JOURNAL OF PRISON DISCIPLINE
ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEENTH
ANNUAL REPORT
1787. OF 1901. “THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY.”
In the beginning of this Twentieth Century the public mind seems to have given more thought to the reformation of the prisoner, and his care after he goes out, rather than to the security of bolts and bars to hold him for the limited time. The march of progress is to treat him more like a man capable of being partially educated and taught some craft that he may follow when the sentence is ended or when paroled.
To this end, the statute law of our Commonwealth allowing only a small per centage of convicts to be employed, has been a drawback to progress, until all the Boards of Inspectors and Wardens (influenced by public opinion) have had the courage to use their better judgment. Convicts in our penitentiaries should, if physically able, be required to labor, both on the grounds of health, and of sound public policy, and such labor should as far as practicable, be such as will aid in paying the entire cost of their keeping. Military discipline and prison discipline—and still more, prison science—are essentially unlike, for one deals with men in the mass, while the other individualizes to the finest possible point.
Thirty-five years ago there was almost a complete indifference in the public mind concerning the reformation of prisoners, but now, the progress of the times seems to be fast changing sentiment, and leading onward to the requirements of a stated law making our penitentiaries more of a reformatory nature; prisoners classified, merit of grades, and employment in manual work for health. No doubt many of our prisons and county jails would require inexpensive additional buildings for reformatory plans; this would give work for many of the convicts under proper direction. It may be said that at the Eastern Penitentiary there is no room for additional buildings; but where there is a will, a way is generally found, though the space might be a little cramped and exclude a part of the current of air over the roofs of the present plant.
The Eastern Penitentiary has at this date, January 1st, 1,115 prisoners in 750 cells, which cells are intended for one prisoner each. So we see how our long-cherished cellular or separate system of Pennsylvania (still on the statute book) is fast passing into the congregate, though all foreign countries are even now following our former plan as the best.
Our prison Wardens, Chaplains, and Official Visitors by their oft personal visitations in the cells, have done faithful work endeavoring to reform the morals of the men, but after all, only a small percentage can be determined as really reformed from crooked ways, for many return a second or more times. Much of the kindly suggestions and godly teachings are lost to the official visitor by having to address two or more in a cell at one time, at the Eastern Penitentiary. Therefore, the sooner we arrive at the introduction of the Reformatory System, (known as such) and applied to all our penal institutions, the more hopeful for all our charges and benefit to the community in general.
The Reformatory System has four main principles as established in Massachusetts. 1st. Classification and advancement by merit. 2nd. Education and Sloyd work. 3rd. Trades and manual training. 4th. Parole and care of those discharged.
This State has not yet introduced a Parole System, though such a law has twice been passed by the Legislature and vetoed by different Governors. At the beginning of this century, the bill appears for the third time, but it is not intended to affect those now in custody.
An Indeterminate sentence law is still a future possibility of the new century. At the last National Prison Congress of Wardens and State Delegates held at Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 1900, the Indeterminate Sentence System, was unanimously recommended.
The Official State delegates of this Prison Society present at that Congress were, Mrs. Deborah C. Leeds, John J. Lytle, and Rev. R. Heber Barnes, whose report will be found further on.
The matter of a House of Detention, for our first-class cities, juvenile prisoners between 8 and 16 years, has made but little progress, and it still awaits consent to appropriate one of our unused school-houses for that purpose.
The inequality of sentences often come to the knowledge of the Acting or Visiting Committee, both at the Penitentiary and the County Prison; and we often wonder that our Judges do not adopt some uniform length of sentences, especially for first imprisonments for minor offences.
The Acting Committee of 50 of this Society, and who are official visitors to the Eastern Penitentiary and County Prison and annex, have been untiring in their efforts to reform those whom they have visited in their cells. The monthly reports show that members of the Visiting Committee have made the past year 731 visits to prisoners at the Eastern Penitentiary on 15,616 prisoners, and at the County Prison and Convict Dept. Holmesburg, 848 visits to 6,191 prisoners.
