Evening star., 1946-06-01
ID. T.. Heads Stand PAT
On Withholding Data
In FB| Jail Report /

In Fb| Jail Report !
The Commissioners today con-
tinued to suppress the detailed
findings of the Federal Bureau OF
Investigation inquiry into Dish
trict jail conditions except for a
highly censored summary made
public yesterday. :,
Since May 8 they have had the
two-yolume report under considera~
ton but have refused to reveal the
contents. Commissioner Guy Mason
told The Star yesterday the study
probably would be withheld for "seI
curity reasons"
Mr.. Mason arranged yesterdaw
with great secrecy for the presence
Of Justice Department official at
the regular board meeting of the
Commissioners. He refused to dis
cuss anything about the visit of the
official. -
General Break Possible"
Shortly after pm, however, the
city heads and Attorney General
Tom Clark issued joint Statements
giving a brief summary of their
study of the report and, a list of 16l
recommendations for improvement
of the escape-ridden institution. -
They said the report reveals
clearly and forcefully that there
existed gross lack of discipline
among certain guards, their supe-s
riors and inmates" and that under
conditions prevailing at the time of;
the inquiry general prison break
was possible"
The statement charged that
guards fraternized with inmates,
favoritism was practiced and con-
traband smuggled into the Jail. Is
said there existed a dual MANAGE
ment responsibility, that the jail
was understaffed with underpaid
personnel and the building seriously
in need of improvements.
Some Points Strengthened.
Similar information developed
during the incompetency trial of
former Prisons Supt. Howard B. Gill.
on Board of Public Welfare charges
last spring, during the congressional
investigation of the April jailbreak,,
and from the routine administrative
inquiries into the escapes.
Some of the more vulnerable
points have been bolstered" so far
as possible under existing condi-
tions, the statement added.
Both the Commissioners and the
Attorney General called for enact
ment of the House-passed Hebert'
bill to separate the prisons from the
Board of Public Welfare into a de-
partment of Corrections directly
under the Commissioners.
Although critical of some of the
guards and pointing to a low morale
on the guard force, the joint state ;
ment commended group of faith
full Jail employees for sticking to
their jobs under the most adverse
circumstances"
FBI Recommendations.
The FBI, which entered the prison
inquiry at the request of the Com
missioners, made the following rec
concentrations for improvement: :
l. That all administrators and
supervising officers be given full au-
thority consistent with their re-
spective positions and all orders
and instructions to Jail personnel
and prisoners alike be routed
through the established administra-
tive channels.
2. A thorough examination of the
medical situation at the Jail, in
Guiding personnel, the use of GAL
linger Hospital and custodial prob.
lens.
3. A study to eliminate many
lnefhciencies and dangerous prac.
tlces in the culinary department"
4. A study of structural weak.
nesses at the Jail by engineers, archi-
tects and penal authorities. Some ,
specific weaknesses were described
in the report but were not made
public. I
5. Modernization of the obsolete
and inadequate" jail communication
system with consideration given to
installation of a public address sys-
tenn and inter-off1ce communication ;
as well as communication with OUT
sloe authorities during emergencies.
Alarm System Recommended. 3,
6. Installation of an alarm system.
7. Study of Jail records to mod
ernize antiquated methods, improve
discipline. improve personnel ef-r
ficiency. ~
3. Rearrangement of the entire {
department of receiving and dis
charge of prisoners which is now
impractical and constitutes a Gus
todial hazard" 1t is here that
major prison break could conceive.
ably be instituted. N
9. Renovation and undermining of
the entire record system of indi-
vidual files on prisoners, criminal
records and f1ngerprints These rec-h
ords are "in an unsatisfactory con-
dition" and inmates have access to
them even at nighttime without
supervision. In at least one in
stance, prisoner admitted chang.
ing the records to reflect a lesser
sentence than one actually imposed,
10. Applicants for custodial jobs.
should be investigated. ~ ~
II. Redistribution of many posi-
tions to improve the present low
salaries which together with new,
opportunities for promotions are
responsible for much of the dissat3
isfaction among employees.
Training System Urged.
u. An adequate training system
for guards who now receive their
only instruction by observation and
informal discussions with older
guards. No firearms training has
been given and several guards ADJ
mftted not knowing how to operate
tear gas equipment. -
13. The number of guards should
be increased. =
IA. The number of paid clerical
personnel should be increased to do
jobs now often done by Jail in
mates.
Is. Removal of the District police
now assigned as guards at the iail