The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-25
iails Become But Debtors
Prisons Under Existing Sys-
tenn, 1t Declares
TWO STATE FARMS
FOR M SDEMEANANTS
No Sentences to Amy Term OF
ldleness Should Be Ioler-
ated--Make Use of All Short
Term Prisoners

prison farm for the detention OF
women and indetsrminate sentences
Tor that class whose liberty is a mem
ace: the absolute discontinuance of the
policy OF sentencing any prisoner to
any term Of idiepess and the use OF
the short-term prisoners on detention
1 farms or road repair work; the outlaw
Ing OF tho present archaic system or
imposing fines which. the board de-
ciares. is but class legislation. It has-
Ing found that 81 per cent OF the com
rhitments to jail on minor offenses be-
ing on account OF the fact that the
accused has neither money nor prop
erty, making the law having the ef-
feet of imprisonment for debt; and the
establishment of an crthopedtc nospi-
tai under the supervision Of the state
board of health are the principal
concentrations in the annual report
Of the state board of charities and
corrections. which wss placed in Gov
ernor Stuarts hands yesterday.
These recommendations probably Will
be generally approved by the governor.
and endorsed tn his message 70 the
general assembly.
Text Of nreomme ms ation@.
The recomme ndations contained In
the report are as follows;
90 That the Lynchburg city farm
be used as a prison farm for the de-
tention Of women convicted OF mlsde-
meanors in any court of the state, and
ta8t such women he sent to the farm
| for an Indefinite period Of time, to be
| held until they are ready TO be re-
| turned 70 norm al life. and that the
general assembly consider the advisa~
- st hllshnz a state farm for
"a sdesucAAxats IN tne eastern part or
tn sf=ts.
~, That tie Industrial schools for
folh white ana caiared Girls he en-
a4fHed SO as TO accommodate not less
~ r. }at9 eaeh.
f84 That tie general assembly make
~ appropriation fer buildings or I'M
~, xealvuts 10 aHy lnstttufion which Is
rs Arsras ana controlled hs the state.
sj Tsat the genera assembly make
provision hat men convicted OF mis-
dene&nors ana given snort sentences
ras hs pat 80 work at repairing roads
or be hired cuf to private inGiNldGals'
especially TO farmers.
sent~Eee S"ae TO Tdirn~ss.
ts} That NJ person he sentenced 70
term If sdleress in fait and that m
person be sent to jail for non ayfn en- I
OF a ane< but Sacb-ress sons ne allowed
to work out their fines on prison farms
or on the ndh}ic roads.
fs1 That persons convicted OF pros
sstuttou be net Aned or given definite
sentenee but be placed IN custody on
fnasterminete or indefinite sentences.
az That ar orthopedic hosrital Tor
fhe treatment and mental training OF
crippled children he esta olish~a anc
IN adequate appropriation be made for
the purchase OF real estate the cree
ttor Of buildings and for maintenance;
and tna- the institution be under tire
n,rectton and control Of the state
board OF health.
Mere Money 20 Help Children
fs That the appropriation TO the
board Of charities and corrections for
the work OF placing children In homes
n. Increased to $4,000 per year in
rrser TO adequately investigate before
ana TO visit the children after place
nent
"a That tho work for the feeble
minded heretofore done by the state
Aaa~a Of charities and corrections be
+"rrss over TO the general o0ard RI
r,r~rtors for the state hospitals Tor
~. insane. that the said board Of d.
rne,ors be authorized TO employ an
~ert TO do field work for the feehle-
minded and work OF after-care OF as
charred patients from the hospitals
far the insane and colonies for the
.rileptic and feeble-minded.
IA, That the general assembly sp-
nronrlate an amount OF money sum
.ient FOR the maintenance o. Zoe col
rrrd feeble-ninded In the Centra'
Rtats hospital; that the APPROPRIATION
eor the maintenance At the colony Tor
-. whtte feeble-minded at Madison
,~h,. ma increased: and that provi-
- Ia made for two new buildings,
An Urgent Necessity.
Tha report continues:
.ry.x.r in the history Of the state
-. the need of state farm colony
- n,,sdeme anants been more urgent
IN. coming of the soldiers and sailors
! the training camps Of the state was
.svnal for the foreeathering of gam
Mar. pickpockets. prostitutes, vendors
- Aruvs and whts%ey. and camp fol-
o~srs OF every description. not only
nrev upon the soldiers. ont 10 war
ths forces Of rood In every com
nun,tv they entered.
..rh,t we have en- abnormal state ni
-.trs confronting us IL evidenced Wy
-,anca al the aockets of the Juvenile
80. and the police courts OF all the
..tAs contiguous to the trhihins
Ans And the waves OF law-break"
started IN these cities are now
4ween,ns into the rural communities
~ -. aetention homes and industrial
~ Us are overcrowded; our
$50, institutions have not suit
49, r,arhinery to meet the situation
~ yirg,rta counties and but one
vtrg,n,a city furnishes prisoners WIZ
m pIovn1ent and uses mNdern prison
,sthoas. And why should they GO to
he EXPENSE OF tnstai ing n.9ast :, .
.,,,nr,Ant when the original records
~, that so per cent OF short-terrn
n..n,srs ARE -vtoiators-nt state laws
..Breakers of state laws should DC
"a accountants to the state ano
hn,,,a be cared for by the state, The
tate paws the bills: the counties ano
st,.. .pend the money. and the net
$3.50. are rni.demeanants made into
ssors-for out of the tails come the
bmates OF the penitentiary. -.
N.srh. success of the present farms
~ r,isdemeanants at occonuan and
rnchburx ard those Of, Indiana ans
thsr states makes us reahze MA
6ers are two kinds OF prisoners
hose who require close confinement
IA restraint and chose who can DC
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