New-York tribune., 1921-01-19
Rlackweu's Is
Disgrace, Says
Prison Board
commissioners Call Island
Workhouse One Of Worst
IN State and Recommend
improvements at Once
Disease Is Big Question
Abuse of Self-Committed
Drug Addicts Is Charged;
Segregation Is Urgent

atRANY. Jan. 1S.-Charactcriziny
no Correction Hospital on Blackwell's
Island. formerly known as the Work
,ouse, as one of the worst prisons in
IN state and disgrace to the City
:; New York." Poison Commissioners
,a.n S. Kennedy, Leon c. Weinstock
nd Henry Solomon have filed a report
recommending remedial action without
delay.
The report is particularly severe in
n srraignment Of the system which
sends to q prison drug addicts who ap-
,ly for treatment, and calls attention
n the fact that, while much exercise
is the most important factor in the
eonyslescent stage of such patients,
.,ey get virtually none on the Island.
A lack of matrous-only thirteen Of
twenty-four appointed being available
--aIso is criticised by the commission
ers, Who declare this shortage pre-
cludes proper supervision. AS a re-
suit. the inmates are locked in their
cells fourteen hours daily, from 1880
D. m. to $3.50 a. M. and arc given but
an hours exercise IN the open air.
All Kinds of Inmates Mingled
"The population" the report says,
sis made up of workhouse and peni-
tertiary cases, white and black, includ-
ing psychopathic and feeble-minded
cases, those suffering from tubercu-
losis, venereal diseases and drug adj
diction.
Here, too, are sent the drug ad-
diets who, charged with no crime. 20
before magistrate and ask to be sent
to hospital to be cured. There is a
girl, eighteen years old, who was sent
up for six months for vagrancy, and
ages ranges all the way up to harm
less old woman. eighty-three years old,
who has served six terms and is now
here year for vagrancy. She and
other old women here should be sent
to the city home of some institution
for the aged to spend the remainder
of their lives. Seventy-flve per cent of
the inmates are young women between
the ages Of eighteen and thirty. Al
though an attempt is made at segrega-
ton, it is impossible of accomplish
ment in the prison, and all ages, kinds
and conditions minglc together"
Urge System of Segregation
The following recommendation are
made By the commissioners:
~ %,,L 4
eases and drug addicts under treatment
away from the cell block, segregating
Eas diseased ones and providing quar-
tes for drug Addicts under treatment.
ssparate. further, those charged with
crime and those self-committed. This
can be accomplished by the speedy
completion of the south wing.
Arrange for a.sgreater measure Of
outdoor exercise for all classes.
Revise the rules so that inmates
shall not be locked in cells for four
teen hours daily.
Provide a plan for educational and
recreational activities such as are
needed in an institution containing SO
many young girls.
The bulk of the population" the
report continues, sis confined in the
contains l04 cells, occupied by a popu-
latlon Of l39. One tier had three in
iectious cases isolated in each of three
cells and three self-committed drug ad-
diets in each of two cells. In eight
orner cells there was doubling up OF
sth-commtted drug addicts, infectious
cases and tuberculosis cases.
No Sanitary Facilities
There are no toilet facilities or run
Ing water in the cells or on the cor
fldors. With three and four occu-
pants at time. there is the great
eanger OF immoral practices possible
among the class Of women confined
here
There is no school or any evidence
o. training which would be conducive
% encourage these women to lead a
tesser life when released. The hope
oi remedying these conditions lies in
Inc opening Of the romen's farm colony
= 1reycours, which at present looks
lar IN the future.
:. Here, al Rikers Island, was found
ee complaint of self-committed drug
saalcts who had gone before magis-
yates and asked to be committed to q
aospisal TO be cured of the awful drug
sh.uon, and supposed they were be-
!ng sent to a hospital instead of
Prison, where they are treated on ex-
sesiy the same basis as those con-
s,sied OF crime. They also complained
y = oeing held one hundred days, when
.sey understood from the authorities
nav they would have to stay but sixty
..N The plan Of treating these self
.pemmltted drug addicts with and on
.ss same basis as prisoners must be