The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-04-08
Prisons Everywhere Are Overcrowded
More Criminals and Paupers Are Now Confined County
institutions Than Ever Befoe-Hard Tines and
Undesirable Aliens Are Chiefly Blamed

sus recently showed that In the work.
house on Blackwell's Island there
were 1925 men and $40 women serv-
Ing terms ranging from five days to
SIX months, all for trifling offenses.
In the Harts Island institution
there were 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
sioner Of Correction obtained recent
ly. there was grand total Of 3O14
prisoners at present regularly COM
| mitted to the workhouse.
From all over the State the same
| reports are received-crovded pris-
| ons, thickly tenanted workhouses and
| an ever increasing demand for admis-
| sion to almshouses.
The overcrowded condition of penf-
tentiaries 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
oficials attributed 1t to two circum-
stances-the hard times and the in
lux OIL unueSlraDle aliens.
Courts Less Lenicnt-
Boston.-Massachu County and
State reformatory and prison institu-
tlons are crowded at the present time
as they have not been for years. The
authorities attribute this condition to
the establishment of juvenile courts,
leadlnS TO the arrest and conviction
OF many petty lawbreakers who here
tofore have escaped with a repri.
mand. Besides. they say, the courts
or 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 II was
hoped.
Hard Times Blamed,
Philadelphia. - For the last five
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
Few days ago when a score Of Fed
eral prisoners were removed to the
new Government prison at Atlanta.
The hard times have been the cause
TOT an increase in petty crime, but it
Is not believed that there is any
greater proportion Of alien criminals
than formerly. -.
Maryland Like New York. ~N'ssIsssSSit
Baltimore. Md.-All the pena, in.
stttutions OF the State and city are
more crowded than ever before with
minor offenders. 1t is attributed by
the officials largely to hard times and
the presence Of foreign undertakes.
In report to the Governor recently
1t 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 1T has had at any time
within five years. One Of the city DO
lice magistrates last week let off q
number of petty offenders, saying he
did not want to add Just now to the
number of prisoners who are crowd
Ing the city jail. The House of Cor
rection Is filled to overfiowing with
offenders committed from all parts of
the State. Bay View Asylum, the city
almshouse, is 80 packed with paupers,
sane and insane, that vigorous pro-
tests are being made against the con-
ditions prevailing there.