Our female members visit the female prisoners in both institutions. Kind-hearted willing souls are found among the subscribers of our Society, who are willing to freely give and have spent their time and money for the recovery of those who have stumbled and fallen. What we need most is a classification of prisoners, that all may be employed in some work, and a merit system. The nearest approach to a merit system now is a shortened term or commutation for good behavior, and every man receives his pardon from the Governor which restores him to citizenship.
Eastern Penitentiary Board of Inspectors have done wisely in the sanitary improvements of the institution the past year, under the direction of our esteemed warden, D. W. Bussinger. The place once so cold and cheerless, has been brightened up and made scrupulously clean, and the foul draughts of air are no more. The fronts of out-buildings have been rebuilt and present an appearance of firmness and stability. The cells are kept neat and clean, and the food is much better, being in a larger variety, and by careful economy, at no greater cost. When you reach a man’s stomach with good things, it seems to brighten up his countenance; every visitor realizes this. The men have daily exercise in the yard, for health; and an instrumental band has been formed of those in the bakery department, and allowed in the rotunda two evenings in a month to entertain the entire population of the institution; they have become very creditable performers.
Our Prison Agent, John J. Lytle, is at the Penitentiary nearly every day of the year, and in advance of a man’s going out, provides through this Society what the State does not, a new suit of clothing when needed, and procures a railroad ticket if he is to go to some distant home, and then when the man has a place to work (if a trade), he provides tools and a suitable boarding-place until the man is able to do for himself. After a time he may have fallen, or met with misfortune, and again he comes for help that he may again be placed in position where he can earn a support; in all these cases the prisoner is identified by his prison number, which no man ever forgets. In order to carry on this work for the discharged prisoners, the income from the funds of the Society is but a third of what is needed; and as the Legislature and Governors have failed the past six years to grant the Society the accustomed $3000 annually, we have been compelled to solicit donations from benevolent donors for the discharged prisoners of the Eastern Penitentiary. The aid given for the discharged prisoners of the County Prison, is from the income of the Society.
It seems hardly just that we be compelled to solicit for discharged prisoners of the Eastern Penitentiary from Philadelphians, when many of the convicts are sent there from most of the eastern counties.
Philadelphia County Prison, Moyamensing.—A recent personal inspection of every nook and corner of this old prison (erected 1835) revealed the fact, that under the present Board of Inspectors, with generous modern ideas for alterations and improvements, it might truly be called an up-to-date city prison; scrupulously clean and in order everywhere, inside and out. Our highly esteemed Superintendent, Robert C. Motherwell, Jr., shows his especial adaptation to the work; for during the past year 45,688 persons passed in and out under his eye, about 3,800 per month; of these the received were white males, 17,788; white females, 1,889; black males, 2,508; black females 653. Total, 22,835; of these 532 were boys under sixteen years old. Total discharged, 22,853. This large number of juveniles, caused the remark of a keeper, that if he had to choose between the care of 12 boys or 500 men, he would prefer the latter. These boys are never placed in a felon’s cell, but in a portion especially assigned them, and are always apart from the other older prisoners.
All the repairs or alterations are done by the convicts, and many are employed in the shops. There is now a first-class steam-heating arrangement, and electric plant with sufficient voltage for an electrocution-chair in place of the gallows, if the State so directed. In connection with this, is a Kenyun steam disinfectant apparatus (the latest and most approved device) for the renovation of clothing, mattresses, and bedding from vermin, microbes, and possible contagion; treating it by high pressure of steam then by vacuum.
The officers of the Moyamensing prison are all well tried conscientious men, and have a very promiscuous lot of people to deal with. There is a very good library of 2,700 volumes, used by all the male departments, besides other reading matter is furnished. The cleanliness and hygienic atmosphere of all the corridors and cells could not pass unnoticed. Three religious services are held in this prison every Sunday, and excellent volunteer choirs contribute, which are greatly appreciated.
Philadelphia County Prison,
Moyamensing.
