Office of Administration, Philadelphia County Prison for Convicts, at Holmesburg
Office of Administration, Philadelphia County Prison for Convicts, at Holmesburg
About 200 of the prisoners are employed in various trades, in carpentering 7, on tin work 2, making mattresses 2, as tailors 14, shoemakers 20, making brushes 10. These all occupy separate apartments. In one additional apartment there are 15 hand looms, on which are made the muslin used for sheets, etc. About 18 men are employed in connection with this weaving. There are in the same apartment 24 stocking weaving machines, employing one man each. About 20 find employment in the laundry, and beside these there are about 70 men employed in various duties, to wit: 14 men in cooking, 14 in the bake house, 6 in the boiler room, etc. The men employed in these various engagements have their meals in a dining room apart from the other prisoners, a room having 6 tables, seating 12 each.
The kitchen for this great establishment is a very spacious one and very complete and convenient in all its appointments. There are 6 large steam heated copper boilers intended for making soups. In these boilers 250 gallons of soup are made per day during 4 days of the week and an equal quantity of what is known as Irish stew on the other 3 days. The basis of the soup and stew is fresh beef or mutton.
From 700 to 800 pounds of fresh meat is furnished to the jail every day and is hung in a cold storage room, ready for use as wanted. There is in addition another storage room in which are stored a great quantity of canned tomatoes, barrels of rice, barley, etc., etc.
The bakery is also very spacious with 4 arched ovens and 4 kneading troughs. Eight barrels of flour are converted into bread every day, excepting on Sunday, a double quantity being baked on Saturday. The number of loaves baked averages about 900 daily, the weight of each being 2 pounds, this being a proportion of something more than one loaf a day to each prisoner, and it is worth while to add that the bread is uniformly baked and of unimpeachable quality.
Still another large room is used for the production of chocolate and what is called coffee. It is necessary to state that no coffee is used, but the article which passes by that name is rye, which is roasted and ground and boiled in copper boilers; 25 pounds of this material is used every morning and suffices to furnish about 3 half pints to each prisoner.
An equal quantity of chocolate is furnished for the supper. A dessert of prunes is furnished each prisoner on every Friday.
The boiler room, some 30×80 feet in dimensions, requires the attention of 6 men, and from this room an extensive system of steam piping permeates every portion of the buildings andfurnishes the power for the engine and for the electric lighting. Electric lights are throughout all the premises, including each cell.
An ample supply of filtered water is furnished by the Holmesburg and Tacony Water Co., for which the jail pays $2,000 per annum.
The city had under consideration a proposal to purchase this water company, but the price at which it was valued, $146,000, seemed to the authorities too high.
There are in the prison at this date 9 cases of tuberculosis. These occupy cells entirely apart from the other prisoners, cells which open out on one side to the open air. The patients have liberty within and without, as their own pleasure and convenience suggests, and when the weather is suitable most of their time is spent in walking or lounging in the prison yard. Besides this, there are but few cases of sickness in the prison at this time.
Up to within a recent period, the prisoners all wore striped clothing, but on June 1st of last year this mark of distinction was abolished and the prisoners were all given new suits free from any distinctive mark. The striped clothing is now worn only as a punishment for misdemeanor and for which purpose there has been so far only little occasion. The exhibition of a suit of striped clothing to a prisoner or the mere mention of a possibility of his being compelled to wear one, has been found sufficient in most cases to subdue and bring the most obdurate prisoners to terms.
There is a library of about 5,000 volumes. Each prisoner being furnished with a catalogue is permitted to select as many as 2 or 3 books a week, the keepers often kindly assisting in making suitable selections. Two or three men are constantly employed in the care of the library and in rebinding the books, which become much soiled or in need of rebinding.
There are religious services in each corridor on Sunday afternoon, and at the close of that service the choir of colored men, numbering about 20, give sacred singing from the center of the rotunda, much to the enjoyment of the prisoners, all of whom can hear distinctly, even from the farthest extremity of the corridors.
A very interesting and commendable condition of the Holmesburg Jail is that the use of tobacco is prohibited. This prohibition includes the use of chewing or smoking tobacco or cigars, and extends not to the prisoners only, but to all the keepers. It is said that although this is a hard experience to a large majority of the prisoners on entering, they soon adapt themselves to it, and from the standpoint of health are undoubtedly better off for this abstinence.
