Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-14
PRISON CONDITIONS.
RICHMOND MINISTER'S DISCUSS
PEyITENTIARY MANAGEMENT.
THERE IS GREAT OYERCROWDlEG.
The Most Pressing Need of Enlarge
mcnt Exists-tppOintmcn Of n
Chaplain Recommended The Pri-
son management Commended.

Governor Tyler received yesterday the
report OF a committee Of ministers of
this city who have recently made an in
vestigaton OF the state pcnitentary.
The ministers. as anticipated by the
Dispatch some weeks ago. dwell upon the
terribly crowded condition Of the prison
ana the resulting evils, and urge that the
state Legislature make an appropriation
Tor the enlargement OF The institution.
The appointment Of a chaplain, to be
paid by the State, is also urged. also the
creation OF an advisory committee to act
with the chaplain In keeping the prison
ers in communication with the religious
public. The management Of the prison
is unrcservedly commended.
The report is made by ministers who
were gwen permission to enter the prison
az any time and TO make such iuvestga.
ton Of any department as they saw ht.
1t is as follows:
Richmond. Va. November /, 1909.
To His Excellency, the Governor of Nir-
Dear Governor.-We the committee APP
pointed by YOU 10 inspect the peniteu-
tiary and make known 20 you our i'm
prcssiOns of It's condition and needs,
ana o. make suggestions FOR It's improve
mcnt would respectfully report:
We have visited all departments OF the
penitenuary. some Of them several times.
We found the superintendent. Assistant
Superintendent. and other officers inVa-
riably kind, courteous, ana accoIilloI
dating. and our work was facilitated ana
made more thorough by their kindly sdb-
gestions 49,,
we expected 10 find the prison crowded
but We were not prepared Tor lhe oNei
crowded condition which we found 10 ODD
tain. As citizens Of the proud C1ih-
monwealth Of Virginia, we were Illuminated
TO find the prisoners herded IKE ca.',,
i'm some instances more IMAM twenty III
The ventilation is bad. IN some Of the
cells Vcrmin were visible on me no1I7
ana walls. though il was evident that me
authorities were making fMthlul tloi -
towards cleanliness. From the DOCKS re-
oording puuishments, and from pIlson-l -
we learn that fighting is very col. .., 80 ~,
owing. I'm part. at least 10 the n"I =, 80
az men I'm such close proximity. We W =
- 7,,re brmiiiated when we N-rihrd
tba Statement we had heard mat lnc
revenues OF the prison are annuaiI3 II.a
forty 10 fifty thousand dollars otEi Si -
expenses. We would most eaI II0oitii orNTe
e.s+ that YOU urge upon the Leslsia'u q
fhof humanity, deCeucy, salety, anu wy. w
dirrifv If the state demand that lhcI0
La more cell room provided Wlhout "a
law IL seems 10 las that onIy ~
Providence. i'm blessing lhe Nl5l,''','I eni-
the officials. has so far preNe"'e" 'f'
0'i''''7' 4 CHAPLAIN NEEDED.
W., believe that the discipline or lhe
nrison. the best interests OF 'if 'r,-ciflre
while they are cOnhnSu' cru me, are
~ The commonwealth alter lneS 81
U5 ..'I ,vij be greatly furthered by lhe
1.l,rl,,.,,trnenf of a chaplain Tor the penn
Tertiary. ,-o,,ta bo an officer of
the institution He snou ilI,, i,le lie should
ElSIo' m ,rbo enter the prison Tor Ieils.-
nus purposes. and impress uPOi I,,rnose
tbat they are there lor ta&&tt - knov,
alone. lie snoulu haro itn.6ttted and why
v-bat uunishments are ihnlc'Cui; -, CO.. ne
49, inflicted. and 10 WlileSS 'NS
same if he think best 10 90 So 5i,,,-rooro
NJ. would suggest that p IeaeI"5 ,hjch
be established IN lle pI.a,.inr at proper
90 "a reward for good behaV!of, ~ % ~
,,,,re and under proper restnGu1hs, ~
.','lrs i,e allowed TO come; ana that uilS
dloortment be under the charge Oh the
'l5 W. Would suggest that a committee
onr,inted bv the Governor from the va
rious religious denominations OF 'ile O" ,i,,
I'm civ off the Commonwealth nc -
stituted an advisory Dogi be lawful and
lain. so that there may ne Ia", ~ , 81
reHahla communication between the pr
SON ana the religious pubic.
Observation-Disclosures ACT.
We were much gratined TO learn ihat
the condiuonal-pardon act mas pI9Neu ~
som We hear that not one Of about one
hundred who have left the prison under
he provisions of this act has been ar
rested for violating his pledge 10 observe
the laws of the state. p,
I've would suggest that You recommend
that the act be so amended that ITS pro-
visions may apply more equit9bly to those
who were prisoners before us pa i5 s =.
The record of many of these would pro-
L9blv nave been better If this door OF
hone had been open when the door INTO
fha world was shut against them.
Respectfully submitted.
RevD r. A. GOODWIN,
RevD GEORGE COOPER,
tRevD W. y. TUDOR