The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-03

atory officials who are honest in their
work, that is the lock-step and use of the
that these Anticipated methods are not used
In all cases of punishment, but they are
used on some inmates every day in the
year and the baneful effect is felt upon Off
Ger and inmate alike.
No attention is now or has been given in
the last six years to the separating of
the young boys from sixteen to twenty
from the more experienced men in crime.
With cell that is heated and ventilated
at large expense to the State for each
man in the institution, you will still find
two prisoners in one cell, which is admitted
by well-informed superintendent to be
one of the worst conditions that can exist
in such institutions.
You will find a large number of inmates
afflicted with tuberculosis, and that no at
tention has been given to this class of pris-
oners with a view of placing them in a
separate dollhouse and in separate cells
where special treatment and exercise can
be given them, but they are permitted TO
be scattered all over the institution until
all the cellhouses and cells are permeated
with the germs of this disease; and to make
this condition worse, the bedclothing and
bedding is not aired for months at time
and never taken out and given sun bath,
which is a good sanitary precaution.
The present mode of punishment is known
as solitary confinement. which consists of
Handwriting the inmate to a barred door
of a darkened cell, with practically no ven
tilation, for twelve hours, and the remain
ing twelve hours he is compelled to stay in
this darkened and poorly ventilated place
with his hands free. This he must do for
a number of days at time. His diet con-
sists of four ounces of bread and two quarts
of water per day.
EASY VICTIM OF DISEASE.
Owing to the total absence of light in
these cells and the vitiated air, due to a
poorly-constructed ventilating system, the
inmates physical condition is so reduced
that his powers of resistance are brought
to a very low ebb, thus making him an
easy victim to the ravages Of the diseases,
and as a natural result the contracting of
tuberculosis in some instances, while in
others, who have either the above-named
disease or syphilis. it is conductive to the
rapid development of the same. One day
there were seventeen inmates in these cells
and another day there were eight.
These conditions should be corrected as
soon as possible by using wellrlighted and
well-ventilated cells for punishment, which,
in the Judgment of experienced men, does
not lessen the punishment, but will ma
terially reduce the deleterious effects.
1t must not be all sentiment on the ques-
ton of punishment. Just and humane pun
ishment should be melted out to all violators
of law and with such system and regu-
larfty that the offender will not want to
again return to prison.
We should be very careful in the grant
ing of paroles; no outside influence, either
personal or political, should be allowed in
the granting of any parole. We should
feel that our duty to the people Of Indiana
lies as much in keeping those who are not
susceptible to reform methods within the
walls of the Reformatory for periods justly
commensurate with their crime as ii does
In letting good prisoners out at the earliest
possible moment.
In granting paroles our decision must be
determined by the prisoners record for
as determined in the study of his tenden-
cies. habits and ideas shown in his prison
life and his previous history, by a study of
the nature and circumstances of his crime,
employment at living wages when released
on parole, or has been schooled in some
trade whereby he will be able to make his
living
1t is well-established fact that the
criminal most dangerous to society Is the
most apt to be model prisoner, in the
observance of prison rules and regulations;
therefoDe a clear record in prison is not
the only ground on which the prisoner
should be paroled.
Actual experience in the study and han
ding of criminals, knowledge of human
nature in general and impartiality in tudg-
ment should be the main requisites on
which we base our Judgment to success
fullES determine the proper time for a pris-
oner's release on parole.
The public, for whose protection laws
are made, should be as carefully consid-
cred in the granting of paroles as is the
prisoner whose liberty depends upon our
judgment.
There has been spent $4155S SO In the last
six years at the institution in specific APP
propriations to better the physical condi-
ton of the place, but to-day the water sup
ply is totally unsatisfactory. The water is
received from two sources, viz. the yeffer-
sonville Water Supply Company, which is
Ohio river water unfiltered, and the other
a we'll in the institution grounds. DIR.
Sharpe, the prison physician, has this to
From an examination made by the
secretary of the State Board of Health.
the well water shows no disease producing
bacteria, but contains such amount of
inorganic salts that ii is rendered practi-
cally worthless a steam producing agent
and being well water, it is to be looked
upon with suspicion for drinking purposes
in that the wells in this vicinity sometime
during the year usually show contamina
ton.
THAT the river water contains several
forms of bacteria, according to reports
heretofore made, is pointedly borne out by
clinical observation, since that there has
been scarcely a time during the time this
water has been in use for drinking purposes
that we have not had one or more cases
of typhoid fever: this not being the case
prior to its use. Further, by the fact that
since we have been occupying A and Il cell
houses which not provided with river
water while cell house is seven-eighths
OF the cases of diarrhoea occur in the &C.
cupants of the latter cell house.
This is condition that can be and should
be remeded at once by the proper Ultra
ton of the river water and | urge that
you take this mater up with the Governor
at once, looking to speedy correction OF
the water supply.
HOSPITAL POORLY BUILT.
The hospital. which was built at cost
of $1,000, and is supposed to be modern, is
lily planned for the purposes intended and
has not. according to the physician, proper
facilities for treating tuberculosis which
predominates in this institution. IL Is a
well-establshed fact that the best treat
ment for such patients is plenty OF air and
sunlight and there should be at once con-
structed a broad veranda along the south
ern and western exposure of the hospital
for the purpose of giving these patients
the necessary breathing space.
You will get a better idea of the physical
condition of this institution by compari-
son of the physicians report with the re-
port from the Indiana State Prison, as fol-
lows:
Reform State
atory. Prison.
June 80 1902 to June 80 1903.
Inmates treated in cell ,276 442
Inmates treated in hospitai.... 10 III
Deaths ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Is %
Fifteen of the deaths i'm the State Prison