Most legislative sessions for 1911 are now through or nearly so.
Certain general tendencies have been prominent in prison and
correctional legislation. The problems of prison labor have been
prominent in California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Missouri,
Michigan, New York and some other states. The trend of legislation is
strongly toward the introduction or strengthening of the state-use
system. Legislative inquiries into alleged mal-administration have
been instituted in several states. The question of corporal punishment
has been under investigation in Michigan. The REVIEW will give the
results of these investigations, but believes it inadvisable to print
statements and comments prior to official findings.
Legislatures have been asked in many states, notably Wisconsin,
Indiana, California, New York, to consider the establishment of new
kinds of correctional institutions for tramps and vagrants, or for
inebriates, or for young misdemeanants. The health of prisoners
attracts increasing attention, as well as their mental conditions.