Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-27
: N the 18th day OF June in this present year Q.

IN the 18th day OF June in this present year @,
I ] alleged civilization 1916, the State Commission
w. of Prisons of the State of New York the most
important commercially OF all the States, State with
larger number OF schools colleges and phanthropic
institutions per capita than any other in the Union
reported that in the Onondaga County Penitentiary in
which confined prisoners from than seven
surrounding counties well as United States prison
the following conditions existed:
Prisoners compelled the old style
striped prison clothes within the institution while at
work in the quarry and the road the use OF these
stripes being approved by the supernt endent
There are no written rules and regulations to
different ofenses within the institution nor stated
penalties attached to the commission of ofenses and
the superintendent and assistant superintendent
else absolute power in deciding the which con
stitue oGenscs and the nature and extent OF the
punishment imposed AS result prisoners are
punished for violation of rules OF which they have no
knowledge
dungeon There are eight dungeon cells cellar
Of the penentiary which is eight feet deep seven
feet Of which under ground. only natural
i,eh| ana 'entliauoh comes from several small win.
dow Sits and area window recently installed; the
cells are solid steel with the exception of number
OF small round holes for ventilating purposes which
admit little light and air into the cells and num-
Der OF small holes in the of the CELL opening into
utility The cells contain an iron s,a, hunk
without mattress or blanket cement floor a sanitary
closet and wash basin and have lighting facilities
Recently the superintendent has added sixtyfour
prisoners are confined in these dungeon cells from
few hours 10 seventeen days The ONLY food which
they receive is slice of bread day Women and
al least one man awaiting trial were confined in these
dungeon cells in the same cell with prisoners
oil the pcnitentiary The prison doctors described
these cells unSanitary
PRISONERS who have attempted TO escape, or who
nave escaped and have been apprehendcd general
ly compelled to wear chain during the remain9ar Of
thelr term OF imprisonmcnt-and in cases examined
from two months 10 ten months-whiIe at work in the
quarry In road building and in the penitcnary day
and night continuously, riveted to the ankle Of the
prisoner by the prison blacksmith
Another form of punishment is standing on the
crack which consists of placing the prisoner on a
aine IN the cement floor in the cell hall with arms
folded. facing the wall. for period within the dis
erection OF the superintendent or assistant suporin
!ehdent which ranges from q short time to twelve
hours
No recreation provided for the prisoners They
confined in their cells all of SUNDAY Win rho ~,
Scptloh oi the chapel services and two meals On
holidays the only period Of recreation permitted is
period OF exercise in the corridor OF tl. cell hall
40 careful! physical examination is made Of each
prisoner entering for tuberculosis and other conta
slons diseases Hence, healthy prisoners eat, work
ana sometimes are doubled up cells with prisoners
Prisoners are no, allowed to converse at meals
Letter privileges are too ourtacd prisoners being
special request -
mere are no edncat'ona facilities for the nsrnc
during the YEAR,
These are the conditions that exist in this ins,i,u
ton maintained By tho taxes az Tho ,cnni ~ 49,,
county and by the board paid by the other commit.
"t'ch send prisoners to this pcnitentiary For the
i'i'"cbe OF shutting up convicted OF pctty
CRIME Win Il man suffering from tuberculosis these
oher counties pay The Onondaga institution 80 per
"erh loonbhng up in cells is inevitable The ucni.
tehtaEi has facilities for housing prisoners the
average daly population for the year was 374, The
lo"es, number OF prisoners confined on any one day
was "z% The highest number 434 In plain Eng.
!sh on It's last crowded day Onondaea sheltered {.
thirtcen more prisoners than had room for. ON il,
InoS' crowded day, one hundred and twcntyour moro
VA" II mao room Tor. and as rule every day Of
nv year slAtElour more than provision had haon
""' LOT desperate and depressed sullcu and rjoous
''lS ana men women and girls, first Offenders and
f''"e VINO had served ten terms were wise il, no
way OIL efii ana debanchery. all were huddol hig.
t"oF p'sgediy. the we'll with the diseased the how
VINO was mere for rash impulse with the moral
pc, ana ms IN this present year and in the Sta 10
o' ne" YORK! What conditions exist il, your own
Nou".S Jan Mcn and women Of this State ana a
every state OF inc Union, what do you know of wba,
~ gong on behinl the stone walls Of your penj,an.
'ia,eS III ne" YORK for instance, in 1911. G59 mon
@ O. Women confined IN the State pcnitentiaIicg
confessed that they had Ten and more rrc,an,
terms '' ''''''us
''e commission recommended that the striped