The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-21
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC J. HAsKN, DirectOr,
Washington, d. @.
OUR MEDmyAn JAIT,s.

| ton" This is the report just sent by
Mrs. H. S. McIntire, secretary of the
Prisoners Relief society, after trip
from this city to Seattle, in which she
! visited some 200 jails in order to OBJ
serve conditions.
Mrs. McIntire found the-majority of
the institutions dirty and unhealthy,
and graft rampant. The prisoner who
sends out for a quart of milk is apt
! to have to pay IS cents, and the change
goes to the jailer or whoever does the
errand. Vermin of all sorts are the
rule, rather than the exception in
county jails, we are told. DiSin-
fectants, sanitary precautions in case
of illness, clean kitchens are luxurles
which seem to have no place in the
average jail.
In fact, the county Jail. as it is now
conducted, is one of the worst evils
in the country, according to Earl
budding, head of the Prisoners Re
| lief society.
| Very little is heard about bad Jail
conditions" DR.. budding says, be
cause few attacks are made. against
the system or against individual in
situations. Inmates do not dare to
protest against unfair treatment.
know of a case in which man who
| fell i'll asked for a doctor. The re-
quest was refused. When he insisted
he was knocked unconscious and al
lowed to lie on the floor all night with
a wound in his head. So there are few
protests from prisoners"
You might think that the ex-pris-
oner would expose bad conditions
| Doctor budding explains that the ex-
prisoner is a "jailbird." His record is
against him. He would have hard
time establishing a case against county
officials.
The few well-to-do men who infre-
| int
complaints because they do not as a
rule see conditions at their worst.
Money will do more in jail than IN
a penitentiary. The inmate can gem
orally get luxuries if he can pay, and
the man of means does pay
This privilege of spending money
has been attacked as unfair to prison
ers who cannot buy luxuries. Accord
ing to Doctor budding, however. the
poor men in a Jail are glad to see
wealthy man come to join them, be-
cause his coming means that they will
benefit.
Generosity blossoms out in such in
situations, where there is much time
for thought. and little things become
unusually important. Newspapers, to-
bacco, fruit, and books bought by the
affluent prisoner are passed around.
One millionaire who was in a local
Jail for three months awaiting trial
have spent about $1,000 day on him
self and his neighbors during that
time. This amount of spending is I'M
usual, it is true. But the wealthy man
in jail can dispose of more money than
most people would imagine.
Money Helps.
II he has wealth and position a
prisoners does not undergo the hard
ships of ordinary Jail life. Even If he
did not spend much money, he would
be made comfortable, since otherwise
he would undoubtedly make trouble
afterwards. The wealthy man who
has served his jail term somehow gem
orally manages to keep his social
status. He is still power to be recog-
nized. tho he is a 5ailbird.
Then, too, such man is most apt
to be held in city Jail, where as a
rule there is better management than
in rural districts. City institutions are
visited by many people, whereas a
rural Jail often is not.
Doctor budding finds that people
who go to inspect conditions do not.
unless they are experienced, see the
bad side Of Jail management. If they
write ahead to make an appointment,
the officials are warned, and the
place is cleaned up when they arrive.
Officials pilot them over the buildings
and point out the excellent order and
the cheerful prisoners.
The visitors may be asked If they
wish to talk with the inmates; but
with a guard present, such a CONVEX
sation is not revealing. For pris-
oner to complain of the food or to re-
mark that the table dishes had been
washed that day for the first time in a
week, could obviously result only in
denial by the officials and hard treat
ment for the unfortunate who protest.
ed. The prisoners know this. and they
do not complain on such occasions.
When Doctor budding pointed out
conditions in one Jail in a nearby state
his accusations aroused the county to
action. A grand jurynan came TO
Washington to talk over the situation.
go out there to see for yourself"
go. insist on the officials staying out
and letting you go in alone. The men
will then tell you exactly what 1 have,
and show you proof"
Dirty bedding, dirty clothing, bad
ventilation. rats, vermin, and poor
food sound like medieval prison con-
ditions, but they are not the root evil,
Doctor budding explains. A great
part of jail discomfort is attributed by
him and by Others acquainted with |
the situation to the fee system.
The Fee System.
The fee system works this way: for |
every inmate in a jail the jailer re- |
for food and such clothing and nee |
essities as may be called for The !
amount given varies widely in differ |
ent states and counties. It may be |
said, roughly to average 80 cents q |
day per person. The jailer is gem |
orally paid a small salary, and If any
thing can be saved out of the expenses |
of the prisoners he can pocket it.
Thus. # he can feed his boarders !
on beans. bacon. and potatoes for IL |
cents a head, he sometimes succumbs /
to the temptation of making this much |
profit, regardless of the health of the |
men who are dependent on him. This |
profit, whatever it is. the jailer may I
divide with the sheriff who gave him |
his political appointment.
DIR. budding says that when crime |
is dull, and a Jail is empty it is not /
an unknown practice for a sheriff to |
speak to special detectives on the rail- /