Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-02
PRISON CENSUS GIVEN.
Population Put Behind Bars During
1910 was 479,7o3.

Population Put Behind Bars During
!. w.. 1910 Was 479,763.
Washington, Jan. "A preliminary
year 1910 was issued by Director Du-
rand Of the bureau Of the census, de-
partment Of commerce and labor.
The prison population of the United
States Jan. l, 1910. was 1859. and the
number of commitments to prisons or
other penal institutions during the year
1910 was 479,76S. These figures include
every class of offense, from vagrancy
to- murder in the first degree. They also
include cases in which the offender was
committed to Jail or prison for the nom
payment Of a fine. For this and other
reasons the totals and ratios which are
shown for the different states are not
to be regarded as measuring the Grim
inal tendencies OF their inhabitants.
The ratio of prisoners to population
on Jan. /, 1910. was 126 to 100000, and
the ratio Of commitments to population
during the year 1910 was 522 to 100000.
Thus it appears that, at the beginning
Of the year 1910. one person out Of
every 500 In the United States greeted
the New Year in prison or jail, and that
during the year 1910 for every 100 per-
sons in the total population there was
one commitment to prison or Jail for
a longer or shorter period. ranging from
one day to a life sentence 1t should
be remembered, however. that the num-
ber of commitments does not represent
that many different persons. because
the persons committed include many
"repeaters" who went to Jail more than
once during the year 1910.
The table by states brings out the
fact that the number of prisoners in
proportion to population was smallest
In South Dakota--forty-e eight per 1O0.-
900 population-and largest in Nevada
--353 per 100000 population. In Illi-
nois there were ninety-two prisoners
per 100000 population. The number
of commitments in proportion to popu-
lation was smallest in North Carolina
-123 per 100000 population-and lars-
est in Arizona-2,992 per 100000 popu-
lation In Illinois there were 496 per
100000 population. 1t by no means fol-
lows, however, that the population OF
either Arizona and Nevada Is wicked
or criminal beyond that Of all other
states, or that the population Of either
South Dakota or North Carolina Is pre-
eminently good, or any more law -abid-
ing than that In states where the ratios
are higher.
The number Of commitments to jail
or prison Is determined in no small de-
gree by the statues and the practice OF
the courts relative to the punishment
OF minor offenses. Offences which fn
some states would be punishable BY
few days in Jail. may, In other states.
be punished by fine.
The figures are also affected by the
degree Of vigilance which the police
and the courts exercise in arresting
and punishing lawbreaker. Again.
there are more laws to break In some
communities. since many local ord!-
nances are found In force In cities
which are inapplicable or unknown IN
country districts.
AS soon as these returns have been
classified with reference to the often
ces for which committed. the statis-
tics will have moro Significance as an
indication OF the prevalence OF crime In
different communities. The complete
report which tine census viii ultimately
publish will give the prisoners and
classified, not only with
reference to offences, but with refer
ence to nationality. age, duration OF
sentence and other features.
~. j. Y