As compared with 864 whippings administered to prisoners in the
Virginia penitentiary during the first eight months of 1909, only 133
were administered during the corresponding period in 1910, according to
the second annual report of the Board of Charities and Corrections of
that state. The report states that this more humane administration has
resulted in greatly improving the discipline of the institution.
It is one of the duties of the board to visit paroled prisoners, though
lack of money has hindered this phase of the work. Recommendations
looking to an improvement in the present parole system will be made to
the next General Assembly. During the year ended September 30, 1910,
the parole work of the board was as follows:
No. paroled prisoners reported to Board 270
No. investigated 161
Dead 4
Satisfactory 90
Unsatisfactory 46
Returned to the Penitentiary 3
Ran away from employers 13
Failed to report to employers 5
The Board favors the establishment of a home for inebriates, for whom
no state provision is made at present. Seventy-five inebriates and drug
fiends are cared for yearly in hospitals for the white insane, at a
cost of $9,000 per annum.
The Board finds a need of larger co-operation between the persons
in charge of institutions for delinquent and dependent children, of
which there are 49 in the state. Studies of the causes of juvenile
destitution and of the amount of juvenile defectiveness have been
undertaken by the Board. An investigation of 31,640 school children in
the state revealed that 17,830, or 56 per cent. of those examined, were
more or less defective, either physically or mentally.