Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17

short term prisoners were being sent
| to the workhouse because OF the
crowded condition of the Jail. 1t has
been the custom to retain at the Jail
prisoners sentenced for 10 days or
less on the theory that the cost and
inconvenience of making a transfer to
OccoQuan and back was hardly war.
ranted for a period of less than 10
days. Without adopting any definite
sentence time which should be served
at the Jail or the workhouse the board
instructed the director that in so far
as funds would permit and there was
space available that the prisoners
should be sent to Occoquan to serve
their sentence. even those with very
short sentence as low as 10 days, It
may be. In this connection DIR. Kober
called attention to the futility Of the
present local practice of sending re.
peaters for short terms to the work.
house, the same men frequently being
sentenced 6, s or 10 times within a
, year. and on his motion the committee
on penal and correctional institutions
was instructed to give consideration
to the matter of an indeteNninate
sentence law and endeavor to secure
the passage of such statute
Definite Plan Discussed.
ION Friday, July /, 1927. at a con.
ference of the director of public well
fare, the superintendent of prisons,
the assistant superintendent at the
Jail, and a representative of the
Bureau of Efficiency, a definite plan
for putting this minute into effect was
discussed. The assistant superin-
tendent reported that he would need
to retain at the Jail sufficient short
term men to carry on the maintenance
work which he felt at this time could
not be done with men sentenced from
the Criminal Court or with volunteer
help from prisoners held for the grand
jury. He stated. however. that he
thought he could use men held for
further hearing on such work.
Such crowding in jails among men
awaiting trial Is recognized as the
worst possible source of future crime.
For many among these prisoners, this
is their first experience in crime. All
Of those awaiting trial are presumed
to be innocent, and nearly so per cent
Of them will be released by the courts
to return to society without further
incarceration. In 1927 Of ,423 prison.
ers committed to the Jail for felony.
$50 were released by. the courts. To
put two or three prisoners in a single
cell unit, as is necessary at the Dis
trict Jail, serves only to stimulate
criminal tendencies. Furthermore,
the present structure has no adequate
provisions for receiving rooms, dining
rooms, hospital or workrooms for this
class of prisoners. Moreover, due to
the obsolete type of construction. the
cells are small and dark and difficult
to keep clean.
Jail Needs Cleaning.
when first visited in January, 1927,
the jail was in need of thorough
cleaning and painting throughout;
men prisoners were not provided with
sheets or pillowcases; bed blankets
were washed once a year, and bunk
covers two or three times" year.
Since there were 1925 commitments
made to the Jail during 1927, 1t can
be readily understood how important
were adequate arrangements for keep
pg the Jail clean and especially for
keeping the beds and bedding SAM.
tary. The dirty condition of the
clothing of most of the prisoners only
added to the general untidiness and
served to lower both the self-respect
of the prisoners and the general tone
Of the Jail. Due to the system of ven.
time distinct Jail odor." The win.
dows were dirty and cobwebs hung in
the corners
With new appropriations avail
able. a cleanup and paint-up pro-
gram has been inaugurated by the
assistant superintendent at the Jail
in order to put the old wings in the
best condition possible by the time
the new wing is ready for occupancy.
A permanent general utility squad
also has been organized, whose
duties are to act as a perpetual
house cleaning unit on special as
signments throughout the Jail. BY
order of the superintendent of
prisons, sheets and pil.owcases will
be supplied prisoners during the
fiscal year 1928. The superintend-
ent has also approved the suggestion
that jumpers and overalls and other
necessary clothing be furnished
prisoners during their Incarceration.
and that the clothing of prisoners be