Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-04
PRISON POPULATION IN 1910
Preliminary Statistics Issued by the
Hureau of the Census give
1t ns 1I3,S7O.

preliminary statement of prison sta
tistcs for the year 1910 has been issued
by Director Durand of the bureau #
the census. department of commerce and
labor at Washington 1t was prepared
under the supervision Of DR.. Joseph H.
Hill. chief statistcian of the division Of
revision and results, who has had charge
Of the work The figures are subject TO
revision later. few institutions are
delinquent in furnishing complete re-
turns. but this Is not likely to affect
ma terially either the totals or rates here
in.
The prison population OF the United
States on January i. 1910. was 1859:
and the number Of commitments to pris-
ons or other penal institutions during the
year 1910 was 419.7G3. These figures in
clude every class of offense, from vag-
rancy to murder in the first degree. They
also include cases in which the offender
was committed to Jail or prison for the
non-payment of fine. For this and
other reasons the totals and tios which
are shown for the different States, are
not TO be regarded measuring the
criminal tendencies of their inhabitants
The ratio of prisoners to population on
January /. 1910. was ~, to 10000 and the
ratio of commitments to population dur
ing the year 1910 was 80 to 100 OOO Thus
II appears that, at the beginning of the
year 1910 one person out of every so
in the United States greeted the New
Year in prison or Jail; and that. during
the year 1910. for every 40 persons IN
the total population. there was one com
mitment to prison or Jail for longer
or shorter period, ranging from one day
10 life sentence 1t should be remem-
bered, however. that the number of com
mitnents 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
STATISTICS BY STATES
The table by States brings out the fac,
that the number Of prisoners in propor.
ton to population was smallest in South
Dakota, As per 10000 population. and larg-
est IN Nevada. 35S per 10000 population
and that the number OF commitments r
proportion TO population was smallest ir
North Carolina 1913 per 10000 popuatio,
| and largest in Arizona, 1892 per 100, OOi
population. 1t by no means follows
however. that the population of either
| Arizona and Nevada Is wicked or Grim
| inal beyond that OF all other States, OF
, that the population Of either South Da
| kota and North Carolina is pre-emincntl,
good. or any moro law-abiding than tina
in States where tho ratios are higher
| The number OF commitments to Jail o.
prison Is determined in no small degree
| by the statutes and the practice of tn,
courts relative 10 the punishment OF mi
nor offenses Offenses which in SOM
States would he punished by a few day
In Jail. may. in other States, be punishe,
| by fine.
| The figures are also affected by the de
gree OF vigilance which tho police and tn
courts exercise in arrestin9 and punish
ing lawbreakers. Again. there are NOR
laws to break in some communities tina,
in others. This Is generally the case fl
urban as compared with rural communi
ties, since many local ordinances al,
found in force In cities which are inap
plicaole or unknown in country districts
AS soon as these returns have beel
c'aasiNed with reference TO the offense
Tor which committed. the statistics wi
nave more significance az an indica ito
OF tno prevalence OF crime in differen
communities The complete report whic
, TIE census will ultimately publish wi
give the prisoners and commitment
classified, not only with reference to of
lenae, but with reference TO nationalit,
, ago. duration of sentence and other fes
lures.
Regarding Vermont. the report say.
Number OF penal institutions. 10; preser
, in penal institutions January l. 1910. 70
number per 100 600 Of population, IL
, committed 10 penal institutions In 1871
, ,b93; number per 10000 Of populate
= AS, discharged, dying or transferred
. the year 1910, 1857