Part 4

Single, 202; Married, 164; Widowed, 35; Total 401 Number having children 120 Number of children 281

NATIVITY.

Born in United States 313 Born in a foreign country 88 --- 401

CLASSIFICATION OF CRIMES.

Crimes against persons 138 Crimes against property 230 Crimes against both persons and property 33 --- 401

Considerable space is given to “Criminal Histories” of sixty prisoners, received in 1911, who had previously served one or more terms at the Eastern Penitentiary. The criminal records of eighteen prisoners, received in 1911, who have relatives in prison, are given.

Visits of friends and relatives (not including members of religious organizations):

Number of visits made 3,540 Number of prisoners thus visited 1,087 Number of prisoners not thus visited 721

SCHOOL REPORT.

Number in school at close of year 1910 229 Number in school at close of year 1911 270

Of the 108 illiterates received in the school, only 3 were illiterate when discharged.

The branches taught are Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, History.

Number of students taking Correspondence courses, Dec. 31, 1911 410

LIBRARY REPORT.

Number of volumes 12,834 Books issued 60,226 Books bound during the year 1419 Pages printed at the Penitentiary Printing Press for various uses of the Institution 717,186

The members of various religious organizations have continued their helpful visitations, and the Sabbath services have been well maintained.

The assistance of the Pennsylvania Prison Society in providing clothing for prisoners at the time of their discharge receives grateful recognition.

Cost of maintenance for the year 1911 $95,154 52 Cost of maintenance for the year 1910 99,296 70

ACCOUNTS WITH CONVICTS FOR 1911.

DR. CR.

Balance to credit of convicts January 1, 1911 $11,662 13 Cash sent by relatives and friends 25,498 38 Cash brought by convicts on entrance 789 74 Cash credited by overwork 11,861 94 Allowance 380 00 Cash deposited in Savings Banks $4,001 00 Cash paid convicts on discharge 5,592 93 Sundry goods, shoes, etc. 4,328 26 Cash paid to relatives and friends 19,943 71 Paid for tobacco, toilet articles, etc. 6,522 82 Profit and loss 1 54 Balance due convicts January 1, 1912 9,801 93 -------- ---------- $50,192 19 $50,192 19

WESTERN PENITENTIARY.

The site for the Western Penitentiary of Pennsylvania has been officially chosen by Warden John Francies and the Board of Prison Inspectors. The selection of the site is subject to the approval of Gov. John K. Tener, and is in Center County, a few miles from Bellefonte. It contains 4,878 acres of fertile agricultural land, 936 acres being part of a State forestry reservation, the rest, 3,942 acres, being held under option from a number of private landowners. The cost of the private land will be $191,655.

From the forest reservation ample wood for the construction of preliminary buildings of the new prison may be drawn. The institution will be entirely fireproof, and it is Warden Francies’ intention to have all the manual labor entailed in its construction done by his wards.

From McBride’s Gap, which forms a cleft in Nittany Mountain, will be drawn the new prison’s water supply. Warden Francies has obtained the entire watershed of McBride’s Gap Run, giving the prison absolute control of the sanitary condition of the drainage area. A beautiful roaring spring of sparkling water descends from the Gap, which has a minimum flow of 600,000 gallons of water per twenty-four hours. The water in McBride’s Gap is of a high degree of purity. The sanitary condition of the watershed, as found by engineers employed by Mr. Francies, is excellent.

It is Warden Francies’ intention to construct a huge reservoir, which will store about 70,000,000 gallons of water. Pressure will be at command at all times to amply operate the mechanical and industrial departments of the prison and meet the requirements of many homes which will be built by the State for the officers of the new prison.

In view of the fact that each of the farms embraced by the Nittany Mountain site is improved with farm houses in good state of repair, barns and other outbuildings, that the properties are well fenced, drained, and most of them have matured orchards, the average price per acre paid by the State for the twenty-two farms is considered to be remarkably cheap.

--_The Review._

REPORTS OF COUNTY JAILS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

Apparently very few counties in the State of Pennsylvania issue published reports.

In response to a request from the Society, we have received reports from 9 County Jails, from which we present the following items:

LUZERNE COUNTY--Wilkes-Barre.

Number of prisoners received during the year 1911 1788 Number on hand Dec. 31st, 1911 104 Average number per day 132½ Cost per day for boarding prisoners 12 3-5 cents Number employed out of their cells 42

Those employed at this jail make and repair shoes, weave stockings and make mattresses. The prison conducts a regular system of daily school instruction.

Daily attendance at the school 21.

They are instructed in spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic and history.

“There was no serious breach of the rules and no punishment inflicted, or no attempt made to escape during the year.”

