Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-03-28
MODERN COUNTY JAIL
CALL FOR RADICAL CHANGES
IN ENTIRE SYSTEM.
Tho American Prism Association
Makes sonae Excellent sug-
gsstiona.

ledge call for radical changes in laws
and 10 the entire state system OF cor
rectioH and punishment But some d
the improvements demanded could b
made al once ID any county By an en-
| Iightened public and rigorous county
board The jail committee Of the
American Prison Association has
drawn up the following standard re
qai7ements for q really modern county
jail. The reader may Judge for him
self whether Or not there is room for
improvement IN this county
l. The Jail must be strong and
safe. There are architects and jail
builders who can easily and economi-
eally construct a jail 10 meet these
conditions.
H. The jail should be so built and
It's affairs so administered that the
health Of prisoners and officers shall
not be impaired Among the condl-
lions of health are:
(a) A sufficient supply Of simple,
wholesome food The best way woulu
be TO have the dietaries regulated by
a state commission of physicians.
Laymen have not the knowledge to
arrange balanced rations. suitable for
81, classes of prisoners Local physi.
clans may be authorized to direct diet.
IN the absence a state commission.
OBJ Clean anderciothing is essen
tial to health. and ii should be fur
nished by the county IL the prisoner
is too poor to pay for it. This under
clothing should be washed in 'aun-
dry and not In bath tubs. as some
times occurs.
(c) The bedding should be clean
when furnished and kept clean; no
prisoner should lie on his bed in the
day time. unless sick, in which case.
he should be in hospital ward.
(d) Ventilation should be secured
by providing a large cell, with win
dow opening directly TO the outside
air; and the air should be renewed
constantly bv forced currents through
pipes to the roof from each cell.
(e) Each cell should be heated
from a central system and the foul air
removed by forced drafts rhe air of
one cell should never be breathed by
any one, ave the single occupant Of
that cell.
GO Lighting For artificial light,
electricity is best, because it does not
foul the air, in summer it does not
heat the cell and it is most easily
controlled by the officers on guard.
Natural light is necessary to purify
the air and destroy bacterial and it
should come into the cell directly
from the outside A cell without sun
light is center OF infection for the
whole Jail
(gl The drinking water should be
analysed by competent experts, ana
if necessary boiled to prevent intes-
final disease Filters are generally
dangerous.
th) The waste water, with human
excremenHtous matter, should be dis
posed OF through approved plumbing
drains and sewers Cesspools are
dangerous as well as disgusting.
Night buckets cannot be kept clean.
CD Provisions for bathing should
be made by means of shower baths,
in screened compartments, and the
waste water conveyed by cement
| floors to The sewer. Tubs are means
of communicating yenereal and other
disease.
Cd Prov sions should be made for
at least oue-half hours exercise, tally
in the open air. Still better, if con
victed prisoners must be retained, by
some useful industry in the open air
or in well ventilated sheds or rooms
/ CD Recreations are essential tc
health if prisoners are held for some
months
% A jail should be provided with
hospital ward for the sick, or witt
special cells A physician should
call at least once a week, to inspec
sanitary conditions and should b'
ready to give advice and ala TO tbs
sick at all times. at the expense o
the county when The prisoner canno
pay
(m) The prisoner should not b'
crowded, for crowding vitiates th'
air and increases peril for contagiou
and infectious diseases. Eacl
prisoner should be in a cell alone
III Occupation. Idleness is injuri
Gus to health and morals OF tn
prisoner and burdens sthe public
/ IL l.