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.