Agricultural prison labor is strongly advocated by prison authorities and has been in general use in the penal institutions of Pennsylvania for many years. The movement for outdoor work for prisoners has grown rapidly, and as a result, the Pennsylvania legislature, at its 1917 session, extended the scope of agricultural work for prisoners, and authorized by an Act approved July 17, 1917, the employment of prisoners, undergoing sentence in county jails, on county or poor farms.
There is no greater curse than idleness. An unemployed prisoner is a future menace to society, and no effort should be spared to keep him busy—to impress upon him the dignity and necessity of work, and to make him know that he is stronger physically and better morally if he is regularly employed.
Prison labor should be approached with a desire to help the prisoner and restore him to society cured of his criminal ailment. If the only purpose in the minds of the authorities is to make a profit for their district, they are in grave danger of reverting to the old convict labor system, which at best was only a modified form of slavery.
Agricultural prison labor offers the opportunity of a direct profit to the district, and places the prisoner in an environment peculiarly adapted to his own physical and mental betterment. I am informed that it is used with great success in several counties, including Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, Berks, Lehigh, Beaver, Bucks, Cambria, Fayette and Westmoreland.
Another important measure enacted by the Pennsylvania legislature and approved July 20, 1917, requires the erection of an Industrial Farm, Workhouse and Reformatory in each of nine districts created by the Act. Each institution is to be built and managed by a Board of Trustees, consisting of one County Commissioner from each county in the district, appointed by the President Judge of the proper Court.
It is the purpose of the institution to keep all persons employed about the farm and buildings, in growing all kinds of farm produce, raising live stock and in manufacturing supplies for its own use, or for the use of the several counties in the district, or any public or charitable institution owned or managed by any of the district counties.
Prisoners may also be employed in the making of brick, tile, and concrete, or other road building supplies for the use of the several counties. All material manufactured shall be sold at prices fixed by the Trustees, preference being given in the sale to the counties comprising the district, and to the cities, boroughs and townships therein.
The cost of the site, buildings and additions thereto, and all fixed overhead charges are to be paid by the counties comprising the district, in ratio to their population. All moneys received from the sale of produce or manufactured articles or supplies shall be credited to the overhead expenses.
This, in brief, is a digest of the law which is designed to inaugurate agricultural prison labor on a large scale in Pennsylvania.