The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-02-21
Penal Institution
At Cheshire Found
Behind the Tines

5. superintendent Of industries.
8, school principal.
z parole officer.
II has been suggested that the
classification board meet once a
week for the following purposes:
for consideration and placement of
new men; entertain requests for
change Of assignment; disposition
Of parole violators.
Material for study of each inmate
will be furnished this board from
the findings Of q reception company
period as follows; findings Of the
medical officer, psychologist, psy.
chiatriSt, director of education, su-
perintendent Of industries, social
work investigator, complete case
histories,
Payment Of wages to inmates Is
particularly stressed by the report.
Asked OF this, Senator Wallace said
this has been urged by the board
for the past two years.
Ordinary the average inmate Is
given a S. bill when leaving the in
stitution, Senator" Wallace pointed
out. This is obviously little or
nothing when ali the factors are
considered. For example, a boy may
not get a Job for a week and when
he does he won't get paid for an
other week. Meantime, II he has no
parents o? they don't care, he has
to live on that S.. This fact is apt
to lead him into stealing that he
might eat or be warm and one can
hardly blame him."
To Bank Money
Our plan, in part is TO pay him
daily wages for his work with added
bonus for exceeding quotas and the
Ike and permit him to bank this
money. When he is released he may
have $50 or more in his pocket to
live on until he gets established"
Broad recommendations entail the
duties and qualifications of the per-
sonnet in DR.. Palmer's report. These
are as follows:
81. A study should be made to
determine the ACCESSIBILITY OF fix
ing employment standards in the
correctional institutions wherein
are confined male prisoners above
the age OF l6.
2. If 1t is found to be impossible,
then entrance requirements should
be standardized for each category
or classification Of employee
guards - instructors - teachers
clerks-et cetera.)
3. Salaries, minimum and max
imum should be similar in each
institution - with advancement
from minimum TO maximum pro-
Tded by annual increments fixed
by law-until the employee shall
have reached the maximum for
the given grade. Three TO five
years should be required to 60
from minimum to maximum, de-
pending on the range Of salary.
4. For custodial forces, provide
intermediate grades between pris-
on officer Tor guard and Captain
!. e.-Sergeant, Lieutenant, Cap
tain-the numbers of these pos
itionS TO be determined both by
the number Of employees and the
inmate population of the inStitu-
ton.
5. Advancement from a lower
to a higher grade TO be made on
the basis OF competitive examina-
ton reopen to men in the next
lowest grade-who shall have
reached the maximum for the
grade in which they are serving.
Such promotion examination and
promotions should be available to
eligible candidates in any Of the
institutions referred to in Rec
commentator No. /.
6. Efforts should be made in a
like manner 10 provide promo
tons and standardized salaries
and working conditions for all
other claSsificationS.
7. In the future. men filling
positions for trade instructor, an
effort should be made to secure
mechanics who have been GER
tificated as trade instructors. (Do
not confuse with instructors in
Arts and Crafts, where certifica-
ton does not require that the
candidate be a journeyman me-
chanic)
IF entrance requirements, Salar-
les, conditions OF employment, pro-
motion examinations, ct cetera, are
standardized, there can be a free in
terchange of personnel between in
stitutions without impairing the eff
ficiency Of the service. On the other
hand, the increased opportunities
for advancement will attract a high
type OF employee and the incentives
for good work will unquestionably
increase the general efficiency and
morale within the institutions con.
cerned."
Members Of the Board Of Directors
at the institution are: former State
Senator Joseph r. Neill (R) chair
man; Senator Wallace, secretary;
Lester Burdick. Bridgeport; v. VAR
gar, Bridgeport; The Rev. Samuel
Budde, Waterbury, The Rev. Gerald
Gaucher, Watertown; Henry Gum,
Cheshire, vice chairman.
George B. Erskine Is superinten-
dent OF the reformatory. His reign
In recent years has been severely
criticized by the Board Of Directors
and has been instrumental in the
ealling-in Of DR.. Palmer for pur-
poses for the survey.
Tomorrow q second In the ser.
les depicting the more detailed
highlights Of ref0rmatOry func.
lions. will be In The Waterbury
NemOcrat.l