La Junta tribune., 1908-03-21
The county has


ventilation is poor and the Close
proximity Of the closets to the celli
is very dangerous from a sanitary
point Of view. The only bathint
facility is q tub in the department
devoted to the men. There Is M
tub in the woman's section.
There is no provision for the ex
ercise Of prisoners. particulari,
bad case in view of the fact tha
three cells with floor space OF 3O'
square feet contained twenty-serer
prisoners at the time Of inspection
This means that there were bu
eleven square feet for each prisonel
and one Of them growing boy.
Absolutely no provision is made
for occupation. All that the pris
oners can do to pass away the time
is by reading and playing cards
Otero county has apparently a goto
opportunity for reformation. I"
Some of the requirements for a
model Jail cannot be met simply by
changes in the structure and admin
istration Of the iail itself, but some
of the improvements demanded
could be made at once in this county.
The Jail committee of the American
Prison Association has drawn up
some standard requirements for a
really modern county jail. The
reader may judge for himself
whether or not there is room for i'm
provement in this county. Some of
the requirements which might be
adopted by this county are as fol-
lows.
The bedding should be clean when
furnished and kept clean. No pris-
oner should lie on his bed in the
day time, unless sick. in which case.
he should be in hospital ward.
Provisions should be made for at
least one half hours exercise, daily,
in the air. Still better. if convicted
prisoners must be retained, by some
useful industry in the open air or in
well ventilated sheds or rooms.
Idleness is injurious to health and
morals of the prisoner and burdens
the public. Prisoners awaiting tris
should have an opportunity of work
ing for wages, and if convicted per-
sons. must for time. be kept in
Jail. they should be compelled to
work at some useful and productive
industry.
II the Otero county jail was in
spected during the past year by an
inspector Of the American Prison
Association it was without the
of Sheriff Potter. The
present sheriff and his predecessor.
Sheriff Barr. assert that at no time
were there ever twenty-seven pris-
oners confined in the Otero county
Jail. The fact that the present Jail
is inadequate for the needs of Otero
county has long been known by both
the county commissioners and the
peace officers, and the last grand
jury in session in this county recon-
mended that immediate steps lie
taken to enlarge the structure. The
matter has been considered and dis
cussed by the county commissioners.
hut nothing has been decided upon.
Not only is the county Jail too small
but there is an urgent demand by
the county officials at the court
house for more room. The county
commissioners some time ago con-
sidered the advisability Of submit
ting to the voters of Otero county
this fall proposition to issue bonds
and raise the necessary funds to en-
large both the Jail and the court
house, but since the Inauguration OF
the financial stringency have had a
severe attack of cold feet and de-
cided that the occasion for submit
ting bond issue was not opportune.
Otero county is growing, and un-
less bond issue is submitted this
fall to provide funds for enlarging
both the Jail and the court house. it
will be two years before similar
opportunity presents itself. The
present indications are that within
two years the population of Otero
county win nearly double. In that
event the county will be very seri-
ously handicapped for lack of room