The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-01

Ter arranged in order TO receive a detailed
statement of the condition of affairs from
every subordinate in the prison manage
ment. He has had a room partly set apart
for the filing of the reports. Around the
walls of the room is a row of hooks with
the name Of each department painted
above 1t, and the subordinates are required
to bring In their reports on the special
blanks prepared for the purpose, and place
them upon the proper hooks before a given
hour each day. The deputy warden makes
a daily report of the number of prisoners,
the number ~reprirnanded and punished. the
condition OF the yards, the condition of the
shops and other details. The clerk is to
give particulars regarding the business
management of the institution, the finances,
the dealings with the outside world, etc.
The physician is to tell the number of pris-
oners under his care in the hospital and
out. the condition of the bedclothing and
other details of a similar character. The
chaplain is to mention the number or sick
men he has visited in the cells and in the
hospital, is to tell the number or officers
who have used ~angua while on duty UNI
! becoming an officer, the condition of the
| prison chapel, and the number Of prisoners
attending the night school. The night cap
tain reports regarding the burning of lights
in the cells n in the yards, the order
maintained in the prison throughout the
night, the temperature in the ~cellhouses,
the names of the officers who calne In after
IL o'clock, and other Information. The
steward tells of his table appointments and
OF the ulIllIB room anu kllCIcI, Tic tlSC-
trician reports about his machinery and
lights; the laundry and tailor repair shop
about all the work done: the dollhouse
keeper about the condition of the cells,
their furniture and inmates, and so on;
the remainder of the list including reports
from the chief engineer and others. and
also including a daily estimate, particulars
OF the bill of fare and details OF the farm.
This system of reports Will be required or
the men and will furnish a valuable record
OF affairs, while at the same time aiding In
maintaining proper discipline.
OTHER INNOVATIONS.
Among the things that will come soon,
or in time, will be many things of minor
Importance. A series of lectures will be
| arranged and some speaker of note will
make an address to the prisoners about
once a month. A complete telephone and
alarm system, which will be a great con-
likely be installed. 1t is possible that at
some time a printing office may also be
established. as 1t would prove both conven-
lent and economical. AT present everything
for the prison is done by it's inmates. ex-
cept the printing.
Previous to 1897 the prison at Michigan
City was called the Prison North, and the
one at Jacksonville was called the Prison
South. All the men convicted north of the
igan City. and all south of the GEN.
ter to Jeffersonville, Irrespective Of age
Prison North the Indiana State Prison
and the Prison South the Indiana Re-
formatory, and provided that all men
over thirty years of age, all convicted of
treason, all second term men and all SEN
fenced for life should be sent to the State
Prison at Michigan City, while all under
thirty years of age except those sentenced
for life and for treason are to go to the
RefOrmatory at J~effersonville At tbe same
time the lash was abandoned as a mans OF
was substituted, the lock step was done
away with and the men allowed to walk
two abreast, and the graded system was
introduced. Two of the chief parts of the
law were the indeterminate sentence and
the parole feature. Formerly a man was
sentenced for a certain length of time, all
of which had to be served except a small
| per cent. that could be taken off by good be-
havior. Now the sentences. are for from
one to three years, one to fourteen years
two to fourteen years and two to twenty
one years, conditioned upon the clrcum-
! stances of the case. When the prisoner ar
( rives at either institution he is clothed In
the garments of the second grade, which
are made of gray and black checKereu
ssG insr T Saborer W0s Street ets OUTFIT paSi If the man
obeys all the rules strictly he is placed at
the end of three months in the first grade,
| and then gets a suit of blue-gray clothing.
If his good department continues he is al
lowed to write two letters and to receive
two visits a month. ATTRACTIONS of the
rules are DuTlSneu With IcuOtbioh eO.HSS
| second and even to the third grade. which
latter calls for the old familiar prison
stripes and cuts off all the privileges OF let
ter writing, visitors and tobacco. The pa
role board meets at the prison once a month
and those men who have served their mini
mum sentences and have not violated the
rules of the prison come before the Doard.
Their cases are investigated, and IL every
thing is favorable arrangements are be-
| gun to secure employment for each man
| until he receives his final discharge. Eacn
man is required to make regular reports
to the prison officials every month for at
least q year. If everything is then favorable
he can be granted his final discharge. put
ii may be that he will be kept on parole
until the final expiration of his maximum
sentence his conduct and circumstance
| the agreement o which he is paroled ne
is to be returned to prison at once. Inc
law has been working well and seems 10
be highly satisfactory to the prison ON,
| Gals. to the prisoners and TO the general
public. .s
The report to the State Charities Board
| for the year ended with October SHOWS,
| at that time, a total of 7S prisoners. eleven
officers and thirty-six guards. There were
expended the following amounts: For sal
aries and wages, $34, 319.5S; for provisions.
$50. SIG. Sc: for clothing. $~5,163.31; for the new
steam plant. supplies, furniture, statloherS
| and other sundries. S0,O52.10. and Tor re-
pairs and Improvements, $3;5W a io.ai or
s123, $40. 16 for maintenance. During the year
the institution received from the state
s137 66. OF: from labor contracts, Si2, 40
from Keeping United States prisoners, %,-
921 on. and from miscellaneous sources,
corr 70. All the income is turned In 10 the
state. and comes back to the institution
on acquisitions.