Evening star., 1926-06-14
GRAND JURY LAUDS :
PRISON CONDITIONS
Lorton and 0ccoquan Chiefs
Praised in Report to
Supreme Court.

Victor 2. de knight. foreman of the
District grand jury, today presented
to the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia A report of the visit made
by the grand jury to the District
workhouse at Occoquan and the
reformatory at Lorton. Va. The visit
was made May 26. The report com
mends the conduct of both institutions
and praises NJ. NJ. Barnard and A. c.
Tawse, who are In charge. The re-
port reads in part:
''At Occouuan we found most of the
prisoners quartered in temporary
frame buildings of long standing, but
in excellent sanitary condition. the
woman's quarters especially being i'm
maculately kept This and the ad-
Joining Observation-Disclosures not
inclosed by any means to prevent
escape, the prisoners being on the
honor system. which gives them con-
siderable freedom on the reservations.
However, we found several prisoners
who had been captured after escap-
ing In leg irons, loosely fitted with
the clothing between the iron and leg.
This does not interfere with the
prisoners walking and interferes very
little. if any. with their movements
while they are engaged in work. but
does prevent running in an attempt
to escape.
ION the whole, we found the prison
ers contented with their treatment,
hearing no complaints to the con-
trary, and we learned from the In
mates that the food was good and
sufficient.
"At Lorton. where the long-term
prisoners are sent, we found under
course of construction group of
buildings of permanent character.
These buildings are being erected by
the prisoners. the brick for which is
made on the reservation. central
heating, lighting and cold storage
plant is also under construction, with
a suitable space for commissary
stores.
..All these buildings, which have
been and are being erected by the in
mates. incorporate the last word In
completeness and reflect great credit
for the foresight shown in the general
scheme for handling these problems.
both for the present and future. Both
institutions are partially self-sustain
ing, a considerable amount of the
food being produced on the farm"
Prisoners Improve Physically.
I'VE found that generally speaking.
the discharged prisoners are mentally
and physically in better condition
than when brought to the institutions.
We found that the institutions are
equipped with considerable amount
of machinery of various types for the
manufacture of brooms, bricks, over
alls and other garments. The bakery
and kitchen are equipped with mod
ern machinery, as is the laundry.
There is plumbing shop. an cleo
trical shop, which we were informed
would be enlarged as the needs of the
institutions required, and that a ma
chine shop would be added as soon as
circumstances would permit. We were
interested in the discovery of a small
shop where all the stationery used at
the institution is printed.
I'VE We're permitted to inspect In
the minutest detail all buildings on
the premises. of which opportunity
the grand jury took full advantage.
We found nothing to criticize ad-
versely. On the other hand. all mem
bers of the grand jury were loud in
their praise of the splendid manner
in which these institutions are man.
aged
although the workhouse and the
reformatory are already model insti-
tutions. when the building program
ContlnHe1 on Page 6, Column a.