“The stern hand of the law must control a man by force, but the law above finds a tender spot in the heart. Appeals to the reason constrains him to choose the path of righteousness.”

CAMBRIA COUNTY--Ebensburg.

Report covers the time from March 7th, 1911, to Jan. 1st, 1912.

In that time they had received 547. Number in prison Jan. 1st, 1912, 112.

A number of improvements were made in the prison during the year, but many more improvements are needed in order to secure proper ventilation and sanitation.

LEHIGH COUNTY--Allentown.

Number committed in 1911 1123 Number in prison Dec. 31st, 1911 122 Cost of board for each prisoner per day 10.83 cents

The main industry appears to be the manufacture of carpets and striped clothing.

Gospel services are conducted weekly.

DAUPHIN COUNTY--Harrisburg.

No report received for 1911.

In 1910, the number committed was 6,373 The number Dec. 31st, 1910, was 215

With the exception of some domestic services, no industries appear to be maintained at this institution.

ALLEGHENY COUNTY--Pittsburg.

Number received during 1911 14,302 Number in prison Dec. 31st, 1911 380 Average number of prisoners each day 412 Average cost per day for food for each prisoner 6.22 cents

ALLEGHENY COUNTY WORKHOUSE--Hoboken.

Number of prisoners received during the year 1911 4,171 Number in prison at end of year 827 Average daily cost per inmate 41.91 cents Average cost, after deducting earnings 19.01 cents Average inmates employed per day 535 Average inmates unemployed per day 301

The sources of revenue are from the manufacture of brooms, brushes, carpets, and from the sale of farm produce, and also from boarding prisoners received from counties outside of Allegheny County.

Of the 4,171 received during the year, 2,237 were committed for the first time. There were six who had been committed each fifty times or more.

The shortest sentence was 10 days; the longest, 7 years.

2,366 were sentenced for 30 days, a very common sentence.

A night school is conducted for the benefit of illiterates, of whom 552 were received last year.

The chaplain in his report suggests that reformation would be much aided if there should be organized at Pittsburg some society with object to have the care of released prisoners.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY--Norristown.

Report for 1910--Total committed during 1911 1156 Number in prison at close of the year 147 Cost of food per day for each prisoner 9½ cents

“The night school conducted by the Society of Friends has taught many inmates to read and write.”

DELAWARE COUNTY--Media.

A very brief report received.

Average number of prisoners per day 98 Average cost per day for board for each prisoner 12 cents They receive from articles manufactured $4,243.41 Expense of material for these articles 2,516.81 -------- Leaving profit on manufactured articles of $1,726.60 Amount of money paid to prisoners for overwork $338.00 Amount spent for tobacco for the prisoners $369.00

MONTOUR COUNTY--Danville.

Number committed during the year 54 Number in jail at close of the year ending Sept. 30th, 1911 2

LANCASTER COUNTY--Lancaster.

Number of prisoners received during 1911 1,324 Number on hand at the end of the year 94 Cost per day for boarding prisoners 14.7 cents Industries appear to be carpet weaving and caning chairs. Number yards of carpet 9,966 Number of chairs caned 379

PRISONERS’ AID SOCIETIES.

Some few months ago, the Secretary of the PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY sent to various Prisoners’ Aid Societies in the United States a series of inquiries relative to the character of the aid furnished by them to discharged prisoners.

A summary of these reports will prove interesting.

MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR AIDING DISCHARGED CONVICTS.

“This Society has furnished at one time or another to discharged prisoners almost everything from clothing to artificial legs, eyes, teeth, crutches, medicines, tools, jobs, transportation, board, etc.”

Their assistance is given not so much to those who are discharged from the Penitentiary as to those who have served time in the County Jails.

“Where a man is employed in some special occupation, he needs extra clothing, such as waiter’s outfit, rubber boots for sea, overalls, etc., and where he is needy, change of underwear, socks, extra shirt, etc. We furnish these articles. Last year, about $1800 was expended by me for clothing out of a total expenditure of $9,479.10.”

MAINE PRISON ASSOCIATION.

This Association has been recently formed and so far its activities have been directed to interesting the public and securing more effective penal legislation.

There is a Prison Society at Portland, Maine, which gives help to prisoners discharged from the County Jail. The clothing is solicited and no money is paid except for expenses of lodging and transportation.

PRISONERS’ AID ASSOCIATION, RHODE ISLAND.

Their object is “to aid discharged prisoners in such ways and by such means as will enable them to gain an honest and respectable livelihood,” and also “to adopt such measures as shall seem to be conducive to the prevention of crime.” For the present their efforts are chiefly directed to the maintenance of a temporary Industrial Home for released women prisoners. In 1910 their care extended to seventy women and eight children.

PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK.

This Association furnishes prisoners when discharged from the County Prisons with clothing if they are in need. The applicant makes personal request for help at their offices. The Association does not maintain an Agent at the County Prison with purpose of determining what clothing is necessary to be supplied. The Association solicits contributions of clothing to be given to deserving ex-prisoners. They make a specialty of caring for those who have been paroled and for those who have been on probation. Their report last year shows an income of about $20,000, of which $1,000 may have been used for clothing.

THE WOMEN’S PRISON ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK CITY.

This Society has an Agent whose sole business it is to keep in close touch with all the women who have been arrested and taken to the sixty-eight station houses in the city where women are admitted.

“The Isaac T. Hopper Home, under our care, is not a prison; those admitted are expected to give a month’s service, at the end of which time they are sent to service in private families; a few remain from choice, and to some of these low wages are paid. During the month of trial, they are not expected to go out. The atmosphere of the house is cheerful; they have good beds and good food.”

CONNECTICUT PRISON ASSOCIATION.

The suit, shoes and hat are furnished by the prison authorities. This Association furnishes under-clothing and overcoats to those discharged from the State Prison. In 1909-1910, they expended for this purpose $1,051. We believe this Association gets an appropriation from the State amounting to $2500 per annum. They assist in the “Parole Work.”

PRISON LEAGUE OF AMERICA.

This organization, under the efficient control of Maud Ballington Booth, in results attained, stands at the head of all Prisoners’ Aid Societies. To all ex-prisoners who apply they give clothing, work and good cheer. In Chicago they have at this time assumed sponsorship for nearly 300 prisoners.

“The clothing part of it is only a small part of the much we do, but it is often the very necessary part.”

In various parts of the country this Society maintains farms, at which work is given to ex-prisoners, and where they are assisted in every way on the road to reform.

PRISON GATE MISSION, SALVATION ARMY, NEW YORK CITY.

“Good substantial clothing is given us from time to time that generally meets the needs of the people with whom we deal.”

They maintain industrial homes at which the opportunity is given to labor for their best welfare. They are doing wonderful work, the importance of which defies statistics. They are not directly connected with the “Parole Work.”

SOCIETY FOR THE FRIENDLESS.

This organization appears to have headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, with branch associations in various states. The Gen. Supt. is Rev. Edward A. Fredenhagen, Kansas City, Mo., to whom applications for further information may be sent. As a rule, prisoners discharged from city prisons, jails, lock-ups, etc., are not supplied with clothing, and when they apply to the Society for the Friendless their wants are supplied and an effort is made to furnish them with employment. The organization endeavors to follow them up and to keep in touch with those whom they have helped. They endeavor to co-operate with Parole Officers, but are not officially connected with the work. Societies of the same name, mostly branches of the organization at Kansas City, Mo., have made similar responses from North Dakota, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Iowa, Washington and Minnesota.

Superintendent Parsons of the Minnesota Division says that last year in pursuance of their work they “traveled 26,714 miles, delivered 265 addresses to 42,870 people, made 176 jail visits, interviewed 1110 prisoners.... Places of employment have been found for 120, and a large number more have found employment as the result of the care given them.”

NEBRASKA PRISON ASSOCIATION.

The Legislature of this State appropriates $5,000 to supply the needs of prisoners discharged from Penitentiary, and the work of administering this charity appears to be undertaken by this Association.

PRISON REFORM ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA.

They furnish needy prisoners when discharged from county jails with clothing. Up to this time they are not connected with “Parole Work.”

PRISON ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA.

This organization has been organized but a few months, and has not undertaken to distribute clothing to needy prisoners. They are endeavoring to promote “Parole Work” and agree to employ any prisoner who is entitled to “Parole.”

PRISONERS’ AID ASSOCIATION OF MARYLAND.

When prisoners come to them from the jails and appear to be in need, they supply them with clothing. They are connected with the work of paroling prisoners, and endeavor to follow them up by a system of visitation.

