The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-08


ed, and they are not inspected to sc.
that contraband is not delivered to tht
prisoners. Lawyers are permitted t
solicit business from prisoners In the
JAIL custom that is open to grave
abuses.
The defects In the management oil
the Jail that have been pointed out
and others that are mentioned in the
report should be corrected through a
complete change in methods, organiza
ton and regulations, as outlined in
the report.
Since the jail is under the super
vision of the city sergeant, who re-
ceives no salary. but depends rtirely
upon fees at rate fixed by law. and who
pays his Subordinates out OF his fees
talthough some OF the subordinates
are paid small salaries in addition. by
the city or state), many OF the features
that were observed in the conduct Of
the Jail can be readily understood. In
order to make living. the city ser
geant must make the jail pay.
sThe fee system of reimbursing the
city sergeant should be abolished and
tho Jail be conducted, supervised and
financed by the city OF Richmond
through a warden, with guards and
be pla ced on the city payroll and con
should not be conducted on a fee basis.
The position OF city sergeant should
he abolished and the functions he now
exercises IN connection with the hust-
ings court should be exercised by the
sheriff, The old and Inadequate de-
vice of allowing a fixed sum per day
Cor food and maintenance OF each
inmate should he abandoned and the
prisoners treated in the same way
regarding food As inmates of other city
institutions, although the menu should
not be elaborate.
It is also recommended:
'That all employees of the Jail be
selected by the mayor as result Of
connective civil service examination t;
THAT the salaries OF al lemployes
Of the jail be fixed by council and paid
out of city funds:
'That the indetermrnate sentence
law Of the state OF New York be
adopted and a board OF parole for the
city OF Richmond he appointed;
'That a farm colony Se established
and that provision be made by law
for permitting the prisoners TO share
in the profits aCcruing out of their
labor at Industries which should be
esta bljshed.
"That but one physician be employ
ed instead OF two and that the physi-
clan be required TO reside at the Jail
as at present and that he maintain
complete and detailed records OF the
services rendered by him.
That all prisoners on admission he
searched BY AN officer OF the fail and
all property In their possession re-
fra 81,
er record Of such property be main
tanned and that two guards be present
when prisoners are searched:
That all prisoners on admission be
detaineu in the unused cell and not
assigned 70 regular cells until they
haYe been given a thorough physical
examination:
That all prisoners be required 70
battle upon admission
That Al convicted prisoners have
their clothing removed and be furnish
ed with a suit OF underwear and light
neigh SaG1-c!otLas4-.hat- th@1f-fs.sr-
sonal clothing be fumigated and for
this purpose there be installed in the
Jail the necessary apparatus for steri-
uzlng;
That the prisoners personal cloth
ing be put into good condition by pris-
on discharge the prisoners will not
be at "a disadvantage;
That a complete and detailed pedi
gree OF all prisoners be taken and
that sufficient inquiry be conducted by
the officials to ascertain the mum Der
Of previous commitments OF the pris-
oner to the jail:
That In so far as the strustural
conditions OF the jail will permit.
prisoners he segregated SO as TO pre-
vent prisoners Of the hardened crinai-
nal type assocf4ting or coming into
close daily contact with the younger
and less serious offenders;
That the rules Of the Jail provide
for a routine daily inspection Of the
cells;
That once in each week the city
sergeant conduct a cell inspection in
order TO see that the guards have COM
ll!ed with the regulations as to the
daily inspection OF cells:
That the prisoners be served three
meals a day;
That no feed be permitted TO he re-
tanned in the cells and that the pris-
oners he prohibitd from storing any
materials in any part or their cells.
That the large room now used for
storage in the basement be equipped
as a mess hail and that all meals be
served in this room:
That definite hours be fixed for ex-
ercstng prisoners;
That a matron be employed who
will live at the jail and be available
service al of wr=
mans prison at all hours;
That better bathing facilities be af-
fordet beth male and female prisoners
and that towels be furnished;
That discipline he maintained TO the
extent or preventing as far as pos
sible prisoners congregating in groups
about the Jail;
That all of the mattresses now in
use be condemned and that new mat
tresses he provided, the new mat
tresses should Re equipped with an
outer covering which can be removed
and washed At intervals;
That each prisoner upon admission
be given n clean mattress cover;
That ell cells be thoroughly cleaned
at oLce;
That committee OF council be ap-
pointed TO make study of Jail in
dustr,es for the purpose OF establish
ing at the city Jail Industries which
will be pronta BILE both to the city and
the prisoners;
That convicted prisoners be prohi-
bited from securing their own eX-
pensa foods from outsi lie OF The jail;
That more nutritious food in greater
he fed the prise ners:
That the practice OF allowing law