The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1909-04-29
Prisons Everywhere Are Overcrowded
More Criminals and PauPes Are Now Confined State and County
Institutions Than Ever Beore-Hard Tines and
~ - Undesirable Aliens Are Chiefly Blamed.

sus recently showed that In tie work
house on Blackwells Island there
we're 1925 men and $40 women serv-
ing terms ranging from five days to
six months, all for trifing offenses.
In the. Harris Island Institution
there we're 653 men and 'thirty-seven
women, and at Riker's Island 262
males were housed. Besides, there
are scores Of prisoners committed to
the workhouse who have been trans
ferred to the different detention
prisons scattered throughout the
greater city to do the cleaning. Ac-
cording to the figures of the Commits
sloner of Correction obtained recent
ly, there was a grand total Of 3014
prisoners at present regularly COM
mitted to the workhouse.
From all over the State the same
reports are receiVed-crowded pris-
ons, thickly tenanted warehouses and
an ever increasing demand for admis-
sion to almshouses.
The overcrowded condition of peni-
tentiaTles and prisons In New York
State is not peculiar to this State.
Special dispatches subjoined indicate
that similar conditions prevail in
many other States. New York prison
officials attributed II to two circum-
stances-the hard times and the in
iux of undesirable aliens.
Courts Less Lenient.
n.-Massachusetts Courtyard
State reformatory and prison institu-
lions are crowded at the present time
as they have not been for years. The
as NhnwffFn4 ofNWfhVVHa HhFa 1FNtaa 60
the establishment Of juvenile courts,
leading to the arrest and conviction
OF many petty lawbreakers who here
tofore have escaped with a repri-
mand. Besides, they say, the courts
of late have in very many instances
imposed sentences where previously
they have put the accused on proba-
ton. The probation plan has not
worked out as satisfactorily as 1t was
hoped.
Hard Times Blamed.
Philadelphia. - For the last Eve
years the penal institutions of Penn"
sylvania, both State and county, have
been inadequate. The crowded con-
ditions in the Eastern Penitentiary,
in this city, were relieved somewhat
a few days ago when a score OF Fed
eral prisoners we're removed to the
new Government prison at Atlanta.
The hard times have been the cause
for an increase in petty crime, but 1t
is not believed that there is any
greater proportion Of alien criminals
than formerly.
Like New York.
Baltimore. Md.-All the penal in
situations of the State and city are
more crowded than ever before with
minor offenders. II is attributed by
the officials largely to hard times and
the presence of foreign undesirables.
In a report to the Governor recently
II was stated that while there are
fewer cases due to the enforcement of
the anti-cocaine law, there is a large
increase in police court cases, The
State penitentiary now has more in
mates than II has had at any time
within five years. One Of the city po-
lice magistrates last week let on
number Of petty offenders, saying he
did not want 10 add Just now to the
humber Of prisoners who are crowd
ing the city inil The House o. Cor
rection fs filled to overlooking with
Offenders committ-d from an parts ~
the State Bay Asylum. the ciy
almshouse, is sd ed With pauDersi
sane and insai vigorous pro
rests are being tealust the con-
dlti1na prevail