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=THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY=
Early in the year 1776 a society was organized by some benevolent
citizens of Philadelphia under the name “The Philadelphia Society for
Assisting Distressed Prisoners.” After a career of nineteen months the
society was dissolved on account of difficulties arising during the War
for Independence.
In 1787 philanthropic citizens constituted themselves “The Philadelphia
Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons.” From that time
until the present this society has been actively engaged in securing
measures to improve the conditions of prisons, and also in earnest
endeavors to reform criminals, and so far as known it is the oldest
prison society in continued existence in the world. The name of the
society was legally changed in 1886 to “The Pennsylvania Prison
Society.”
The present president, Joshua L. Baily, whose membership dates from
1851, has been connected with the society longer than any other living
member.
In the first year of the existence of the society about 150 gentlemen of
Philadelphia were connected with the organization. Their object was to
discover “such degree and modes of punishment” as might restore our
“fellow-creatures to virtue and happiness.”
An annuity of the value of about $70, the donation of John Dickinson,
was the only permanent revenue of the new society.
In 1788, the society addressed the following letter to John Howard, the
great apostle in the work of ameliorating the condition of prisons: “The
Society heartily concurs with the friends of humanity in Europe in
expressing their obligation to you for having rendered the miserable
tenants of prisons the objects of more general attention and compassion,
and for having pointed out some of the means not only of alleviating
their miseries, but of preventing those crimes and misfortunes which are
the cause of them.” A year or two later John Howard left on record an
expression of appreciation of the work of the Philadelphia Society. The
following sentiment was found among his papers: “Should the plan take
place during my life of establishing a permanent charity under some such
title as that at Philadelphia, viz: ‘a society for alleviating the
miseries of public prisons,’ I would most readily stand at the bottom of
a page for five hundred pounds.”
The organizers of the society had a tremendous task before them, and
they went at their work with energetic diligence. Very little effort had
ever been made to carry out William Penn’s injunction that “all prisons
should be considered workhouses for the employment of criminals and of
the idle and vicious.” There was an ill-constructed prison at the corner
of High and Third Streets with subterranean dungeons for those under
sentence of death. At least half a dozen crimes were punishable by
death. “In one common herd were kept by day and night prisoners of all
ages, colors and sexes. There was no separation of the most flagrant
felon from the prisoner held on suspicion for some trifling misdemeanor.
There was no separation of the fraudulent swindler from the unfortunate,
and often estimable, debtor.”
The society early resolved that two leading elements of the desired
reformation were to find employment for the inmates and to interdict the
use of intoxicants. They also insisted that there must be a segregation,
not only of the sexes, but also that there must be an individual
separation in order that the penal institutions should not become
“schools for crime.”
From the first the society has advocated separate confinement and
individual treatment, but has not stood for absolutely solitary
imprisonment. There is no objection to work being done in groups,
provided the prisoners are under direct supervision of the proper
officials. Visits from the officers, from ministers, from all properly
concerned persons, have been encouraged. Visitations by members of the
Prison Society began under peculiar difficulties, as it is on record
that the keeper, with loaded cannon, for the purpose of maintaining
order, allowed the prisoners to assemble to hear the preaching of the
gospel, but the beneficial effect of the visits were soon officially
recognized, and have been maintained with great regularity to the
present day, the Acting Committee in 1909 having reported 10,951 visits
to prisoners. In the year 1829, when the Eastern Penitentiary, whose
plan and management at that time represented the most advanced ideas in
prison construction and discipline was built, the members of the Acting
Committee of the Society were, by enactment of the State Legislature,
constituted “Official Visitors” of prisons.
In 1794 the society succeeded in securing the abolition of the exaction
of fees by the jailers as a condition of release, and a competent salary
was authorized to be paid to the prison officials. About the same time
it was decreed that capital punishment should be inflicted only for the
crime of murder. Barbarous methods of punishment, such as the pillory,
branding with hot irons, the whipping post, were soon dispensed with as
reformatory measures.
