr exercise.
During my visit. while In the sher-
iff's office could hear the great noise
they made and very profane language.
one prisoner especially seemed to de-
light in this degrading talk. l took oc-
caslon to talk with him, and found him
willing to listen and be admonished
This intermingling Of all classes Of
prisoners is extremely denoralizing,
particularly to first offenders and the
young. This is 4 misernbly constructed
jail appliances for classification
and no wonder no satisfactory results
can be obtained. It Is constantly crowd
cd with lnen. women and children,
learning lessons in vice, and forming as
sociations that lead them into chronic
criminality.
THE Jail Is q three story brick build
ing, with three tiers on each side. The
cells are dark and gloomy, scarcely adj
uniting pure air and sunshine. T can
but pronounce 1t q disgrace, and q
schooi TO graduate criminals, and it Is
astonishing that Norfolk, with pop
ulation Of only $4,000. should have from
Nv 70 LOU prisoners constantly in the
jail. There seems to be no means for
reformation. Religious services are
held by the ladies Of the city, but this
can have but little effect while the
present system and such ind discriminate
intermingling continues.
Inc sanitary condition Is bad This
jail Is strong argument for the need
or prison reform association for Nor
folk"
IN PORTSMOUTH.
I also visited the city and county
1a.ls at Portsmouth, these buildings be-
Ing connected. In the city jail found
IS prisoners, including 3 women and
two boys from IL to 16 years of age.
Win no thought Of classification. Eight
prisoners were confined for serious char
ges or robbery and arson. and others for
petty oiTcnSes
The Norfolk county Jail contained so
prisoners, men and women. Seven were
hlSane-nVe Women and two men. Some
Oh these insane had been there for
months I was Informed that the osv-
tun lof colorcd insane was OycrcrOwd-
ca, SO these unfortunates were left in
ihis prison. which is an outrage. as
tnelf treatment as worse than should ba
given to animals. These buildings arc
paalE constructed, with low ceilings.
| some OF the cells so dark and gloomy
you could scarcely see the OCCUPANTS.
excluding pure air and sunshine. Some
Oh Ihc cells contained five, six and even
! seven prisoners. This Jail, especially,
needs an overhauling The sanitary
| condition is most shocking I spoke
very plainly to the lady. who seemed ia
nave charge about whitcwashing, and
also called the attention Of the MAYOR
ana others to the bad condition Of these
JAMS. and am In hopes, from the com
ments published of my criticism OF these
institutions. that improvements will be
made, ana particularly so in regard tc
| the care Of the insane"
|