THE CENTRAL HOWARD ASSOCIATION; CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

“In reply to your first question, would say that in all of the eight states in which this Association operates, the State itself furnishes a suit of clothes, including an overcoat in winter, to all released prisoners except in Kentucky, when men are paroled they do not receive clothing. In addition a discharge fee of from $5 to $10 is given them to make a new start. In one state, Minnesota, this discharge money amounts to $25. Your second question is, therefore, answered by stating that this Association is not called upon to furnish clothing and does not spend any funds for that purpose. In the case of all those who come to us from the Cook County Jail and the Chicago House of Correction, and do not receive clothing or discharge money, we sometimes fit them out with better clothing, but this is usually cast off clothing given to us by friends.” * * * * “In answer to question five, would state that we are directly connected with the ‘Parole Work’ in this and adjacent states. In the case of those who are entitled to parole in Illinois and are without friends or employers to sign their first papers, these papers are signed by me in many cases, and I keep the men under supervision during the period of their parole and they report through me to the officials. In the cases of adjoining states, except where the law permits them to be paroled outside of the state line, we secure employers who are residents of that state to sign the parole papers and serve as ‘first friend’ to the prisoner. This Association also furnishes a representative in connection with the Adult Probation Law to work with the paid Probation Officers in the courts in carrying out the provisions of said law.”

COLORADO PRISON ASSOCIATION.

They formerly furnished prisoners when discharged from the Penitentiary with clothing, but after securing the passage of a law, whereby the State provides such clothing, they no longer assume such expense. In the “Parole Work” they endeavor to co-operate with the Wardens. Their Field Secretary visits the jails throughout the State.

HOME OF INDUSTRY, PHILADELPHIA.

“Grand object--the founding and providing of a Retreat and Home for Discharged Prisoners of the City of Philadelphia, and the State of Pennsylvania, giving employment and compensation for labor performed, and by moral and religious influences and surroundings to awaken in them an incentive to true manliness and good citizenship....”

Last year 79 men were received in the Home who were supplied with board and lodging, and for services received some wages. They were assisted in securing situations for permanent employment. The State recognizes their good efforts by making an appropriation of $2500.00 per annum for maintenance.

DOOR OF BLESSING, PHILADELPHIA.

This Institution has been in existence about 11 years, and in that time has taken charge of 357 women and 30 children. These women and children come to them from either the State of City prisons.

Many of them are forwarded to their homes, and situations for others are obtained in the country. Recently, through the Agent of The Pennsylvania Prison Society, they receive many children who have been arrested for vagrancy and petty offences, direct from the Magistrates, and they receive kindly attention until they are restored to their friends or have been placed in homes.

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR VISITING CATHOLIC PRISONERS.

The 16th Annual Report of the American Society for visiting Catholic Prisons, just issued, shows that there were committed to the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania in the year 1911, as follows:

Catholic convicts 107 Catholic convicts discharged 113

and that there were remaining in the Penitentiary at the close of the year (December 31st, 1911)

Catholic men convicts 428 Catholic women convicts 6 ----- Total 434

The report states that “a committee of the society regularly visits these unfortunates and seeks to convert the criminals into good citizens,” and that during the past year 6256 visits were made.

Rev. M. A. Noel, S. J., is Catholic Chaplain of the Penitentiary, and Mr. P. H. Spellissy is the President of the Society.

PAROLE IN CALIFORNIA

(Our good friend, Col. Griffith, of Los Angeles, sends to us the following account of splendid results achieved in California.)

“One of the most excellent progressive movements of the period is that which looks to a reform in the prison system and strives to convert criminals into good citizens, useful to themselves, their families and society. Governor Johnson has been a leader of the movement in California, procuring the enactment of legislation greatly improving conditions in the penitentiaries of the state. When the new system shall have been operative for a reasonable period, men who have ‘done their time’ will re-enter the world possessed of training that will enable them to maintain themselves in honesty. Many a discharged criminal relapses into crime because society has so ordered his punishment as to make reform practically so difficult as to be almost impossible.

“Eleven per cent. of California’s convicts are under parole. Last month but five of the 363 violated in any way the terms on which parole was granted, and every one was at work. During the month they earned $15,600.55, expended $11,721.08 and saved $3879.47. That is an excellent record, but its excellence will be greatly increased under the new industrial methods to be established for the benefit of the convicts in confinement. They will be taught how to maintain themselves, and as those teachings become effective and hope, courage and confidence are revived among men who would be outcast derelicts were they released now, the percentage released on parole will rise and the number of the redeemed increase.”

RELIEF GIVEN PRISONERS WHEN DISCHARGED FROM STATE PRISONS.

MONEY CLOTHING

ARIZONA $5.00 & R. R. Fare Complete suit

ARKANSAS $2.00 Complete suit

CALIFORNIA $5.00 & R. R. Fare Complete wardrobe

COLORADO $5.00 & R. R. Fare Complete suit

CONNECTICUT $5 00 & R. R. Fare Complete suit, over-coat, change of underclothing, working clothes, suitcase.

DELAWARE Earnings averaging from If needed, they get clothing (Newcastle $18.00 to $25,00 with their earnings. County)