The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-01
AT THE STATE PRISON
REPORT or DIRECTORS AND VAR
DEN FOR THE PAST YEAR.


REPORT or DIRECTORS And VAR
DEN FOR THE PAST YEAR.
Tho Prison Overcrowded-Ch Changes and
sane Ward-Occupation for the Pris-
oners.
The annual report of the board of di-
rectors and Of the warden of the Con-
necticut state prison for the fiscal year
ending September 80, 1897, will shortly
be submitted to Governor Cooke. The
directors state that the year was mark
edfby growth in the population of the
prison, by an expansion of the physical
plant of the institution and by changes
in administrative methods. The report
says with reference to the number of in
mates:
THE average prison population, far
surprising that of any previous year,
and exceeding that for 1896 by 27.5, was
1925, but even this fat figure fails fully
:
state, for, owing to the limited cell
room at the prison, convicts are detain-
ed at the county jails throughout the
last half of the year awaiting transpor-
tatfon to Wethersield. The growth of
the institution during the past five
years, following a long period during
which the population was substantially
stationary, has been constant and at
times rapid. Such an increase, which
has now developed a condition of con-
gestion, involves new problems in pris-
on finance and administration and be-
gets additional responsibilities Of man.
agement. A considerable addition of
cell room, accompanied by greater facil-
!. lilies for the productive employment Of
convicts is an urgent need of the early
future"
The report alludes to the thirty-two
additional steel cells which have just
been erected in the west wing, and to
fhe commodious insane ward which is
nearly completed, and which will put an
end to the Objectionable custom of
transferring insane convicts to the Con-
necticut Hospital for the Insane at Mid
dletown Discussing the grading sys-
L
Gays:
1.-THE grading system under which
canvicts are divided into three classes,
/ in accordance with their antecedents,
disposition and prison conduct, was in
augllrated at the opening of the fiscal
year, and it marks an important de-
partlre in penal administration in Con-
necticut. The honor Of membership in
the first grade is warmly appreciated,
and the special privileges which are &C
corded to the prisoners Of the first grade
in the matter Of food, correspondence
current literature and bi-weekly liter
airy exercises are eagerly sought, high
w priced, and, once attained, rarely
forfeited. After a years test the direct
ors feel justified in affirming the I'M
qualified success Of the grading system
1t renders aid to the prisoner by sup
plying him with opportunities for self
help and with motives for sustained
good conduct, and assistance to the ad-
nlinistration by infusing into the con.
victs more hopeful and obedient spir-
it, and thereby improving the disci-
pline and reducing the percentage OF
4 pdfishnents. Thus far it has not beer
the policy of the directors to promote
to the first grade any who have suf-
fered a previous conviction for felony
The discipline which has prevailed
among the inmates has never been high
er than since the grading system be
came operative, and the percentage o.
prisoners violating the rules of the in
stitution has substantially diminished.
.The parole legislation, which wa.
recommended in the last annual repor
Of the board, and which in a very con
sentative form was enacted by the gen
eral assembly, is a fitting supplement
to the grading system. The law author
ICES the board of pardons under sucl
regulations as it may establish, to re
lease upon parole first term convict
who have served at least half of thei
full sentence, whose prison record sug
gests probable reformation, and TO
whom suitable employment has beel
obtained. The parole system is de
signed to promote within prison wall
the qualities which make for good citi
zenship and to repress tendencies whicl
may rfpen into habitual criminality; i
involves official recognition of loyalty
fidelity and honest endeavor; and it af
fords an opportunity through condi
tional liberation, to test eonvicts fit
ness for absolute release. The director
thoroughly believe that any measure
which equip prisoner-especially
first term offender-with incentives t
continuous good behavior, and thro1
about him helpful and friendly inf1u
ences foster the best interests of tn
commonwealth. Upon the first appli
cation of the law four prisoners, approx
ed by the warden and the directors
were released upon parole"
The report refers to the literary an
debating society which has been or
sganized among the first grade convict
under the direction of the prison au
thoritfes; to the establishment of
monthly prison paper, and to the in
creased number of sessions of the eve
ming school in which the elementar
branches are taught to limited nun
Der Of convicts. Upon the subject c
prison mortality the report says:
During the year only five deaths oc
CURED from natural causes and tn
mortality rate was materially belo,
that which obtained in the state g
large. Although the rate was abnol
rnal1y small, and although it would b
hazardous to predict the permaner