The annual report of the association’s general secretary calls attention to the county jail problem, the opposition in New Jersey to the present contract system of labor and the possibilities of a profitable introduction of the state use system, the desirability of introducing winter work into the almshouses of the state to discourage the presence of vagrants, and the great need of a woman’s reformatory.
COLORADO PRISON ASSOCIATION GROWING
The Colorado State Prison association, says the Denver News, has become during the last year an organization not only to help prisoners who have a criminal record to get work and to reform, but to keep others from gaining a criminal record.
Instead of sending young first offenders to jail this year some Denver judges have tried the plan of releasing them to the Colorado Prison association. In every case the offenders have been grateful, were helped by friends and relatives to get work and are now living useful lives. The idea is new to Colorado.
W. E. Collett, general secretary of the association, states in his report for 1910, that the association helped 534 persons as against 324 the year before.
For the first time Secretary Collett received applications from men of the professions, lawyers, physicians, and from bookkeepers and clerks who have fallen into trouble.
The association procured employment for 355, meals for 344, lodging for 227, clothing for 105, transportation for 70 and tools, loans and medical aid for 45. The total number of lodgings given was 1,226 and the total number of meals, 2,882.
Nine were given courses in a Correspondence school. The cost per prisoner to the association was $9.75.