The Commutation Act, whereby the sentence of prisoners could be relatively shortened for good behavior, was first passed in 1861, for the passage of which act the members of the society had worked for years. In recent years some members of the society have made a thorough study of methods of dealing with criminals in the various states of the Union, and in connection with other interested parties have been instrumental in securing the passage of a law in 1909, which provides for probation for adult offenders, and also for parole for certain classes of offenders. These provisions had for many years applied to juvenile criminals, but before 1909 had no reference to the sentence on adults. The State of Pennsylvania has been quite cautious in adopting some principles of what may be called “The New Penology,” and it is too early at the present time to make any report on the effect in Pennsylvania of this recent legislation. The society is giving close and sympathetic attention to the practical enforcement of these regulations with the hope that the beneficial effects, reported elsewhere, may here be observed, and that the errors of this system, which have been noted rather conspicuously in the press, may be reduced to a minimum in our State.—From an article by Albert H. Votaw, secretary of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, in supplement to No. 49 of The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy.
The following report has been made by Frederick J. Pooley, general agent of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, concerning the recent activities of the general agent: At the close of the year, December 31, 1908, there were 1,480 prisoners confined within the walls of the Eastern Penitentiary. At the close of the year, December 31, 1909, there were 1,527, an increase of 47. Of this number 30 are life prisoners. There are 38 female prisoners. During the year 1909 there were 520 prisoners discharged. Of this number 405 were furnished with suits or parts of clothing and with tools, lodging, etc., by the Pennsylvania Prison Society through their general agent, and in addition to this part of the work many were taken to the early morning trains and conducted safely out of the city and beyond the reach of evil companions who often wait for the discharged prisoners at the prison gate for the purpose of leading them back to a life of crime. In addition to the work at the Eastern Penitentiary the general agent has a large field of work at Moyamensing and Holmesburg.
I believe the lesson of temperance that has been taught to the younger generation is commencing to bear fruit, and I look for fewer commitments for drunkenness in the future than in the past. More than 500 discharged prisoners from the County Prison were assisted with railroad tickets, board, lodging, room rent, tools, etc.
NEW YORK PRISON ASSOCIATION IN 1910
The New York Tribune on January 23rd stated: The Prison Association of New York during 1910 found work for 362 released prisoners. At the annual meeting held last Thursday O. F. Lewis, general secretary, reported that 1,237 former prisoners had been in charge of the parole bureau during the year, and that the men and women on probation to the association from the Court of General Sessions would bring the total number of persons helped to 1,700.
Managers of the prisons and reformatories know the Prison Association will take at any time as many men on parole as may be assigned to the association. These men must report once a month, and they are also visited by the parole staff at their work and at their homes.
All prisoners eligible for parole must obtain an offer of employment, so their purpose in writing to the association is obvious.
The general secretary pointed out that during the year seventy-six men had been paroled from the state prisons to the association. It was necessary to return to state prison only four men, and the others were all doing well.