RELIEF FOR PRISONERS WHEN DISCHARGED.
The expense of supplying needy prisoners with clothing at the time of their discharge from the Eastern Penitentiary has been almost entirely borne by this Society since 1896. For the six years prior to 1896, the Legislature appropriated on the average of $2490.00 annually to the Society, which thereupon assumed the expense of providing outfits for the prisoners at the time of their release. In 1895, the Governor refused to sanction the appropriation. No legislative grant of funds has been made since that time to the Society. Our late Honorary Secretary, John J. Lytle, who at that time was the General Secretary of the Society, with untiring energy solicited contributions from benevolent citizens to supply the prisoners when released with presentable clothing. His whole heart was in this work and nobly did he discharge what he deemed to be his duty to administer the charity in which our Society had been, up to that time, assisted by the State. We are still providing an outfit for discharged prisoners, although this aid is supplied by legislative appropriation practically in every other State of the Union. I append to this report a schedule showing what provision is made for prisoners at the time of their discharge from the various State Prisons. ([See page 38].)
During the year, 1911, the Secretary has furnished 370 men at the time of their discharge from the Eastern Penitentiary either with entire outfits, or with sufficient attire to make them presentable.
The following list shows what garments have been given:
| Coats | 293 |
| Vests | 294 |
| Pants | 294 |
| Dress Shirts | 243 |
| Underclothing (pieces) | 474 |
| Hats | 332 |
| Suspenders, pairs | 326 |
| Neck-ties | 314 |
| Collars | 41 |
| Total number of garments | 2611 |
A few of the women on their discharge have been furnished with suitable articles of apparel.
The administration of this charity is attended with peculiar advantages. It is an important duty to visit the prisoners near the close of their time of incarceration, and to learn from them with regard to their hopes and fears. Then, if ever, they need sympathetic attention. Many of them have friends or homes ready to receive them, but there are others who need more than a suit of clothes and a parting word of good wishes. We endeavor to find employment for such as these unfortunate ones, and, while in many cases we have succeeded, there is a remnant who are not strong enough to face the temptations of the outer world. Shall we not send such as these to a farm under control of the State, where they will have opportunity to work in the open air, and be retained in some kind of semi-detention until they have made good?