The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-16
CONDITION OF JAILS
WILL BE CONSIDERED IN STATE
CHARITIES ANNUAL REPORT.
Many of the County JaiIs, 1t Is Said,
Are Foul and UnwhoiesOme-
Separation of Sexes.

In its annual report to the Governor. soon
to be issued. the Board Of State Charities
has given consideration to the condition Of
county jails in the State. 1t says thai
while here and there in the State old. in
convenient and ~unsanitary jails are giving
place to modern structures, better planned
and with improved sanitation, the move
ment has not been general.
Many of the Indiana jails are foul and
unwholesome.'' the report says. ''They are
poorly cared for and are without discipline.
Their physical condition is so bad that the
taxpayers would not excuse the neglect Of
the officers If they were properly informed.
Their moral condition is even worse. There
in are gathered together the professional
criminal and the inexperienced boy-the
unfortunate who is held as a witness and
the infested tramp. They are not sepa-
rated, but congregate together, becoming a
moral pesthole-a training school in crime.
Often women prisoners are lodged so that
they may readily communicate with men.
Even where the females are placed in sepa-
rate quarters it is no unusual thing to find
the walls defaced with the foulest writing
and the most obscene pictures. What an
atmosphere hCiC III III W OIluS a WOiu
an. In less than a half dozen jails is a ma
iron provided. Elsewhere, there is no one
to attend to the wants of the prisoners but
men. We cannot speak too loud nor can
the words go too far that the Indiana jails
and jail system are a disgrace to our
State.
Here and there one hears a person ex-
press the opinion that it is better that jails
should be dirty and unwholesome. If they
are so persons are more apt to keep out of
them. The fact is that with a Jail neatly
kept and thoroughly clean, where proper
discipline exists under the right kind of
administration, there is no inducement for
one TO go 10 jail, and those who are COM
PEELED TO go are moved towards better
thoughts and better things by having their
surroundings decent and clean. A dirty
jail and a dirty mind go together. 1t is i'm
possible to expect clean thoughts of an in
mate having filthy surroundings. Where
prisoners are permitted to associate. re-
count the stories of their crimes, gamble,
plan escapes or the commission of crime,
are supplied with warm quarters, comfort
able clothing and healthful food. Jail life,
to many, is not a punishment. Often petty
offenses are committed SO as to secure a
conviction, where, amid such genial COM
pany, the colder months of the year may
be passed.
Proper Jail administration provides for a
complete separation of the sexes, for thor
ough classification Of the inmates (by
which the boys and those inexperienced
shall be kept apart from the hardened
criminaD, and, further, for a separate cell
for each inmate This he should occupy,
except when engaged in some work or
when taking exercise in the prisoners cor
ridor. In this way inmates are not brought
together and cannot have the social time
they do otherwise. Whatever damage is
done to the Jail and it's property can be
certainly charged to the one who does it.
For such misconduct or failure to keep the
jail neat and clean, the use of improper
language or other violation of the rules.
punishment can be inflicted by a lessening
of the rations or by confinement in a dark
cell, If there Is such. Cuspidors should be
provided and prisoners required to use
them. In a Jail conducted under such
methods the expense is reduced: IL is easily
kept clean and in good order; the fixtures
are not destroyed; the moral condition of
the inmates is not made worse by their Jail
life and persons will not make an effort to
get into a prison where their entire sem
tence Is to be spent i'm solitary confinement.
Thus. a notable result will be a lessening
OF the number OF prisoners and a constant
decrease In the expense OF maintaining
them. But recently. while in a jail con-
tanning twenty prisoners, who were con-
gregated. playing cards. telling vile stories
and otherwise enjoying themselves. IL was
suggested that the Jail should be kept
cleaner. the property I'm better repair and
there would be less liability TO escape and
assault IL each man were assigned TO a
separate cell, where he should remain when
not employed in doing some necessary
work. Immediately afterward two of the
10 lock each In a separate cell that was the
last time they would be caught in that
jail"