The entire cost of the maintenance of this jail after deducting about $5000 each year for sales of manufactured articles or of waste materials, is a little less than $100,000, which money is appropriated by City Councils.
If the chief aim in the erection of this prison was to secure a place of confinement from which there would be but the remotest possibility of escape, the end has certainly been attained, but no one could go through the buildings and observe their harmonious and intelligent adaptation to all requirements without the conviction that the health and physical comfort of the prisoners had been made the chief consideration. The visitor, however, will have much occasion for dissatisfaction on finding that the majority of the convicts arewithout employment, but this is no fault of the Inspectors, who are charged with the administration of the affairs of the prison; the law of the State is at fault in that it limits to 35 per cent. of the whole number of convicts those who may be employed in any of the trades, and, as a consequence, the greater number of men are compelled to remain idle.
Notwithstanding this very much to be regretted condition, too much cannot be said of the good order and effective discipline which prevails at the Holmesburg Prison. A striking example of that was had at the time of a great storm which occurred in the summer of 1911, which overturned a tall chimney stack and unroofed a portion of the buildings. No effort was made by any prisoner to escape or in any way to take advantage of the unfortunate circumstances, but the utmost good order and propriety was observed by all of them.
J. L. B.
Paris, February 24th, 1912.
... I have visited several prisons in England, amongst others, Pentonville, of which Secretary Votaw has already written (in 1909) and Borstal, which I shall make the subject of this letter.
... Borstal itself is in the country, in the county of Kent, about three miles from, and between, the towns of Chatham and Rochester, the former being reached by a forty-minute ride in a fast train from London. It stands high on the hills overlooking a beautiful valley, the shipping of Chatham and the Rochester Cathedral. However, Borstal means much more than a local institution, for it has given its name to a system of treatment during and after confinement which has been so extraordinarily successful that a modification of it is being practiced in nearly all British prisons for both sexes. Unfortunately, I chose a Saturday for my visit and as a sort of half-holiday is practiced there my view of the different departments in operation was necessarily hurried, and I cannot do better than give you, as much in his own words as possible, the description given me by Thomas Holmes a day or two before I made my visit.
In this place, since 1903, the Prison Commissioners have conducted experiments with regard to young male prisoners from which they have evolved the system to which the old prison has given its name.
“In reality, it is an attempt by the State, to rescue young persons from a life of crime and fit them for an honest industrial life. It is unnecessary to point out the value of such work nor to say that it is a new departure from the ordinary aims of penal administration.
“Of course there were many difficulties in the way and the Prison Commissioners found themselves hampered by lack of funds; the State being chary in giving requisite support. But in 1908 the system, having proved abundantly successful, became part and parcel of the penal system of the country and in 1909 prisons dealing only with the young offenders between the ages of 16 and 21 became Borstal institutions.
“Now a word in explanation of the method of selecting the inmates and their treatment. In 1908 the prevention of Crimes Act was passed, several clauses of which dealt with the reformation of young offenders. That they may be perfectly understood, they are given in full:
“Where a person is convicted on indictment for an offense for which he is liable to be sent to penal servitude or imprisonment and it appears to the Court, first, that the person is not less than 16 nor more than 21 years of age, and second, that by reason of his criminal tendencies or habits, or association with persons of bad character, it is expedient that he should be subject to detention for such a term and under such instruction and discipline as appears most conducive to his reformation and the repression of crime, it should be lawful for the Court, in lieu of passing a sentence of penal servitude, or imprisonment, to pass a sentence of detention under penal discipline in the Borstal institution for a term not less than one year and not more than three years; and for the purpose of this act the Secretary of State may establish Borstal Institutions, that is to say, places where young offenders may be given, while under detention, industrial training and instruction.
“This Act also gives power to the Prison Commissioners to discharge on license, such offenders as they think fitted for conditional liberty, but no license can be granted until the offender has served at least six months of his sentence and every offender whether he is released on license or has served his complete sentence, remains after his discharge under the supervision of the Prison Commissioners for several months.
“Another part of this Act provides that young offenders sentenced to the Borstal treatment must be of good physical and mental health and further provides that young men, up to the age of 23 may now be admitted to Borstal institutions.”
