The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-01-15
GRADE TILE PRISONERS.
Convicts to be Divided Into Three
Glasses According to
Behavior.

| The plan Of John j. Roberts. warden of
| the state prison located here. TO grade
! the convicts has heon approved in part
| by the state board OF control and the Sys-
TEN will be put i'll effect as soon aS pos
bic. The warden has been instructed Ia
| purchase 900 yards of striped material
Tor second grade men suits and opt
yards of red for the third grade The
warden : recommendation regarding dis
clpiIne have not yet been adopted by the
board, but 1t is believed they will be-
Details of Proposed System.
Warden Roberts proposes to have three
srades-tirSt, second and third. In eX-
| planning the system the warden saws: =.
would grade the entire population as see
| ond. All OF those graded second ut this
| time, whose condition is without fault for
SIX months. | would advance L. first mt
the end of that period. All who from the
nature and frequency of their uffpnScS
give evidence of iuCorrigih;lity. | would
degrade as soon as it becomes apparent
| that to degrade would have Salutary cf-
iect on the offender and the inmates in
general.
a man in third grade will remain there
unts he gives good evidence of rcfurna-
ton. In no instance will an advanc,
from third grade be made inside of thrre
months from degradation. and advance
from second grade will not be made soon
or than six months from entry to that
grade. Extraordinary conditions Will oc-
casl"n deviation from these limits quite
often. l anticipate.
All convictS received will be graded
second. Unless degraded III the mean
time. they will be advanced to first at the
end OF SIX months perfect conduct. Should
second grade man be reported during
his SIX months probation. he will not be
advanced before six months from date of
H.l ON rod NJ. ,,rlt. y,-yl I.s
retained in first grade whose conduct iS
not perfect"
Distinction and Privileges.
Speaking of distinction and priv
ilegcs the warden says: ''Au in the first
grade will wear Il black uniform cap and
gray coat, vest and pants without stripes
They will be excused from hair-clipping,
but will be required to wear their hair
cut after a uniform pattern. If first
grade @'an becomes negligent Of his per
sonal appearance and shows such lack
OF Sclf-reSpect as not To appreciate the
opportunity given him for improving his
appearance. he will he reported and there
by degraded. lrcSentmentS. of course.
require cleanliness and ncatneSs Of person.
'PrivilegeS of first grade as to mail and
visitors Will continue as under existing
rules for all inmates, Privileged posi-
tons III domestic work Of the institution
Will be filed by first grade men only.
in the mess room on the first floor. to be
designated as first grade mess room and
Will have the best variety of food pre-
pared for inmates. Supper Will be eaten
III cells as heretofore with no distinction
between grades. Members of all grades
will he smoothly Shaven until they receive
shaving tickets. \ shaving ticket viii he
given each inmate six weeks before his
discharge, and it Will excuse the holder
from shaving and hair cutting. Only the
| first grade viii be given the liberty of cell
rooms or yard Oh holidays.
Second Grade Privileges
"The second grade will wear a gray
and black striped uniform. Members of
this grade will be permitted to mail but
one letter each month-that on the first
Sunday of the month, the state supplying
stationery and postage. No visitors will
be allowed 10 see members of this grade
unless it appears to the satisfaction of
the warden that business interests re-
quire it. This grade will eat breakfast
and dinner in the mess room on the upper
floor. to he designated as second grade
mcSSroom.' The food for this grade will
be substantially the same as for the first
grade. Fewer rcliShcS and less variety
will he the only difference.
THE third grad" will wear the scarlet
It will be fully as conspicuous as black
and white stripe. and can be kept in con
dition at less expense than the stripe
An mcorrigible nan should be made
mark-an example for the others To
profit by. Members of this grade viii
eat all their meals in their cells. The
food will toe Well cooked and cieauly
served, but il will be the very plainc>t
diet consistent with good health. The
third grade will he deprived Of all privi-
lcgcs such as mail, express. tobacco and
visits.
NO distinction will be made between
grades until Il first grade Is eSta bliShpd