The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-03
MUCH CRITICISM
Of RICHMOND JAIL
Building Not Up to Modern
Standards, and Has Worst
Possible Location.
CHARITIES BOARD REPORTS
Suggests Richmond Should
Make Start Towards Rational
Treatment OF Detectives.

According TO the annual report Oh
the state Board of Charities and Cor
rections, just issued, those who To-
Gated the Richmond City Jail apparent
lly had not a single modern correc-
tive or reformative idea in their minds
If they mad such idea, the board be-
lieves there could have been found
within the limits of the city no more
inappropriate place in which TO de-
velop II.
! The report, as presented by Secretary
]. T. Mastin, is entitled Social Ser
vice in Virginle" 1t is book OF l44
pages. filled with interesting statis-
tics and comment on charity and cor
rectional work in Virginia. AS the
work of the board becomes more or
ganized, the annual reports are more
comprehensive a vast deal OF infor-
nation indispensable TO social work
ers is arrayed
On the subject of Richm ond's aims
house and Jail. the report reads as fol-
lows. being largely along the lines
suggested by the report of the visiting
committee. as printed In The Times
Dispatch some time since:
Report on City Home.
"As regards the City Home. the COM
mittee feels that its best function at
this time is:
al To commend the movement now
on foot to move the tuberculosis patti
ents I'm the City Home out into the
country to be cared for under modern
conditions. This is a paramount need.
80 To emphasize the great neces-
rff
general medical and surgical cases, FOR
with the present equipment the work
T of caring for the sick city poor is
greatly hampered. We are gratified
that the Council committee recognizes
this need, and we earnestly urge that
there be no unnecessary delay IN set
thing this important matter.
The spirit in which the inmates OF
the City Home are now being looked
after by the present management Is
deserving of all praise. There only re-
mains for the city now TO do its full
part.
Undesirable Location.
CITY Jail.-At the outset comment
on the location of the City Jail is dis
tinctly in order. Down in a deep ra-
vine it is bounded on the north by
a long line of new stables, on the
northeast by the city incinerator. with
it's accompanying doors; on the east
~
Creek; on the south by a lot of stables
mellow with age: on the southwest
and west by an undesirable neighpor-
hood. and above. shutting out the HSht
and air of heaven. is the Marshall
street viaduct, with its rum bling cars
Every artificial external condition con-
ceivable is present to make the set
ting of the Jail OF Richmond place
Of punishment par excellence H.
however there be single modern
corrective or reformative idea IN tne
minds of those responsible Tor It's SIT
uation, there could within the limits
be found no more Inappropriate place
in which to develop it
so much for the site. The Jail it
self is not modern. judged by JAN
standards, and no one recognizes this
more than the present Sergeant Rich-
mond. if il must have jail, should al
least have an up-to-date one. The ne"
norton of the State Penitentiary fur
nishes a fine model right at hand IN
viting imitation.
The care OF the Jail and its able
bodied Inmates is perhaps all that
could be expected under the present
system. in the present location and
with the present equipment The jail
Is well managed and clean The char
acter OF the food is good and its
quantity sufficient"
The hospital was fOund Wen equip
oner be thoroughly examined physical
" by a physician when admitted This
ped II Is suggested that every pris-
would help in treating diseases in the
prison. prevent their spread, and. be-
sides, would be OF value in determin-
ing the extent in which mental or
physical disability is responsible for
/ crime.
some Rceomme n da lions.
/ After a discussion of medical needs,
the report concludes:
Tt is impossible 20 cure tuberculosis
except by early diagnosis and removal
from the dark. damp. unwholesorne en-
vironment in which IL breeds. II Is
likewise equally preposterOus TO ex-
pect the social disease Nc call crime
TO be cured unless the patient be in
telligsntly studied and removed from
evil surroundings. which are usually
3 the largest causative factor.
The Legislature at It's last session
removed the only serious impeachment
20 proper treatment OF Richmond
prisoners. and your committee feels
that il can do not greater service than
10 assert with all the emprasis possible
that the jail prisoners Of Richmond
should DC removed 10 a farm. and there
made 20 work in thc open air.
If Minnes polls with a daily aver
exc % $50 men and twenty-five NO.
men can save the municipality $3.50
Geo yearly with her workhOuse. and
cure IS ps- cent ~ hlr drunks. surely
Richmond with her daily average OF
Is5 men and thirty women. should at
least make a star; ton ards dealing rs-