Having explained the Genesis of the Borstal institution and given you an idea of the class of young men who are admitted to them, it will be well to give some details of the daily life therein. The Borstalian, on his arrival is bathed and given his uniform and the Warden who receives him reads him the rules and gives him any necessary information. Next morning he sees the Chaplain and is examined by the Doctor and finally brought before the Governor. All his antecedents and capabilities are inquired into; his education, knowledge, trades, his tastes, etc., are carefully tabulated and everything, little though it be, is taken note of for the purposes of guiding the Authorities in directing the young man’s future. Thus, if he has any knowledge of a trade and wishes to continue it he is put straight at it; if he has none, but appears a likely youth for a certain job, he is put to that job at once.
“Should he be an ignorant and hopeless kind of youth for whom training and discipline, smartness, etc. is necessary, he is put among those who do the housecleaning, etc., where he must work neatly, and be quick. Every Borstalian gets physicaldrill every morning for one-half hour and one hour’s gymnasium three times a week when no fooling is allowed, for whether it be physical drill or gymnastics, work or play, he must do his share, perform all the exercises, every one of which has been carefully planned for developing his physical and mental smartness.
“Education is not forgotten, for no sooner does he join the institution than he begins to receive five hours tuition each week; nor is he released from this until he can pass examinations which prove him able to read with comparative ease, write intelligibly and do simple figuring. Even then further education awaits him, for special classes are formed on various subjects and lectures on all topics are given in a large hall where he goes when his behaviour and progress have been satisfactory. As magic lanterns are frequently used to illustrate these lectures, you can readily believe that these prove a great attraction.
“But the life at Borstal is not all work and no play for the Prison Commissioners have recognized that if a youth must work well it is essential that he play well, so recreation has not been forgotten. After five months a youth of behaviour and industry can obtain entrance to a special class and on three evenings in the week may meet with others, to play, to read and on Saturday afternoons may take part in football or cricket as the season serves.
“It will be seen that work, education and play all have a part in the life at Borstal but religion is not forgotten and I know of no religious service more impressive than some of those I have taken part in at this institution.
“Here is the programme of the daily life at the institution. At 5:30 the prisoner arises and begins the day with a biscuit and milk after which he cleans and tidies up his cell. At 7 o’clock he breakfasts on bread, porridge, margarine and with tea and coffee, if he is in the special grade. At 7:30 he is in the workshop or in the open; and carpentering, blacksmithing, bootmaking, building, gardening, cooking, cleaning, or laundry work, occupy him until noon, when dinner, consisting of bread, meat, potatoes and pudding await him. After an hour and ten minutes for dinner and rest he resumes work which continues until 5:30 when work ceases and there is a general parade reviewed by the Governor after which he gets his last food for the day, generally consisting of bread and cheese and a mug of cocoa.
“At 6:15 there is a general meeting in the Chapel when short addresses are given by the Chaplain and others and encouraging letters from discharged boys who are doing well are read. Then they go to the evening classes after which there is recreation for a few moments until 8:30 when they go to their cells and shortly after lights are out.”
Surely this is a sensible day’s programme, a sensible system and well applied. There are some faults in the plant but as the system grew from a very small beginning and the buildings were added from time to time this criticism is harsh. However, different planning would greatly facilitate the training and decrease the cost of maintenance. There are some in the system which are in process of being remedied. For instance, it is proposed to lengthen the period of licensed freedom to at least one year so that each boy can prove himself without need of care during the four seasons.
The care given these discharged Borstalians, either on license or having served their full time, is most admirable. They are in charge of the Borstal Association whose agents, aided by those of over 60 County Societies for the aid of discharged prisoners, have an eye, a very watchful eye, upon them and who report frequently to the Association, and a glance at their records, absolutely the most complete, concise and convenient imaginable, one can be familiar with the whole history of any individual. These records show, among multitudinous other things, that aid is frequently required to establish a boy as a self-supporting, self-respecting member of decent society. It is seldom more than assistance in procuring work, or a heart-to-heart “big brother” talk.
I wish every member of our committee could see these records. Besides their primary function of recording they furnish a wonderfully interesting human document, and a first-class text-book on crime causes, the chances for reformation of different characters, etc., etc., all based on the observation of the individual, not when under restraint, but when, comparatively speaking, a free agent.
Such records would have an incalculable value to us, if carefully kept by the Authorities or Prison Associations of the different States. In many places we are applying new systems, or old systems to new conditions. New problems are almost bound to arise, as the hordes of immigrants, reaching our shores daily, have their effect on the national type, and without exact data as to the cause of the failure of any system little can be done to better it, and a better weapon to induce legislation, not to speak of individual and corporate assistance in our work, would be hard to imagine.
