The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-30

|. PENAL SETUPS
BENEFIT STATES
Ohio and Colorado Make
Gains With NonpartiSan
Prison Rule.
Continued from Page One)

the usual political manner, prison
authorities declared.
In 1884, the Kentucky legislature
abolished the Office of jailer, COM
bining his duties with those of the
sheriff, who, in turn, was relieved
of the duty of tax collection which
had been his chief function here
tofore.
One prison expert said the only
requirements for getting a prison
job in Kentucky are that the appli-
cant must be free, white and 81 and
know the right peorle."
Colorado is another state that
does not have a central department
for general supervision of penal in
situations, but officials and employees
of state penitentiary and reforma-
tory are appointed under civil serv-
ice after examination before the
state civil service board.
Experience Is Valuable
The general requirements are
knowledge Of police work, physical
fitness and at least high school
education. Previous experience
counts so per cent.
In Denver, the mayor names the
manager of safety who is ex-officio
sheriff of the county. The city jail
ers are members of the police force
and county warden and employees
are appointed by the mayor.
The Colorado system was termed
by prison authorities to be COM
pletely satisfactory. They said evils
of the political system had been re-
moved through the adoption of civil
service requirements for officials
and employees.
Tennessee has a state department
of institutions which has direct
supervision of state prisons and
asylums. Civil service does not play
any part in the appointment of Of
f1cialS and employees, prison experts
declared.
Based on Spells System
Appointments by the state COM
missioner of institutions are based
on the spoils system. Friends of po-
litical favorites usually are en-
ployed.
California was one of the few
states covered by the survey that
reported technical requirements for
employees of county jails and those
in charge of prison activities pointed
out that civil service requirements
applied only in the large counties.
The county jails are supervised
by elective Sheriffs, as in Indiana,
and prison experts declared the sys-
tenn to be unsatisfactory.
Ohio's method of managing and
operating prisons corresponds close
ly to The Times proposal for adop-
ton in Indiana. Stats of Ohio
prisons are under state civil service
supervised by a state commission
named by the Governor.
Headed by superintendent
State institutions are headed by
Superintendents, who is turn ap-
point their employees. The depart
ment of public welfare exercises
general supervision ever all insti-
buttons.
Appointments are made from
grade lists arrived at through ex-
aminations. AS positions occur, the
appointments are made from the
top of the lists of eligibles.
AS in Indiana, Ohio county jails
are operated Independently of civil
service.
City institutions in Ohio draw
their personnel from civil service
lists.
The record of the Ohio penal sys-
tenn was pointed out by prison au-
thorities as an example of efficiency
that accrues from the adoption of
unified control and civil service
regulations for officers and employees.
Reports to Director
The District of Columbia penal
institutions, reformatory, workhouSe
and Jail are under the supervision
of superintendent of penal insti-
tutions who reports TO the director
of public welfare.
The director reports to the board
of public welfare whose members
are appointed by the district COM
miSSioners. The superintendent Of
penal institutions is appointed by