Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-08
RESULT OF THE REFORMATORy IN
yEsTrGATIoN SUBMITTED.
BOYS SHOULD NOT Be SHACKLED.
The Committee suggests Putting In
corrigfbIes in Cages When Neces-
snry--No Cruelty Fouud-several
Bills To Improve the system.

formatOry. The BODY met IN the morn
ing and approved the report, as frame,
by the chairman, DIR. Winston, and thu
latter presented II to the House durinl
the morning hour, and II was placed OF
the calendar.
The report while favorable to the
Prison Association of Virginia and il:
present board, states that the power:
conferred upon it, in the opinion of the
committee, are too broad, and suggests
that the control Of the institution should
be in the hands of the State. There is
no charge made of cruel treatment, but
the committee thinks that the punish
ment inflicted in some cases was too Sc
we're. and that the use of shackles should
be discontinued. They recommend that
instead Of shackling a boy, he should
be Gagged, If necessary. to adopt extraor-
binary means to bring incorrigible
youths under control. The comnsttee
has no fault to find with the food used
at the reformatory, but thinks that the
! inmates should be better clothed.
Accompanying the report were four
bills. the object of which is 10 change
the present law as to the commitment
| of minors to the reformatory, so that
in all cases there shall be a conviction
before any boy is sent to the institution,
and limiting the term of imprisonment.
THE COMMITTEES REPORT
The report of the committee is as fol-
| lows:
ITO the Members of the House of Dele
gates:
"Your Committee on Asylums and
| Prisons have made a careful investiga-
ton into all matters pertaining to the
Prison Association Of Virginia, common
" known as the Laurel Reformatory. as
we were required TO do by resolution
which passed this body on the nth day
of January. 1898. copy of which resolution
Is hereto attached.
1.-THE Prison Association of Virginia
was chartered by Act Of Assembly ap-
proved March 3, 1890.
1.-THE charter of this association is very
broad and comprehensive, and conters
large powers upon the association, which
powers. together with subsequent acts
passed relative TO the commitment
to care, and support OF minors
by the said Prison Association
are of such a character as 10
warrant your committee in thinking
that the control of said Prison Associa-
ton OF NlIElllld SlOulu NC III Ah' nfAiNo
of the State. In making this suggestion,
we are not unmindful Of the high charac-
ter of the present board of that associa-
ton. and think IL but proper to say that
in our judgment they compare favorably
with and are equal In every respect TO
any board in this Commonwealth APP
pointed by the Governor 10 the various
public institutions. The members of this
board. with the exception of the secre-
tary. work without compensation. and
the labors imposed upon them are both
exacting and arduous
FINANCIAL CONDITION.
1.-The financial management of the as
ISOLATION. so far as your committee nave
been able to ascertain is above criti- |
cism. and any impression that may pre-
vail among the people that it Is. or can |
be made a source of revenue is errone-
Gus. 1t is only by the exercise OF the |
strictest economy that they are able to |
meet expenses. and even now the assoc
citation has a debt upon it of $500.
ut is the judgment Of a majority of
YOUR committee that there has been 70
cruelty practiced towards any Of the in
mates by any of the officers of the said
association, but the majority of your
committee are constrained to think that
the punishment in some cases has been
unnecessarily severe, particularly IN
reference to the application Of the badge
system in lengthening the time of deten-
ton Of the boys in the custody of the
Prison Association.
so far as the food furnished the
minors i'm the custody of the Prison As
ISOLATION is concerned, the large prepon-
derance of testimony taken by your COM
mittee warrants us in the assertion that
If is not only well prepared. but ample
in quantity and of a satisfactory KIND
and character.
"Your committee regrets exceedingly
to have TO say that in the judgment of
ma iority of the committee the inmates
are not properly clothed during the wiz
ter months. but in justice to the board
we desire to emphasize the fact that we
do not believe that there has ever been a
made to the board by any one
unon the subject Of insufficiency OF
clothing. and with our personal knowl-
edge of the members Of the said board,
we feel that had such a complaint been
made they would gladly have remedied
the matter TO the extent that the finances
Of the association would have admitted.
PUT THE BOYS IN CAGES
''The use of shackles at the association
does not meet with the approval of
majority Of your committee, and we feel
that other means could be pursued to
bring incorrigibe boys under proper cen
troll. which would be less grating TO the
public. and less calculated to carry with
4 a feeling Of a sense Of degradation,
and would at the same time be equally
as efficacious And. in this connection,
would suggest that IL would perhaps be
we'll to prepare a few cages TO be used
as substitute for shackles. We will
say. however, that the board and the
of the association thought
;hackes preferable to continent.
I'm the judgment of your committee.
he Governor should have the right TO
pardon any minor who is committed TO
he Prison Association If, in his judg- !
nent. Executive clemency would be war
'anted This view of your committee :
ogether with their judgment as to the
necessary changes to be made I'm the .
present law governing the commitment :
md care Of minors 10 the Prison Associa- !
ion. will be submitted for your conside- !
alton in the shape of a BILL OF which J
We respectfully ask as speedy a conside-
alton as the House may think proper
inder the circumstances"
THE COMMITTEES BILLS I
The four COMPANION bills presented by
Or. Winston as a part of the report, con- a
ain the following changes in the present ! g
aw: o
l. There shall be a conviction in ali o
he care of the Prison Association. q
4