What is called the full Borstal system has not been practiced long enough for some to consider it a proven success, but the figures here given, those for prisoners released in 1909, give cause for bright hopes at least.
If 82 per cent. of our offenders were reformed our prisons would be certainly a good investment, but it is only fair to remember that not all convicted youths between 16 and 23, and no adults of any sort, are brought under this treatment. Delicate or defective physique of any sort makes it impossible. How to make a cripple or a boy with a weak heart into a self-supporting man within the limits of the short sentence such unfortunates usually receive, is very hard to see. It is too short a time to learn a trade and even the English authorities are ridiculously hampered by laws preventing convict labor excepting upon articles for State use, so that what is learned at prison is of little value out of it....
Daniel Buckley.
This report, contained in a pamphlet of about eighty pages, with nine plates, is printed and bound within the prison.
On the first of January, 1911, the population was thus classified:—
The discharges were:
The inspectors report the completion of a new building containing 120 cells, for which the last Legislature appropriated $60,000.00. The actual cost was $52,698.11, and the balance of the appropriation has been turned over to the Treasury of the State. “In the erection of the building, no other than the labor of the prisoners was employed.” They also state that the results of the application of the Parole Law have been very satisfactory.
Considerable space is given to “Criminal Histories” of sixty prisoners, received in 1911, who had previously served one or more terms at the Eastern Penitentiary. The criminal records of eighteen prisoners, received in 1911, who have relatives in prison, are given.
Visits of friends and relatives (not including members of religious organizations):
Of the 108 illiterates received in the school, only 3 were illiterate when discharged.
The branches taught are Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography, Grammar, History.
The members of various religious organizations have continued their helpful visitations, and the Sabbath services have been well maintained.
The assistance of the Pennsylvania Prison Society in providing clothing for prisoners at the time of their discharge receives grateful recognition.
The site for the Western Penitentiary of Pennsylvania has been officially chosen by Warden John Francies and the Board of Prison Inspectors. The selection of the site is subject to the approval of Gov. John K. Tener, and is in Center County, a few miles from Bellefonte. It contains 4,878 acres of fertile agricultural land, 936 acres being part of a State forestry reservation, the rest, 3,942 acres, being held under option from a number of private landowners. The cost of the private land will be $191,655.
From the forest reservation ample wood for the construction of preliminary buildings of the new prison may be drawn. The institution will be entirely fireproof, and it is Warden Francies’ intention to have all the manual labor entailed in its construction done by his wards.
From McBride’s Gap, which forms a cleft in Nittany Mountain, will be drawn the new prison’s water supply. Warden Francies has obtained the entire watershed of McBride’s Gap Run, giving the prison absolute control of the sanitary condition of the drainage area. A beautiful roaring spring of sparkling water descends from the Gap, which has a minimum flow of 600,000 gallons of water per twenty-four hours. The water in McBride’s Gap is of a high degree of purity. The sanitary condition of the watershed, as found by engineers employed by Mr. Francies, is excellent.
It is Warden Francies’ intention to construct a huge reservoir, which will store about 70,000,000 gallons of water. Pressure will be at command at all times to amply operate the mechanical and industrial departments of the prison and meet the requirements of many homes which will be built by the State for the officers of the new prison.
In view of the fact that each of the farms embraced by the Nittany Mountain site is improved with farm houses in good state of repair, barns and other outbuildings, that the properties are well fenced, drained, and most of them have matured orchards, the average price per acre paid by the State for the twenty-two farms is considered to be remarkably cheap.
—The Review.
Apparently very few counties in the State of Pennsylvania issue published reports.
In response to a request from the Society, we have received reports from 9 County Jails, from which we present the following items:
Those employed at this jail make and repair shoes, weave stockings and make mattresses. The prison conducts a regular system of daily school instruction.
Daily attendance at the school 21.
They are instructed in spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic and history.
“There was no serious breach of the rules and no punishment inflicted, or no attempt made to escape during the year.”
“The stern hand of the law must control a man by force, but the law above finds a tender spot in the heart. Appeals to the reason constrains him to choose the path of righteousness.”
Report covers the time from March 7th, 1911, to Jan. 1st, 1912.
In that time they had received 547. Number in prison Jan. 1st, 1912, 112.
A number of improvements were made in the prison during the year, but many more improvements are needed in order to secure proper ventilation and sanitation.
The main industry appears to be the manufacture of carpets and striped clothing.