In 1844 the society issued the first number of “The Journal of Prison
Discipline and Philanthropy.” At first this periodical was published
quarterly, but for many years it has been an annual. In the columns of
this Journal every phase of prison reform, every measure affecting the
management of prisons, every act of penal legislation for nearly seventy
years, has received attention.
For about fifty years a special agent has been employed who devotes his
time to sympathetic care of prisoners from the time they arrive until
they have received their discharge. Legal aid is found for those whose
cases seem to require it, and where there are mitigating circumstances
the charges are often withdrawn and so the accused is restored where
often his services are needed. Attention is given to their physical
needs at the time of their discharge and effort is made to provide them
with employment.
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._
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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.
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=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.
Ten thousand calls a year were made at the office of the Prison
Association, most of them from men who had “done time.” The
association’s staff made over 3,600 visits in 1910 in behalf of men on
parole and on probation, and gave nearly 3,500 meals and 1,968 lodgings.
The association spent $3,200 in cash relief, including lodgings and
meals. Many friends of the association gave clothing, magazines and
books, and 344 garments were received by needy prisoners during the
year.
Smith Ely contributed $27,500 to the endowment fund, and an equivalent
amount was raised by the association last year, but the income will not
be available for six months, and an appeal was made for financial help
because of greatly increased activity.
The work for dependent families of prisoners was placed in charge of a
special committee, with the exclusive service of one visitor. The
problem of mental defectiveness among prisoners received much attention
from the association, and a special committee on defective delinquents
was appointed at the last meeting, which comprised twenty-five
specialists in study and care of delinquents. A closely affiliated body
of forty business and professional men, calling themselves the Barrows
League, was organized to assist the Prison Association through work for
the welfare of persons released from prisons or reformatory
institutions.
A comprehensive study of the lives of seven hundred present and former
inmates of Elmira Reformatory was conducted by the association during
1910, through the financial support of the Sage Foundation. It was
expected that this study would be published this year.
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=THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR AIDING DISCHARGED CONVICTS=
In 1846 the Boston Society for Aiding Discharged Convicts was organized
for the purpose which its name indicates. At that time there were 276
prisoners confined in the state prison, while on Jan. 1, 1911, there
were 876 serving sentences there.
In 1867 the organization was incorporated, and the name changed to the
Massachusetts Society for Aiding Discharged Convicts. Upon the formation
of the society the state agent for discharged convicts was employed for
its work, which was to be carried on along the same lines as that
contemplated by the state.
The advantages to the society from its co-operation with the state in
this work are many. Perhaps the greatest is the fact that by this
arrangement the records of all the commitments and discharges to and
from all the prisons of the commonwealth, which are in the office of the
prison commissioners, are open to the inspection of the agent at all
times. Here the story of an applicant for aid can be verified or
disproved immediately. In addition to the criminal records are many
others, going more fully into the personal history and home conditions
of those who have been in prison; all of this information is useful and
necessary in dealing with the ex-prisoner. The saving in administration
expenses, rent, and other items, leaves more funds available for the
prime object of the society, i.e., help to the prisoner.
During the year ending Nov. 30, 1910, this society has helped four
hundred and sixty-three men, most of whom had served terms in the jails,
houses of correction, and on the state farm. The assistance rendered has
been generally in the form of transportation, meals and lodgings, room
rent, clothing, tools, taking property from pawn shops, medicines,
spectacles, etc. There has been expended during the year about $1,700.
Notwithstanding the increase of population in Massachusetts there were
213 fewer prisoners on Oct. 1, 1910 than on the same date in 1909.
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=THE MINNESOTA DIVISION OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE FRIENDLESS=
The Minnesota Division of the Society for the Friendless is a division
of the National Society of the same name. It has been doing active work
in the state of Minnesota since January 1st, 1909, when Rev. James
Parsons came to the state as superintendent, under appointment of the
national society. The work was carried forward for the first fifteen
months under the direction of the national society. On April 8th, 1910,
the Minnesota Division was formally organized.
