Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/438

 424 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

" It is not for me, your Excellency, to assume to instruct you as to your duty in this particular case, least of all to assume that that duty has but a single aspect ; but, knowing as I do the sentiment of humane and intelligent people throughout the state, I am confident that, should you decide to commute the sentence of any or all of these young men, and give them an opportunity on earth, under a different environment and under righteous discipline, to develop a different character, the people of this state will never withdraw their respect and admiration because in exercising a constitutional privilege you have followed a noble impulse of your heart."

The Eighth Annual Report of the State Commission of Prisons of New York for the Year 1902. i. As to state prisons. (a) Auburn prison: The daily forty-minute open-air drill cannot be too highly praised. The salary allowed by law to the matrons is entirely inadequate. On October i, 1902, out of a prison population of 990 men, 933 were employed in seven kinds of occupations, and out of a prison population of 107 women, 103 were employed. The total net earnings for the year were $32,557.05 by an average prison population of 1,160. (b) Clinton prison : Tuberculosis patients are kept separate and in well-equipped wards. A mess-hall is sadly needed. The department for condemned men is merely a hole in the ground, dark and badly ventilated. All men have daily drill from one-half hour to an hour. On October i, out of a prison population of 998 men, 908 were employed in seventeen different occupations. The net earnings for the year, by an average prison population of 986, were $6,246.63 a great improve- ment over the preceding year, (c) Sing Sing: Remodeling and repairing are greatly needed. One building needs fireproof roof, and better facilities are de- manded. On October i, 1902, of a prison population of 1,186 men, 1,159 were employed in ten occupations. The net earnings, by an average population of 1,192, were $55,910.72 an increase over the preceding year of $26,000. (d) During the year the prisoners have been able to earn about 20 per cent, of the cost of their maintenance a very good increase over the preceding year, and a splendid show- ing when it is remembered that on January i, 1897, all the convicts in the state prisons were absolutely without employment, that the prisons were without any plant for industries, that the prison officials and prisoners were without experience in industries, and that the market for the output has been, to a very considerable extent, an unwilling one. In general, these prisons are cleanly, ventilated, not overcrowded, and the prisoners are properly classified and separated.

2. As to state reformatories. (a) At Elmira: The gymnasium squad is a splendid feature and has proved of great benefit to the health of its members. Large improvements have been made during the year in the grading of the grounds outside the reformatory. The old mess-hall and dining-room are in their usual disgraceful condition. The buildings are out of repair. This institution illustrates the value of indeterminate sentence and parole. The certainty of honest employ- ment, which will afford a livelihood, and the restraints of probation, both of which are guaranteed under this system, are the two essential factors in saving most discharged convicts from returning to their former criminal practices, (fc) At Napanoch : No industries are in operation, and no shops or trade classes ; the convicts are engaged chiefly in farming and construction work of various kinds. Pointing up, painting, and a new bath-room are needed, (c) The commission gives indorsement to the system of probation, indeterminate sentence, and parole. The results have been most satisfactory : of 341 paroled the last year, only 23 are known to have violated their parole ; it is much easier to obtain employment for a prisoner who is on parole than for a discharged convict. In order that a parole law should prove beneficial to a prisoner coming within its provisions, it is important that considerable time should elapse between the expiration of the minimum and the expiration of the maximum named in the sentence. The com- mittee further recommends that there be provided a central prison for condemned men, and also a reformatory for male misdemeanants, t. e., for boys from sixteen to twenty-one years of age.

3. As to houses of refuge for women. (a) At Bedford : This has had a successful year. The inmates are well classified, employed and studying. (&) At