Rev. Joseph J. Camp, the highly-esteemed Prison Agent of the Inspectors for the past sixteen years, interviews many prisoners brought in, and often goes to court when the case comes up for trial.
Mr. Frederick J. Pooley, our meritorious Prison Agent of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, is doing good work and assists the Rev. Jos. J. Camp. He has to do principally with those minor cases which are discharged with short detention and without trial, by order of the magistrates.
The Acting or Visiting Committee of this Society appointed to the County Prison, have done good work in aiding reform of both men and women; often have helped to shed that ray of light into the heart of some suffering one, by kindly advice and good reading matter; some have even taken pains to look after many women on their discharge, keeping in touch with their better interests long after.
The Woman’s Ward, under the care of Miss Anna B. Harshaw, matron, impresses you as one whose genial disposition and good judgment, well prepares her for the care of her charges. During the past year there were received 1,889 white women and 653 black; average, 212 per month. On January 1st, there remained 62 convicts and 33 awaiting trial. The entire building is clean and neat, even the cells, the kitchen, storeroom, and laundry: here twenty women are daily at work, (do the work by hand) for the whole institution, a number are employed in making up and repair of clothing, for the men also. They have a good library and other reading matter, and are often visited by the ladies of the Acting Committee.
County Prison Convict Department, Holmesburg Junc., Under the efficient care of Capt. Charles A. Abel, Deputy Superintendent, a recently constructed plant, to which are sent all the convicts of the county’s charge, the number at present being about 450.
They have various kinds of trades work (limited of course). This institution is the same as all the penal institutions of the State, save one, lacks two things:—classification or grades, and manual work for all the convicts. There is a large choir of colored men, who, on Sunday afternoons, in the rotunda afford, pleasure for the rest of the institution, as part of the religious exercises. In all these departments of the County Prison, Sunday religious exercises are provided, and often good volunteer choirs, under the direction of the management.
The County Prison’s daily charge is little more than eleven hundred.
At the Annual Meeting, January, 1901, George W. Hall, our high esteemed Treasurer for the past ____ years, tendered his resignation, and was unwilling to be re-elected to that office on account of recent sorrow and apparent failing health, desiring to be relieved from some of the responsible active duties and cares of this life. We appreciate his good judgment, and a Trust Company was appointed until the annual meeting when Charles M. Morton was elected to fill this office; unwilling to part with our faithful officer, he was elected one of its Vice-Presidents.
House of Correction, at Holmesburg Junction, usually has about 800 inmates, and consists of those sent there for drunkenness or for minor offences committed through intoxication. Most of these are compelled to work; a large number in the stone quarry, facing stone, and breaking for road-dressing, different sizes are sifted by hand labor. On Sunday all are required to be at chapel service and they have many reasonable privileges. It is a very well conducted institution in which this Society takes an interest; but the majority, on being dismissed immediately return to their dissipated habits and are often recommitted. Heretofore these prisoners were taken from the lower part of the city, on police tugboats to the House of Correction wharf, but in consequence of the Act of Congress recently going into effect, some other plan is devised until the boats are modified. The new law requires that the boats shall carry a sufficient number of lifeboats in proportion to the number of prisoners, and as the tugboats are only equipped with one yawl they cannot be used for this work until the necessary changes are made.
Juvenile Offenders. Judge Audenried believes in a sound spanking, as a more beneficial punishment than imprisonment, when a lad first shows inclination towards evil, and many times rather than send a boy to the House of Refuge, he has allowed him to go upon the parents promising no longer to spare the rod.
Philadelphia County Prison,
Convict Department, Holmesburg Junction.
