The indeterminate sentence is a further recommendation of the Commission, which urges that the penal law of the State be so amended as to make it incumbent on all judges sentencing prisoners to confinement in a State prison to impose sentences without either maximum or minimum limit; while for the purpose of investigating all applications for pardon and parole it is suggested that local advisory boards of pardon and parole be instituted in connection with each prison and reformatory of the State.
The Commission places itself on record as favoring the employment of able bodied male convicts in constructing and repairing the highways of the State and the several counties in addition to which farms should be developed at all of the institutions so that as many convicts as possible may be employed in the open air—all possible work to be conducted under the so-called honor system, together with a considerable and increasing measure of self-government.
As a final and essential basis for permanent improvement the Commission recommends the consolidation and reorganization of the various offices, boards and commissions which now divide among them the administration of the prison affairs of the State into a permanent State Department of Correction, to which the entire penal administration of the State shall be committed.
Will Works or Won’t Works?—An examination of 2000 inmates of the New York municipal lodging house showed that 63 per cent. of the 2000 were able to do hard work; another 10 per cent. were capable of doing lighter work, such as gardening or using a broom, and still another 9 per cent. could do extremely light work, but still enough to keep themselves in food and decent clothing. More light would have been thrown on the general subject of unemployment if the city had been able to go further and learn how many of this 2000 would be willing to do the work they were physically capable of doing, were the chance actually offered.
More Privileges at Stillwater—Prisoners at the penitentiary at Stillwater demonstrate in many ways their approval of the new rules inaugurated by Warden Henry Wolfer.
All the men in the third grade have been advanced to the second grade, and now not a stripe is worn in the new prison.
All convicts will be permitted to talk to their neighbors at meal time Sundays and holidays.
Each Tuesday and Friday at 4.30 P.M. motion picture shows will be given in the prison auditorium. The prisoners are given half day off on Saturday.