Its special motto is “education for the prevention of crime, and help
for the prisoner.” It aims to arouse a more enlightened and humane
sentiment toward the treatment of discharged prisoners, awaken a new
interest in the improvement of laws, and show the forces that are at
work to make criminals. Along relief lines it aims to do everything
possible for the men while in prison, to find employment for them when
they are discharged or paroled, and in cases where employment cannot be
secured for them at once to furnish them with a temporary lodging place.
It also gives such aftercare as each case seems to need.
During the year 1910 one hundred and six jail visits were made, over 600
prisoners were interviewed, 45 persons were helped to work, and 75 were
assisted in other ways. The machinery of the organization has been
gotten into such working order that the society is in a position to
handle a larger work. During the next year the organization hopes to aid
in securing the passages of a number of beneficial laws, among them
being one providing for an up-to-date indeterminate sentence.
During 1910 the following work has been done, among other activities of
the society: Church addresses, 106; persons reached in churches, 16,155;
school addresses, 56; persons reached in school audiences, 8,780;
miscellaneous addresses, 19; persons in these gatherings, 4,445; miles
traveled, 22,673; calls made for various purposes, 1,491; letters
written, 599: jail visits, 106; prisoners interviewed, 600; discharged
prisoners helped to work, 45; assisted in other ways, 600.
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=NEW JERSEY STATE CHARITIES AID AND PRISON REFORM ASSOCIATION=
The current number of the New Jersey Review of Charities and Correction
brings interesting information regarding the re-organization of the
association and the appointment of Joseph P. Byers, formerly
superintendent of the House of Refuge at Randall’s Island, New York
City, as general secretary. The program of the present year includes the
organization of county branches in all counties of New Jersey, there
being at present but seven county committees: the visitation of all the
institutions of the state by the general secretary; the regular
publication of the New Jersey Review; the development of the standing
committees, and the extension of the membership and influence of the
association. Hugh F. Fox, writing in the Review, says: “Mr. Byers has
made his mark in all of his undertakings in the past, and his practical
experience and wide knowledge qualify him peculiarly for the supervisory
and advisory duties which he has now undertaken.”
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.
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=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.
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=GEORGIA’S NEW SECRETARY=
Robert B. McCord has been recently made secretary of the Prison
Association of Georgia, with headquarters at 404 Gould building,
Atlanta. Concerning the new incumbent, the Atlanta _Georgian_ says:
“Mr. McCord is a native Georgian and has spent years in specializing on
the character of work in which he will now be engaged. After a
preliminary course at the University of Florida, he attended Yale
university, from which he graduated in 1908. After his course at Yale he
attended the University of Chicago. Mr. McCord was closely associated
with Dr. C. R. Henderson for two years in research work.
“In outlining the work of which he will have charge, Mr. McCord said:
‘The prison associations of the several states are not organized on the
same plan, or for doing the same phases of the work in every case. The
Prison Association of Georgia is not modeled after any of them, yet in
the work outlined it resembles more nearly the Prison Association of New
York.
“‘The Prison Association will investigate and attempt to throw light
upon the causes that underlie crime of the various kinds in this state.
It will collect information from officials and suggestions from men of
experience in Georgia, methods employed in other states and countries,
and it will publish these in various ways to the people of the state. It
will aid in introducing and extending methods of preventing crime and
reforming offenders. It will endeavor to organize such influence as will
secure the building and equipping of proper institutions for those
offenders who can not be dealt with more profitably and wisely by
methods of probation and parole. It will direct its efforts to securing
the proper equipment and regular inspection of jails and prisons of all
kinds. It will in time organize such aid as may enable the discharged
prisoner to establish himself again in the confidence of the people
instead his possessing that dangerous state of mind which characterizes
one who feels himself an outcast of society’.”
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