Gospel services are conducted weekly.
No report received for 1911.
With the exception of some domestic services, no industries appear to be maintained at this institution.
The sources of revenue are from the manufacture of brooms, brushes, carpets, and from the sale of farm produce, and also from boarding prisoners received from counties outside of Allegheny County.
Of the 4,171 received during the year, 2,237 were committed for the first time. There were six who had been committed each fifty times or more.
The shortest sentence was 10 days; the longest, 7 years.
2,366 were sentenced for 30 days, a very common sentence.
A night school is conducted for the benefit of illiterates, of whom 552 were received last year.
The chaplain in his report suggests that reformation would be much aided if there should be organized at Pittsburg some society with object to have the care of released prisoners.
“The night school conducted by the Society of Friends has taught many inmates to read and write.”
A very brief report received.
Some few months ago, the Secretary of thePennsylvania Prison Societysent 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.
“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., andwhere 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.”
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.
Their object is “to aid discharged prisoners in such ways and by such means as will enable them to gain an honest and respectable livelihood,” and also “to adopt such measures as shall seem to be conducive to the prevention of crime.” For the present their efforts are chiefly directed to the maintenance of a temporary Industrial Home for released women prisoners. In 1910 their care extended to seventy women and eight children.
This Association furnishes prisoners when discharged from the County Prisons with clothing if they are in need. The applicant makes personal request for help at their offices. The Association does not maintain an Agent at the County Prison with purpose of determining what clothing is necessary to be supplied. The Association solicits contributions of clothing to be given to deserving ex-prisoners. They make a specialty of caring for those who have been paroled and for those who have been on probation. Their report last year shows an income of about $20,000, of which $1,000 may have been used for clothing.
This Society has an Agent whose sole business it is to keep in close touch with all the women who have been arrested and taken to the sixty-eight station houses in the city where women are admitted.
“The Isaac T. Hopper Home, under our care, is not a prison; those admitted are expected to give a month’s service, at the end of which time they are sent to service in private families; a few remain from choice, and to some of these low wages are paid. During the month of trial, they are not expected to go out. The atmosphere of the house is cheerful; they have good beds and good food.”
The suit, shoes and hat are furnished by the prison authorities. This Association furnishes under-clothing and overcoats to those discharged from the State Prison. In 1909-1910, they expended for this purpose $1,051. We believe this Association gets an appropriation from the State amounting to $2500 per annum. They assist in the “Parole Work.”
This organization, under the efficient control of Maud Ballington Booth, in results attained, stands at the head of all Prisoners’ Aid Societies. To all ex-prisoners who apply they give clothing, work and good cheer. In Chicago they have at this time assumed sponsorship for nearly 300 prisoners.
“The clothing part of it is only a small part of the much we do, but it is often the very necessary part.”
In various parts of the country this Society maintains farms, at which work is given to ex-prisoners, and where they are assisted in every way on the road to reform.
“Good substantial clothing is given us from time to time that generally meets the needs of the people with whom we deal.”
They maintain industrial homes at which the opportunity is given to labor for their best welfare. They are doing wonderful work, the importance of which defies statistics. They are not directly connected with the “Parole Work.”
This organization appears to have headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, with branch associations in various states. The Gen. Supt. is Rev. Edward A. Fredenhagen, Kansas City, Mo., to whom applications for further information may be sent. As a rule, prisoners discharged from city prisons, jails, lock-ups, etc., are not supplied with clothing, and when they apply to the Society for the Friendless their wants are supplied and an effort is made to furnish them with employment. The organization endeavors to follow them up and to keep in touch with those whom they have helped. They endeavor to co-operate with Parole Officers, but are not officially connected with the work. Societies of the same name, mostly branches of the organization at Kansas City, Mo., have made similar responses from North Dakota, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Iowa, Washington and Minnesota.
Superintendent Parsons of the Minnesota Division says that last year in pursuance of their work they “traveled 26,714 miles, delivered 265 addresses to 42,870 people, made 176 jail visits, interviewed 1110 prisoners.... Places of employment have been found for 120, and a large number more have found employment as the result of the care given them.”
The Legislature of this State appropriates $5,000 to supply the needs of prisoners discharged from Penitentiary, and the work of administering this charity appears to be undertaken by this Association.
They furnish needy prisoners when discharged from county jails with clothing. Up to this time they are not connected with “Parole Work.”
