The Detroit times., 1912-08-06
SECRETARY MURRAY
ASKS MORE AUTHORITY
TO COVER COUNTY jHltS
Head of State Board-of Correc-
tions Submits Report On
Work Accomplished
INSPECTS SO BUILDINGS
Many Counties Must Construct
Place To Care For Pris-
oners, He Says
INSPECTS SO BUILDINGS
From a Stntf no.vnero,Ient.

LANSING, = MaKl T..
Murray, secretary Oh the state board
OF corrections and charities, has pre-.
pared report Of the work OF the
board during the past year, and offers
suggestions for proposed legislation
which he hopes will be given serious
consideration at the next session of
the legislature.
Secretary Murray says that each Of
the SS county jails have been inspect
ed during the past twelve months and
claims that the efforts or the board
have resulted in many Improvements.
At the request OF the board the jails
in Cheboygan. Midland, Newaygo and
Arenac counties were closed.
The cancellation of contracts by
the city OF Detroit with ~ counties,
, which becomes operative the first OF
September, will tend TO make the con-
G:tions in many counties very unde-
sirable because OF the improper con-
: struction and poor arrangement OF
many OF the jails." said Secretary
Murray.
AT the time OF recent visit 10 the
Detroit House OF Correction there
were confined in that institution $50
prisoners committed from counties,
all OF whom were at least sixty-dav
men This represents the additional
number Of prisoners who will be main
talned in the several county jails
when the cancellation OF the contract
becomes effective As the matter
stands at present no institution can
H. aafohIiuhnI 10 toll ~ fbfc
long term Jail population, and the
question OF the establishment OF IN
stitutions 10 relieve the situation
throughout the state should receive
serious consideration and definite
plan worked out and presented TO the
next legislature. While the board has
been successful in securing results
indirectly in matters pertaining 10
county jails, il is very important that
il should be vested with more author
ity, as are similar boards in other
states which are making progress in
this line OF work.
1t Is suggested also that you con-
slider the ACCESSIBILITY OF recommending
an amendment TO the law go as TO
make city jails and lock-ups subject TO
inspection by this board. Ny atten-
ton, on several occasions, has been
directed 10 conditions in these insti.
tutions and unauthorized visits 10
some clearly indicate the need OF
supervision. The law comforting arI.
thority upon this board in the matter
OF inspection county and city .institu-
tons is somewhat vague as respects
city jails. The encouragement has
been asked for an opinion on this
point and has held that the present
law does not confer such authority.
The law relating TO county-infirm-
aries should be amended so as 20 pro-
vide that the plans for additions and
new buildings should be submitted to-
the state board or corrections and
charities, and the state board OF
health for opinion and approval II is
my opinion that this board should be
vested with more general authority
including power to condemn these in-.
stitutions under certain conditions.
"As TO maternity hospitals, all OF
these institutions with the exception
OF few general hospitals have been
inspected, and much good has been de-
rived therefrom, especially in institu-
tons outside the city OF Detroit. The
Detroit board of health has under an
original act prescribed rules and reg
ulations covering these institutions,
and a uniformity of records had been
established. It has been found. how
ever, that the provisions of the statute
relative 20 the placement OF children
and the matter OF reporting to the
probate judge have not been complied
with by some of the Detroit hospitals,
the situation has been reported TO the
secretary Of the Detroit board OF
health
Although the maternity hospital
act has been in operation since Sep
TENDER, 1911, outside the CITY OF he
troit IL has been absolutely ignored,
and several persons were found 10
have engaged in the work without
license and therefore subject TO 40
restrictions or regulations whatever"
Secretary Murray says that in sew.
eral cases babies from maternity hos.
pitai have been placed Ia homes that
have not been investigated by county
agents, He believes that the law
should be amended NJ the next session
so as TO poyide for subsequent visits
by county agents N cases in which
children are placed out In these
homes other than by adoption