The Indianapolis times., 1930-08-02
Danger Spots in the Prison Mess

Where will the lightning of revolt strike next in
our prisons? This question is discussed in able
fashion in the August Survey Graphic by Winthrop
D. Lane one of the most talented and experienced of
our prison investigators. The article is especially
timely, since this the anniversary season of the
breaks last year at Dannemora and Auburn.
Lane lists some thirteen institutions in which he
thinks that more breaks and riots are likely to take
place He says that he names these places more as
warning than result of a desire to prove
prophet. The following are the danger spots which
Lane suggests:
New York State Prison. Auburn, where there al
ready have been two outbreaks.
Ohio Penitentiary Columbus, where 322 priS-
oners were burned to DEATH April 81. last.
State Prison Folsom Cal, which probably has a
larger percentage of men serving long terms, with
little hope of release in the near future, than any
other prison in the country.
State Reformatory, Mansfield o., about which
little has been heard. 1t is not reformatory, but
a prison. and one of the most overcrowded institu-
tionS in the country, with serious problem Of
idlsness.
Kansas famous mine prison the State Peni-
tentary at Lansing where many men are employed
in coal mine. A strike occurred in this mine
three or four years ago. At that time the morale
of the institution was very low, caused by the al
most complete cessation of paroles.
West Virginia Penitentiary. Moundsville. The
plant Of this institution meets scarcely single
standard of modern prison.
Missouri Penitentiary. Jefferson City, one of the
three largest prisons in the country and one of the
most ineffectively run.
New York State Prison. Dannemora. where sew
eral hundred men still segregated for the part
they are believed to have taken in the dramatic
riot there last summer.
Washington State Penitentiary. Walla Wala.
where because of idlenesS, many men are con-
fined in cells twenty hours day.
State House of Correction and Branch Prisons.
Marquette Mich, which receives the trouble
makers" from other penal institutions in the state
Maryland Penitentary. Baltimore, where the
morale is poor and the plant one Of the worst in
the east
The two United States penitentiaries at Atlanta
and Leavenworth, both were very badly over
crowded and at Leavenworth there was serious
riot last summer Probability of outbreaks at these
institutions has been lessened by enlightened poll
cies instituted by the new United States Supern-
tendent of prisons. Sanford Bates.
Lane also notes the conditions which are most
likely to provoke revolts:
l. Long sentences due to our hySterical desire
to curb crime by severe punishment. Crimes that
draw sentence of from one 70 five years in Eng
land and Germany here penalized by sentences
Of ffUm thirty to forty years
2 Elimination reduction Of good conduct
time by which prisoners a shortening Of their
sentences.
5 Fewer paroles. and these granted only after
3 longer term in prison
1. Excessive overcrowdng with this condition
getting worse from month to month. This is due
TO longer sentences and fewer paroles, which pile
up the prison population.
5. Unpardonable< ideneSS. Men are locked up
for years with nothing to do
The reason that Lane believes that We may have
riots is that nothing significant is being done
to eliminate the conditions that cause riots
Not only do conditions tending to provoke out
breaks stl exist. but some of these conditions are
than they we're when the outbreaks of the last
year occurred"