This organization has been organized but a few months, and has not undertaken to distribute clothing to needy prisoners. They are endeavoring to promote “Parole Work” and agree to employ any prisoner who is entitled to “Parole.”
When prisoners come to them from the jails and appear to be in need, they supply them with clothing. They are connected with the work of paroling prisoners, and endeavor to follow them up by a system of visitation.
“In reply to your first question, would say that in all of the eight states in which this Association operates, the State itself furnishes a suit of clothes, including an overcoat in winter, to all released prisoners except in Kentucky, when men are paroled they do not receive clothing. In addition a discharge fee of from $5 to $10 is given them to make a new start. In one state, Minnesota, this discharge money amounts to $25. Your second question is, therefore, answered by stating that this Association is not called upon to furnish clothing and does not spend any funds for that purpose. In the case of all those who come to us from the Cook County Jail and the Chicago House of Correction, and do not receive clothing or discharge money, we sometimes fit them out with better clothing, but this is usually cast off clothing given to us by friends.” * * * * “In answer to question five, would state that we are directly connected with the ‘Parole Work’ in this and adjacent states. In the case of those who are entitled to parole in Illinois and are without friends or employers to sign their first papers, these papers are signed by me in many cases, and I keep the men under supervision during the period of their parole and they report through me to the officials. In the cases of adjoining states, except where the law permits them to be paroled outside of the state line, we secure employers who are residents of that state to sign the parole papers and serve as ‘first friend’ to the prisoner. This Association also furnishes a representative in connection with the Adult Probation Law to work with the paid Probation Officers in the courts in carrying out the provisions of said law.”
They formerly furnished prisoners when discharged from the Penitentiary with clothing, but after securing the passage of a law, whereby the State provides such clothing, they no longer assume such expense. In the “Parole Work” they endeavor to co-operate with the Wardens. Their Field Secretary visits the jails throughout the State.
“Grand object—the founding and providing of a Retreat and Home for Discharged Prisoners of the City of Philadelphia, and the State of Pennsylvania, giving employment and compensation for labor performed, and by moral and religious influences and surroundings to awaken in them an incentive to true manliness and good citizenship....”
Last year 79 men were received in the Home who were supplied with board and lodging, and for services received some wages. They were assisted in securing situations for permanent employment. The State recognizes their good efforts by making an appropriation of $2500.00 per annum for maintenance.
This Institution has been in existence about 11 years, and in that time has taken charge of 357 women and 30 children. These women and children come to them from either the State of City prisons.
Many of them are forwarded to their homes, and situations for others are obtained in the country. Recently, through the Agent of The Pennsylvania Prison Society, they receive many children who have been arrested for vagrancy and petty offences, direct from the Magistrates, and they receive kindly attention until they are restored to their friends or have been placed in homes.
The 16th Annual Report of the American Society for visiting Catholic Prisons, just issued, shows that there were committed to the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania in the year 1911, as follows:
and that there were remaining in the Penitentiary at the close of the year (December 31st, 1911)
The report states that “a committee of the society regularly visits these unfortunates and seeks to convert the criminals into good citizens,” and that during the past year 6256 visits were made.
Rev. M. A. Noel, S. J., is Catholic Chaplain of the Penitentiary, and Mr. P. H. Spellissy is the President of the Society.
(Our good friend, Col. Griffith, of Los Angeles, sends to us the following account of splendid results achieved in California.)
“One of the most excellent progressive movements of the period is that which looks to a reform in the prison system and strives to convert criminals into good citizens, useful to themselves, their families and society. Governor Johnson has been a leader of the movement in California, procuring the enactment of legislation greatly improving conditions in the penitentiaries of the state. When the new system shall have been operative for a reasonable period, men who have ‘done their time’ will re-enter the world possessed of training that will enable them to maintain themselves in honesty. Many a discharged criminal relapses into crime because society has so ordered his punishment as to make reform practically so difficult as to be almost impossible.
“Eleven per cent. of California’s convicts are under parole. Last month but five of the 363 violated in any way the terms on which parole was granted, and every one was at work. During the month they earned $15,600.55, expended $11,721.08 and saved $3879.47. That is an excellent record, but its excellence will be greatly increased under the new industrial methods to be established for the benefit of the convicts in confinement. They will be taught how to maintain themselves, and as those teachings become effective and hope, courage and confidence are revived among men who would be outcast derelicts were they released now, the percentage released on parole will rise and the number of the redeemed increase.”