Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-05-28
c. & c. Inspection of
Waldo Co. Jail at Belfast

The State Board of Charities and
Corrections in it's report of the last
inspection (April 27) of the Waldo
county Jail at Belfast says among
other things. under the heading lad
ministration":
Under the statute, county COM
missioners are charged with the duty
OF keeping the Jail in repair and with
making such additions to work shops
and other appurtenances as may be
necessary for the employment of the
prisoners, with the duty of providing
suitable opportunities for the en-
ployment of the prisoners and with
the purchase of such supplies as may
be necessary for the equipment of
the jail and the maintenance of the
prisoners therein. The sheriff is re-
spoons bic that the jai. is kept as
clean aN healthy rs may be and re-
QWjrcd to PAY s riot attention to the
rcrs ar"l cl' anlireGs Of the prison.
CrS. i :-hn.t. ti'c commissioners are
rc1''"tG II provide buildings and
cGI;r:l'rt and the sheriff to make
pToncr rse OF sucn buildings and
eqU' rmCrt in the care and disci-
pl:ne Of tho prisoners.
Tho sheriff, +. O. Littlefield, is
servng his first term in this capac-
ity. beginning Jan. l. 1921, although
he has had II years previous expert
encc as a deputy. His son, c. NJ.
Littlefeld, serves as deputy and
turnkey. The salary o. the sheriff
fn, h~
ing to the report of the county COM
missioners to $115S.06. The turn
key is allowed by the county a salary
of $50 per month. The sheriff lives
with his family at the Jail. II
The last visit of the county COM
missioners to the Jail is understood
to have been Jan. l. 1921, when the
new sheriff took office. The last
record on the jail calendar. or docket,
Of visit from the Board of Prison
Commissioners is August "a, 1918, by
Commissioner Wheeler. 1t is pre-
9umed however, that visits must
have been made since that date" {;
with two men in cell. the Jail
has a capacity of Is persons Act
ually there should never be more
than 10 prisoners in the Jail at any
time. There were eight commitments
recorded during 1920 and cour since !;
Jan. j. 1921.
at is understood that persons are
fre u1crtlr lodged over night or over
niC,;t and Sunday, with their meals.
ThCrc i special record book on
which their names are entered. The
sheriff is allowed 25 cents per meal.
This is said to be pursuant to in
structiors given by the county COM
n2iSs'oncrs. The reason assigned is
that it is chaper to give these travel
CTS and Migrants lodging than to have
them apply to the overseers of the
poor of the city, because in that case
they would be liable to be brought
before the court and sentenced for
vagrancy. On the surface, this may
appear to be true, but in the long
run it is more expensive for the COM
munity and simply encourages
vagrancy and the passing along of
idle men to other communities. If
the man is in need of lodging, he
should go to the overseers Of the
poor. If he is actually unfortunate
or needy or in distress, it will be
their duty to provide for him and
they will doubtless require that he
performs such labor in payment for
his aid as he is able. If he is simply
trying to get a nights lodging or to
secure meal without cost. then he
should be sent to Jail, or better STILL
to the Reformatory for Men. At the
latter place he will be given plenty
of hard work and released when it is
evident that he will try to support
himself. Under the present plan
they simply dirty up the Jail bed
ding, to be washed by prisoners who
are serving sentence and very likely
they bring in vermin or infection.
1.-The Jail is an old fashioned
structure, with brick walls and stone
floors and cells. The cells are small
and dark and poorly ventilated. The :
paint is peeling from the walls in
places A recent improvement, how
of blankets. The Jail is lighted by
electricity but the lights are not so
located as to throw much light into
the interior of cells. One toilet
hopper upstairs and one down. No
bathing facilities. Prisoners are
boarded by the sheriff; paid rs cents
per day by county. Prisoners wear
their own clothing and have practi-
cally nothing to do.
The total cost Of maintaining the E
Jail for the year ending. Dec. 81, 1920
was S2537S2. Daily average of pris-
oners, two. This means a per capita
cost weekly Of $21.43, divided: Sal :
aries, s4.92; food, s5.25; personal
clothing, 22c; repairs and equipment,
1911; fuel and other expenses. 1888.
Recommendations bathing
and toilet facilities: hot water: {
steam heat; chairs; no person to be n
given food and shelter at Jail except
the prisoner detained upon proper
warrant or mittimus. a
Tater-Since the foregoing report b