Year: 1874

In their report to the Legislature, now just
published, the Prison Association Of New
York make the startling assertion that the
practical effect of the State Prison discipline
at Sing Sing is to afford facilities for the etfec
tual organization OF the criminal classes. Any
one who has taken the trouble to read the
reports Of the police courts and the Court Of
General Sessions for considerable period
must have discovered that there is close and
constant communication between the convicted
felons at Sing Sing and their friends in this
city. The trades are not more thoroughly or
ganized than the criminal classes. Even the
police are accused of participating in this or
ganization and with facilitating the escape of
thieves and burglars. But the most alarming
feature about the whole business is that Sing
Sing Prison should be the headquarters Of
crime for the city and State and the centre of
information concerning the increase, move
ment and distribution of the convict classes.
Yet this is what is affirmed by society COM
posed of some of the most intelligent, active
and public-spirited citizens of New York.


A glance at the Prison, its condition, man
agement and surroundings, will explain this
charge against the efficiency and usefulness of
the institution. There are only twelve hun
dred available cells, while the convicts lodged
in the Prison ara usually at least one-tourth in
excess of this number. Twelve hundred cells
and sixteen hundred convicts would destroy
the discipline of any prison, for there is no
general system Of solitary confinement, even
in the night time. During the work hours of
the day the detention is scarcely more severe
than that imposed by the ordinary conditions
of labor on a farm or in the shop of the
mechanic. What is worse, vast congrega-
ton of convicts are in constant communica-
ton with each other and the less vicious cam
not fail to be harmfully Influenced by the
more hardened criminals with whom they
come IN contact. More than fifty per cent of
the convicted felons in the State are received
into this Prison. Most of the newcomers
are fresh from the community Of crime
in the metropolis, and all the information they
possess is soon circulated throughout the COM
munity of crime in the Prison. Those who
90 out do the like in the reverse. Besides,
other means are employed to keep mp commu-
nication between the two communities and
to maintain intact tho organization Of the
criminal classes The transfer Of prisoners
from Sing Sing to other prisons, while it may
be good for on individual convict now and
then, is pernicious in its effects upon our
prison system. 1t widens and intensifes the
organization of crime and promotes the con-
xrhi iCh hoo re rfu
and managers in Sing Sing, but its ministers
of evil everywhere. Next to being free man
in Houston street the professional burglar
prefers being prisoner in Sing Sing. There
he is among friends, and the Skies of yester-
day is practically the Fagin Of to-day. He
teaches the young men in the Prison how to
work with greater expertness and less danger
when they get out, and the State Prison be-
comes the principal school of crime in the
State.


There is remedy for all this which sooner
or later must be applied. What is called the
solitary system is the only one which can
have beneficial influence at Sing Sing. 1t
is too late to discuss the alleged barbarism OF
this system. Companionship is not the de-
sign Of penitentiary discipline, and the COM
minglng of all classes of convcts is a greater
evil, almost, than to allow them to go free to
prey upon the community. The solitary sys-
TEN is only the individual trea atment system,
and the results OF its application as shown by
the history of the Eastern Penitentiary Of
Pennsylvania are in such marked contrast to
the effects Of the Sing Sing discipline that q
change in the system has become an absolute
necessity. We are aware that any attempt
mt change would meet with powerful opposi-
tiop, so complete and effective is the organiza-
ton of the criminal classes but no COM


munity can afford to make its principal place
: for the punishment of felons an intelligence


bureau for criminals within and without its


walls.