Evening star., 1953-09-11
Food Costs, Crowdinq
Raise Budget Request
For Penal Institutions

Overcrowding Of District penal
institutions and the rising cost
Of food will cost the District
81 ,295 SAT more in the next fiscal
year, Donald Clemmer, director
of the Department of Correc-
tions, has informed the Com
miSsioners in his budget request.
A total request for $5.6 million
has been made in the depart
ment's budget. released by the
Commissioners today.
To accommodate the prisoners
next year. it will be necessary to
alter the heating plant at the
reformatory at Lorton, Va, con-
Struct and equip a dormitory at
the Workhouse at Occoquan
Va, construct and equip two new
wings at the District Jail and
purchase a locomotive for the
institutions in Virginia at a total
cost of 1855, 900, according to
Mr.. Clemmer.
I Includes Pay for ChapIains.
Also. for the first time, the
department is asking for an ap-
preparation to pay two chaplains
one Protestant and one Cath
olic-at $5,940 each. The Wash
ington Federation Of Churches
which has been supplying q
Protestant chaplain for the last
13 years, has informed the de-
partment it will discontinue this
service after next July /. No
word has been received from the
Catholics. All Federal penal in
stitutions pay a salary to chap
lains, as does St. Elizabeths
Hospital.
The population at the Re-
formatory and Workhouse has
averaged 2,516 daily and is ex-
pected to reach 2,875 in the next
fiscal year. The population at
the jail has averaged about 991
this year and is expected to be
more than 1000 next year.
A request for a psychiatrist at
$8,360 is also made for next year.
This has been a long-needed
service at the penal institutions
to evaluate the prisoners while
they are in custody and when
they are about to be released.
One dentist is now employed at
the Virginia institution, and a
request for an additional one
at $5.940 is made.
More Guards Sought.
The increased population at
the penal institutions has created
a need for more custodial off,
GERS and a request for q more
guards at the Workhouse and
Reformatory and Is at the Jail
is made. The positions would
pay $3,435 a year. An increase
Of so per cent in the number
Of prisoners since 1947 and an
increase of less than z per cent
in guard force has created q
dangerous situation, the depart
ment said.
An increase Of $4,000 for the
next year is also requested for
laundry work. The laundry not
only does work for the penal
institutions, but for many Fed
eral offices in Washington. The
Federal departments pay the
District for their laundry and
the District has been appropriate
ing $4,000 a year for the Dis
trict work.
For food at the Virginia itSti-
tutionS, the department is ask
ing for $481, 800 for the next year.
This would be supplemented by
products from the penal farm
and would feed the incates for
about 81 cents a day. Clothing
for the inmates at these insti-
tutions will cost $111.856. which
would provide for working clothes
and a free suit when they are
discharged from custody.
$12,50O Tobacco Item.
A request for $12,500 is also
made to supply inmates with to-
bacco. Each inmate is entitled
to two bags of smoking tobacco
or one plug of chewing tobacco
a week.
The request for additional
guards would cost an additional
So, 900 for uniforms for them.
At the jail, it will cost $161 ,920
to feed the prisoners next year
with a ration allowance of SIS
cents a day. In addition, the Jail
needs 1000 blankets at a cost of
$4,655, 1000 sheets at $2,500,
500 pillows at $500 and new
kitchen equipment to replace
worn out pieces at a cost Of
$11,567.
Fuel for all the District insti-
tutions will cost $780, 900; plant
maintenance. $11. 800. and other
equipment to replace obsolesce'N