New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-09
WETHERSFIELD HAD
ga INMATES in 'l6
Prison Contract Labor System De.
Tended in Annual Report

White males, 558; white females, IL;
LACK males, 81; black females. 4.
New Haven county sent the largest
number of prisoners during the past
year, 81; Hartford sent SO; Fairfield.
16; New London, 10; Litchfield, 10;
Windham, 7; Holland, and Middle
town 3.
The total number of prisoners con-
fined from New Haven county, 261, is
also the largest number from any
count. Fifty-siX different occupa
tions were represented in the prison.
ers, of which laborers were the larg-
est contribution. with 80; farmers, Is;
teamsters, IS. and other trades AMI
professions from three to one.
Ninety OF the prisoners confined
during the year were natives of tbs
United States, 81 of this number OF
the State of Connecticut; 16 from
New York; nine from Massachusetts,
and the remainder from other states
in the union.
The largest representation of for
cigners were Italians, 2S; Russians,
10; Canadians. 4
Thirteen we're committed for as
sault with intent to kill; "a for stat
utory burglary; IL, theft; 10, theft
from parsAI; nine, manslaughter;
.Isiy, theft ot poultry; five, for burglary
One prisoner is confined from ~
to &c years: one from II to . years
and so on All having indeterm1nate
sentences ranging down to one year.
AS to The mental condition Of those
:, confined, 15i arc good, or So per
cent: aino are fair. or over five per
cent; one Is poor. One hundred and
tfty-four showed good physical con-
tlition, and only two in poor condition
CT the general health. One hundred
and tWcnty-nine, or over rs per cent.
can read or write. Ninety-alne or the
prisoners or over 60 per cent wera
educated in the public schools, and
is, or II per cent, had High school
education. Twelve were college grad
4 yates or seven per cent. of the total.
Seventy-six we're married and ~
single One hundred and forty eight
used tobacco, and "a alcohol.
The largest number of prisoners
who expressed religious preference
were Roman Catholics, SS; IS are
Irrotestants; eight Hebrews, and two
agnostics. Ga were in Jail before, and
in prison before. a
The directors in their report call
attention to the improvements made
In the addition of new cells, and cite
the results obtained from the nigh.
the inmates ~. is good, only seven
deaths being recorded in the last two
years. &i 5os. -
= The board states that If the h1gn
cost of living continues the appro-
priation Of $4,000 will not be suf-
ficient to run the prison.
Men on Parole Make Good.
The parole board in the last two
To-
Ter of prisoners since the passage OF
the law. Eighty-five per cent. of those
1aroled have made good.
Regarding the contract labor sys-
tenn the report says:
I'VE repeat that there has been
T, 'Inuch hasty criticism Of the prison
management for employing prisoners
In useful labor under the contract
.ystem. The answer is that the
board of directors have no pride of
opinion in the premises The we'll
! icing of the inmates, morally, nell
tally and physically, is their first
! concern: the second is due consider
alton for the sound axiom that the
state has a right to demand that the
prisoner shall contribute, as far as
possible to his own keep, and that
rhe lava hiding element to society
from additional taxation to support
those Who have violated the law. The
prevailing system of employing in
iaates of the prison has worked to
the advantage Of the prisoner and
the state. The board of directors feel
justified in urging that, before in
sisting upon any substitute, full con
sideration be given the physical, men
tai and moral responsibilities in
yolved. 1t is easy to make suggestions
for employment, but many unsuspect-
ed elements enter into q sound con-
.c1usion Connecticut should study
her own needs from her own point
of view and not suffer the manage
nents of prisons in other states to
influence her action. The status of
the inmates of the state prison is
.ueh that experimental legislation
should be approached in the most
conservative spirit. Ultimately,
ware system should be adopted and
enforced"
Warden Gamers report says:
THE earnings from prison labor
for the two years ended September
80. 1916, was 1888, 5000. Receipts
from all other sources for the two
wears amounted to $15,957.o6, making
the total receipts from all sources
Afor the two years $169,391.5b. Ihls
we consider a splendid showing in
view Of the fact that during the past
year our contracts were changed; also
the system of employment
Parole for Life Prisoners.
He advises the paying of larger sal
aries to the employees, and in regard
to the parole of life prisoners, says:
az would respectfully recommend
that power to parole life prisoners who
have served a period of rs years,
and whose record carries the belief
that the privilege Of conditional re-
leasA would not be ahused be con-