Evening star., 1945-02-07
Reporter Finds Marlboro Jail
Well Kept; Food Is Costly Item
County Figures Disclose Caterer Was
Paid So, 900 Annually to Feed Prisoners
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.

N TSF~SS N'NNi
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.
The Prince Georges County jail
at Upper Marlboro, visited by a
Star reporter following a report by
Federal prison inspectors describing
the institution as poor" appeared
to be clean and well kept, but the
cost of feeding the prisoners is con-
siderably more than in Montgomery
County.
The jail operates a caterer sys-
tem," under which food for prison.
ers is prepared under contract out
side the institution. The Federal re-
port stated that the caterer received
more than $1,000 year for supply
ing food, but county figures disclosed
that the cost actually is more than
$4,000 yearly. In Montgomery pris-
oners are ed for less than IS cents
a day. In Prince Georges the cost
is about 10 cents a day.
A county grand jury and the
county health officer, have recon-
mended that an isolation ward be
added for sick prisoners or those
suffering from communicable, dis
eases.
go Cents for Feeding.
The Federal report stated that a
farmer-contractor was paid so cents
a DAY per prisoner to feed Jail in
mates, that scant attention was paid
to the discipline of prisoners, that
poker playing was allowed in. the
cells and that ball and chain was
used to punish prisoner who had
been returned after escaping from
road gang. In addition, the re-
port said no lighting facilities were
provided in the cells, and no toilet
facilities were provided for women
prisoners.
This Is what reporter found:
Records in the Office of the clerk
of the Board of Commissioners show
the cost of maintaining the jail, in
cluding feeding the prisoners from
July !, 1943, to June 30, 1914,
amounted to $9,63135, of which
Sc, 149.40 was paid the caterer. Nor
timer Crawford, from the Jail fund
for food costs. In addition, to food,
$3.50 was paid the Jail physician,
$431 .95 went for the purchase of coal
and $2,800-$1 400 each-was paid in
salaries to two Jail attendants.
In addition to the $6,149.40 paid
Mr.. Crawford from the jail fund, he
also received so cents per day per
prisoner for preparing lunches for
the road gang, an amount estimated
to average S180 month, or $2,160
year, which comes from the road
fund.
The Jail population averaged about
80 prisoners a day, county records
showed.
Eager for Inspection.
Mr.. Crawford seemed eager to
show this reporter and a photog-
rapher through his kitchen.
Il feed them WE'LL" he said. 81
never have any complaints on my
food from the white prisoners. OF
course, some of the colored ones
complain. ="
Sometimes I give them specials.
he continued. Take, for example
Christmas. I had about So worth
of prisoners and I gave them a
dinner costing twice that much. !
lost money that day, but, of course,
I came out all right for the month
/ made it up on other meals"
Mr.. Crawford explained he had
been feeding the prisoners for about
l3 months, and had had the same
job about four years ago. He said
he had been a deputy sheriff in the
county about 20 years ago.
Named by Sheriff.
Asked how he got the Job. Mr..
Crawford said he was appointed by
the sheriff. II work during the
elections bringing in the voters" he
said.
There were differences of opinion
on who actually hired Mr.. Crawford.
Although under the Maryland code
the sheriff in Prince Georges Coun-
ty is charged with feeding the Jail
prisoners. The sheriff, whose name
is r. Earl Sheriff, said when he
was elected two years ago the con-
tract was being let by the county
commissioners and he had 'left it
that way" Linden Briscoe, clerk to
the commissioners, said the sheriff
had charge of hiring the caterer,
while William A. Carson, chairman
of the Commissioners, said the
commissioners let the feeding con-
tract on competitive bids.
Mr.. Sheriff said he would be will
ing to show the jail, but would not
allow pictures to be taken until
after a paint job on the interior
has been completed.
Appears to Be Clean.
The Jail appeared to be clean, well
kept and efficiently operated. 1t
consists of an entrance hall, four
cell blocks providing space for 40
male prisoners, cell accommodate
ing four white female prisoners, and
a smaller cell that win hold two
colored female prisoners.
Contrary to the Federal inspec-
tors report, toilet facilities are pro-
vided in both colored and white
female cells. While the cell for
white women is equipped with both
hot and cold water, only one tap,
cold, was found in the colored cell.
All cell blocks are equipped with
hot and cold water and toilet fa-
cilities. Male prisoners are locked
out of their sleeping cells in run
way during the day, with one cell
left open to provide access to a
toilet.
The cells are lighted only by a
series of electric bulbs in the area
way outside the cell blocks. Lights
are turned out at Q pm. when pris-