Evening star., 1927-09-12
SET
NEW JAIL RECORD
1914 Committed Last Year,
1872 Per Cent of Total,
Peak Reports.

All previous records for commit
ments to the District Jail for intoxi-
cation were shattered during the last
fiscal year ending June 80, according
to the annual report Of Maj. w. l..
Peak, superintendent Of the institu-
ton, submitted today to the Commits
sioners. In fact, Maj. Peak reported
that the largest total commitment for
a single offense during the year was
for intoxication.
The report pointed out that intoXi-
cation accounted for 49.2 per cent of
the total for all offenses for which
prisoners were committed to the Jail.
and that the intoxication cases, which
numbered 5,s74. exceeded by 800 the
number Of prisoners sent to the Jail
for the same offense in the preceding
year.
"It is to be hoped" Maj Peak COM
mented in his report, that the fu.
ture will show this to be an increased
efficiency in the enforcement, rather
than an increased violation of the
law"
$40 More Prisoners.
The report also showed that IL 1926
prisoners were received at the Jail
during the year, an increase of $40
over the previous year. The daily
average population was 461. This to-
tai, Maj Peak said Is about 80 per
cent larger than the average 10 years
ago and $50 more inmates than the
average five years ago.
1.-THE year closing June 80, 1927, has
seen the active Inauguration of re-
forms and improvements in the. II
icies and equipment of the Jail which
the kindly co-opera ton Of the Con
gress and the Commissioners of the
District made possible" said the re-
port. Improved housing assured by
the newly completed addition to the
main structure viii bring the insti-
| tuition measurably nearer the accepted
standards of modern efficiency and
will materially increase both the
tsafety and comfort OF the prisoners.
: "Oyererowdfng; has been unavoid.
able hitherto, as my previous reports
| it would seem to be unlikely that the
| new equipment will fall short of the
demands to be made upon it in the
immediate future. That the expan
sions already authorized are but a be-
ginning, however. should be conceded,
and plans for further additions should
be devised for emergencies to come.
Urges Radical Reconditioning.
"Remodeling of the obsolete cell
blocks should be undertaken before
suggested plans for ventilation and
other desirable sanitary needs are
made at considerable expense and by
way of complying with a condition
that should be cured and not merely
endured. Much of the equipment has
/ outlived the period of dependable
functioning and it Is only prudent
| that radical reconditioning be given
the right Of way without adding to
the old building. The institution is
! assured added space. modern and
scientific, but the faults in the old
construction are empha sized by the
contrast with the new and should
have early attention"
Maj. Peak pointed out that there
were more persons received at the
Jail for murder and 10 less for grand
larceny in comparison with the pre-.
ceding year. For carrying dangerous
weapons. he said. there was slight
increase. another evidence of the
vigilance of the police and the swift
justice of the courts" There also
were % fewer cases of housebreaking.