Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-04-17

Judge of the Marion Criminal Court
Pursuant to the instructions of your
honor, the grand jury of Marion county
has visited the Marion county jail and
desires TO make the following report Of
conditions as found there.
Certain parts Of the jail seemed to be
clean and we'll kept. The woman's sec
ton and that part Of the jaii known rs
federal row on the third floor. especi-
ally seemed 20 be well cared Tor. AMI
what is known as Z. s. row. on the
second floor, was reasonably sn. TIE
coils on fhe first floor, however. and
thoss on the second floor assigned to
sz@e colored prisoners. were exceediugiI
dirty, in a very unssnitary condition
generally and quite overrun with yer.
min and insects. The general sanitary
condition Of the jail is very bad. due
I'm part at least to the !act that the
mbing system and the plumbing fix.
q res are in very bad repair: that the
toilets for the most part have ceased
CD function AMI it IS necessary to flush
item by pouring water into the bowl.
ga the cOlored mems section the toilets
are rusted out and the woodwork around
the toilets IS -otted to such an extent
that it would be possible for n man to
rrawl through some Of the holes. Fur
use in the entire Jail so far as we we're
eble to ascertain. Steps should be taken
h the county commissioners immedi-
aely 70 have the entire plumbing sys-
TEN overhauled and repaired and The
plumbing fixtures replaced. Without
this being done It win be impossible for
any one to keep the Jail in a proper
sanitary condition.
The beds and hunks are in very bad
condition. Some Of the beds have the
springs entirely torn off and in many
other cases the springs are so badly
damaged that they are entirely unservice
able and unfit for any human being to
sleep upon. The mattresses and straw
ticks are in very bad condition. Not
only are they soiIed to the point of be
ing filthy, as are the blankets also, but
the straw has been used for so long
that it has become unit for it's pur-
pose. both from the standpoint of san
itatiOn and comfort to the prisoners.
We recommend that straw ticks should
be used throughout the jail. the straw
being changed at least every thirty 1907
DAYS and the ticks Numbered each time
the straw is changed. The blankets
should be washed and not permitted to
become filthy, as they are, and in such
condition passed from prisoner to pris-
iUcr as one tedNe6 anu Tue utu-I tAtSts-
MOWER BATHS
OUT OF COMMISSION.
In the colorcd women's section the
shower baths are entirely out of com
mission. and there is no light In the
bathroom. rendering bathing practically
impossible in that section of the jail.
Furthermore. we find that the pris-
oners are not provided with individual
drinking cups, and in view of the fact
that many persons infected with venereal
diseases enter the Jail. the failure to
provide individual drinking cups or SAN
itary cups for the prisoners, is a con
slant menace We found at least one
prisoner who had contracted q lolthsOme
disease Of this description while in jail
Furthermore, the county commission
ers should take immediate steps to pro
vide some place for the prisoners in
feeted with venereaI diseases. 1t is en-
tfrelv unjust that all people who are
incsrcerated some OF whom it later de
velops are innocent of the crime charged
against them. should be forced to eat,
drink and constantly associate with those
having commutabIe diseases Of this de-
scription.
iii is entirely wrong that insane per-
sons should ever be lodged in the county
Jail with no more facilities for their care
and treatment than are provided at the
Marion county Jail. Either some arrange
ment should be made by which insane
people awaiting transfer or admittance
10 insane hospitals should be cared for
at the City hospital or the county com
missioners should provide a proper place
at the county jail for their care and
facilities for their treatment while lodged