New Britain herald., 1930-12-30
PRISON COMMITTEE DECIDES CRUELTY
 CHARGE BASELESS

(Continued From First Page) were entitled to know what the in- stitutlon is, how it functions and what improvement ought to be made. The work was taken up in three phases: Treatment of inmates conditions in the prison and recom- mendatlons for changes and i'm proVements
 Would Release LIfers
 AS to the last named phase the committee recommended that life prisoners be paroled after 25 years. AS 10 discipline, it would lift the silence" rule which forbids inmates 10 talk during meals, taking away Inc privilege from those who abosed IL. Conversations at meals, the re- port said, is conducive to greater satisfaction with the food. Absence of conversation makes the mess han scene depressing.
 The committee would have the trison school conducted by a pro- fessional educator instead Of the chaplain, and would have many changes and additions to the equip rnent and facilities of the medical department. There should be daily open air recreation, and prison tarm.
 Of the cruelty charges the com mittee disposed Of them by saying that after hearing many witnesses, none of whom had knowledge of ill treatment of inmates. there appears to have been no treatment of refrac- tory prisoners which would arouse the just criticism of even the most sensltive.'
 Prison Above Average
 Discussing prison conditions, the committee said it regretted that tine forward looking policy of the direc tors under Colonel N. G. Osborn, its chairman looking to d new prison, vas not adopted by the general as sembly. The prison is an old one, one building dating back to 1927, out in it's structure and equipment the committee found it to be above he average of state penitentiaries.
 The report described in detail the
  discipline, recreational facilities, ad- ministration and disqualification, giv- ing praise to Warden C. $. Reed | and his staff for their work. The !. system of appointment of custodial l. officers vas found free from po- | utlcal pressure or other objection l able features.
 Among the recommendations ! stressed were removal of all insane . inmates to other institutions; that | hospital facilities be extended and | that the state be prepared 10 make | heavy investment in approved shop | building and equipment to deal with . prison labor on the state-use prin- ciple made imperative in January, | 1884 when the Hawes-C Cooper law becomes effective.
 The committee would have q farm bought for working by trust" orthy inmates and would have the duty periods of guards reduced from l2 to hours.
 Many changes in the disciplinary code were suggested. It noted re- commentators of directors in past
 
 wears which were endorsed as were the recommendation in the report for 1880. which already has gone to the governor to be submitted 10 the incoming general assembly.
 The summarized text of the report follows:
 ITO His ExcellencN
 John H. Trumbuil,
 Governor of the State Of
 Connecticut.
 Sir:
 Your Committee appointed oclo- her A. 1880, to act on your behalf in all matters pertaining to an ln- vestigation of conditions at the Con necticut State Prison at Wethers- teld' beg leave to report as follows; After several preliminary dis cvssions amongst ourselves for the purpose of determining procedure, we conducted q series of hearings at The State Prison at Wethersfield. These sessions were open to the public and to the press. The pro ceedings were recorded by Mir. Ray n,ond W. Smith, Of Hartford, Clerk and Official Stenographer Of the Committee. A complete copy Of thlS record is submitted herewith.
 I've examined, under oath. thlr- tv-four witnesses. Included in this list were those who, in various newspaper articles, had criticized the prison and it's management.
 Here the report tells of the scope or it's inquiry, the questioning or discharged employees, employees who left voluntarily, the chairman or the board of directors, the warden and other employees.
 With regard to the taking of statements from inmates Of the ins:itut,on which We recog- nized as essential to a thorough investigation and. also, mat
 fer Of some dcliCacy for obvious reasons, we determined to hold . a series of executive sessions. . Such persons were not put un- , der oath as 1t was our behef , that an intimate, informal con . ference was better calculated to obtain the truth. We saw all
 prisoners who desired an inter- , view with the Committee and, , in addition to this. upon our own initiative. we interviewed , & number of others and visited [ still others in their respective
 cells. We also examined the ( records of q large number Of { prisoners. We conducted d survey of the S Institution and visited every part 4 thereof. in addition to the forego , ing, we sought and obtained expert i advice from eminent specialists eN- perienced in such matters. In this |