A matter of great importance to our Commonwealth, to cite a case—a girl of fourteen years was recently convicted of petty larceny, sentenced to prison for three months. Appeal for mercy, on the ground of first offence, did not avail. But to jail, to be influenced for a worse career, instead of a reformative effect. The courts could not be held accountable for this state of affairs. Indeed it would be hard to find anywhere a more conscientious and just judge than Judge Biddle, before whom the case came. Our Judges are not lawmakers, and must interpret the law as it exists, and follow the statutory provisions enacted by the Legislature, and there is no discretionary or limited powers. It is deplorable that offenders of tender years should not receive intelligent and discriminating treatment under the law. But the fault is in the inadequacy of the law. Pennsylvania seems to be far behind some other States in penal, and particularly in reformative legislation respecting children. In other States, notably Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, legislation has been provided for juvenile and adult offenders, which has already born much fruit and promises greater results for the future. The working of the probation system in Massachusetts—where it has been in operation nine years appears to have more than justified the hopes of those who introduced the reforms. In Massachusetts more than 5,000 are released annually on probation, and the relapses to criminal life are very few. The system seems specially adapted to minors. There is every reason why Pennsylvania should take some forward step in enacting laws relating to young offenders.
Where modern legislation of this character has been tried it has had very great beneficial influence in reforming offenders and saving them from a criminal life, and in addition has saved the State money.
Where we were clearly shown at the last National Prison Congress, that our actual cost of crime in Philadelphia was $3.50 per capita for the whole population of the country, equal to $3,250,000 for this city it seems appalling, and we need to use the best known methods of reform to lessen the exacting taxation.
The Police Matrons at our station-houses have all proved well chosen and competent helps to the distressed wife and children, and to many a young girl who has commenced a life of shame brought under their observation by the officers. The entire number of women reported by the sixteen matrons, during the fiscal year as under their charge was 4,233. Of these many were aged, demented and homeless; those lost or seeking shelter were 773. Many were young, some strangers in the city, and to city life, who were restored, by a little effort, to respectable homes; some victims of the crimes of others or shamed and discouraged by disgrace.
The entire number of children reported is 2,978. Brought by parents, 279. Brought on personal charges for offences, 756. Lost, 1,498. The monthly reports of these devoted Matrons, to the Associated Committees, are filled with special cases of interest, and stir all true devotion to earnestness to devise new plans to reach and help the sufferers.
Mrs. L. W. Fletcher of the 6th District and Mrs. J. Poole of the 19th District are the oldest matrons in the work, having held appointment since September, 1886. Mrs. Fletcher has to do with that known as the tenderloin section, Eleventh street above Race. Within this district dwells a larger portion of girls and women whose vocation makes them liable to arrest more than any of the other thirty districts. Mrs. Fletcher has proved well-fitted for the work, the combination of good common sense, sympathetic gentleness and determined spirit which is hers, is one that is needed in the Sixth District more than any other perhaps. Mrs. Fletcher speaks of the many unfortunate girls brought to her as “her girls.” “They are to be pitied as much as condemned. Force of circumstances, I have learned, drives the majority of them into the lives they lead. Contact with them has taught me that few of them are wholly bad. Many can be made to see the folly of vice and led to abandon it.” She speaks authoritatively, and keeps track of many reclaimed, who are happy in their several employments as wage-earners, and owe their present happiness to her timely advice and sympathy.
Chinatown is in this division, and it exerts its worst influence; but kindness wins. They are not locked up in cells, but the matron places them in an upper room or ward. The matron is very seldom used roughly, her appearance seems to command respect, even from the most abandoned. She often accompanies them to court trial, and it is a comfort to them, they never fail to appreciate.
All our seventeen police matrons seem to be well-fitted for their work. Some of our lieutenants who have heretofore opposed having matrons for the female portion at station-houses, are beginning to see the folly of their former judgment. Our statute law requires every station-house to have a matron. Why is it not obeyed in the other fourteen districts?
Woman’s Prison.—The women of the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., are urging the establishment there of a Woman’s Prison. How much better if it were a Reformatory. This is sadly needed in State of Pennsylvania, and especially in Philadelphia for the 350 women in our Penitentiary, County Prison and House of Correction; at the present time there is a movement to ask the Legislature to establish a Reformatory prison for women in the eastern part of Pennsylvania.
Mrs. L. W. Fletcher,
Police Matron, Sixth District, Philadelphia.