The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, March 1912: New Series No. 51Pennsylvania Prison Society
History
The Journal of Prison Discipline and Philanthropy, March 1912: New Series No. 51
Pennsylvania Prison Society
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
Reports of the Members of the Acting Committee, appointed to visit the
Eastern Penitentiary, show that during the year 1911 6405 visits to
prisoners have been made. Many unreported visits have gladdened the
prisoner in his lonely cell. Several of our members participate in the
Gospel services on the Sabbath.
One of the prisoners remarked to the Secretary that in his opinion the
work of visitation was the most important function of the Society.
This has been the most effective part of our work from the first. Some
of the men’s blocks are not visited so often as would be desirable.
The women’s block is said to be over-visited. Several organizations
have the privilege of sending visitors to the twenty-seven women now
incarcerated, and while visitors are welcomed at suitable times and
under proper conditions, yet it is readily recognized that these
prisoners of the women’s block should have sufficient time to attend to
their regular, but not onerous, duties as assistants in various lines
of domestic employment.
Under the management of Warden ROBERT J. MCKENTY, the
administration is to be commended. The discipline is firm, but kindly,
and so long as the privileges granted are not abused, there is allowed
a large amount of freedom within reasonable limits. Hence, in this
institution, the visitor may note an unusually contented and orderly
body of convicts.
RELIEF FOR PRISONERS WHEN DISCHARGED.
The expense of supplying needy prisoners with clothing at the time of
their discharge from the Eastern Penitentiary has been almost entirely
borne by this Society since 1896. For the six years prior to 1896,
the Legislature appropriated on the average of $2490.00 annually to
the Society, which thereupon assumed the expense of providing outfits
for the prisoners at the time of their release. In 1895, the Governor
refused to sanction the appropriation. No legislative grant of funds
has been made since that time to the Society. Our late Honorary
Secretary, JOHN J. LYTLE, who at that time was the General
Secretary of the Society, with untiring energy solicited contributions
from benevolent citizens to supply the prisoners when released with
presentable clothing. His whole heart was in this work and nobly did he
discharge what he deemed to be his duty to administer the charity in
which our Society had been, up to that time, assisted by the State. We
are still providing an outfit for discharged prisoners, although this
aid is supplied by legislative appropriation practically in every other
State of the Union. I append to this report a schedule showing what
provision is made for prisoners at the time of their discharge from the
various State Prisons. (See page 38.)
During the year, 1911, the Secretary has furnished 370 men at the time
of their discharge from the Eastern Penitentiary either with entire
outfits, or with sufficient attire to make them presentable.
The following list shows what garments have been given:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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