Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-07-21
FILTHY AND
DARK JAILS
So Says W. P. Lyons, President
Of the State Board OF
Control.
MATTER TO BE INVES-
TIGATED IN THIS CITY
Nothing Uncommon to Find Jails
Without BedsteadS or
Bedding.


mayor from w. P. Lyons, of the state
board of control, declaring that many
jails and almost all the lOck-upS and
police stations in the state are kept in
a dark, filthy and unSanitary con
dition and recommending that persons
in charge of such places take immedi
ate steps to relieve the deplorable
condition Officer Gibson has been
given charge of this matter and will
do all in his power to carry out the
recommendation of the letter, if such
conditions exist in this city. Mr..
Lyons writes as follows:
'In many instances the buildings
are inadequate in size; the number OF
cells too few: the cell room too dark
frequently there are no beds and nc
clothing or bedding of any kind is
kept for the convenience of the prison
erS; the lavatory facilities are in.
sufficient and the plumbing is always
detectives; the cells and cell rooms are
not kept clean, in many instances not
having been swept or mopped fol
months. But few cell rooms have the
proper light or heating system and
there are a number of jails where no
provision is made for the keeping of
women prisoners.
"It is no uncommon occurrence that
the person arrested is thrust into a
cell where there is no bedStead and nc
clothing or bedding Of any kind. The
prisoner is expected to sleep on bare
plank. Outside of the cell room is a
small stove, where fire is kept only
part of the night, even in the cold
est weather. Frequently hammocks
are used instead of bedsteads. These
hammOcks consist of pieces of strong
cloth six feet long and about two feet
wide, which are stretched from one
part of the cell to the other, which
distance, as a rule, is six feet and are
most inconvient contrivance imagin-
able to rest on and are even worse than
a plank. 1t is not uncommon to find
a number OF prisoners cOngregated in
one room, where they are allowed tC
read dime novels, play cards and smoke
at will
Because Of the universally bad
conditions of these places, the board
of control deems it advisable to issue
this circular, recommending that the
persons in charge Of them take i'm
mediate steps to relieve such deplor.
able condition. The board suggests
that improvements be made as follows
THAT sufficient windows or open
ings be provided in the walls of the
jails or other prisons to admit the
necessary light and allow proper ven
tilatiOn: that the cell rooms and cells
be thoroughly cleaned and kept so,
and that they be repainted whenever
necessary; that the keeper of each
prison shall keep such prison con
Stantly clean and healthful, and, as
far as may be, the persons and cloth
ing of the inmates also as required by
section 1850 of the statutes of 1898
that provision be made for room tC
keep women prisoners, as provided by
section 1852; that the necessary anC
proper plumbing for water and lava
tories be provided, and that the same
be kept in clean and proper work
ing condition: that each cell be
provided with only one bed, to consist
either of a prison bed or spring
fastened to the walls Of the cell, ane
to be furnished with proper mattreS.
and the necessary bed clothing az
provided by section 1854: and tina
each cell room be supplied With th'
necessary stove or other apparatus fel
heating, SO that the cells may be KEEP
warm at all times.
at should always be borne in min(
that an Inmate who is serving /;
regular sentence should be dealt will
as prisoner. and that to allow Sucl
inmates to congregate, play cards
smoke and read improper literature il
highly Objectionable 1t is furthe
recommended that each police office
keep the same record of all person
arrested by him and kept in any lock
up or police station, as is required b,
subdivision of section 725 of sai(
statutes to be kept by sherffs 0
prisoners committed to county jails
SO that the board of control may a
once be apprised as to the number o
people that may have been kept il
such place of detention auany specified
time. Officers in charge of any of th
places above mentioned for the deten
tion or confinement Of persons charged
with or convicted of crime are earn
estly requested to use their bes
efforts to improve the condition there
OF in accordance with the abov
recommendations
Wanted-A middle aged gentlema
to do collecting and other work CA
at least devote half of his time
Address room 2, Elgberry block
Stevens Point Wis