The journal of prison discipline and philanthropy (New series, No. 57), March, 1918Pennsylvania Prison Society
History
The journal of prison discipline and philanthropy (New series, No. 57), March, 1918
Pennsylvania Prison Society
Charities -- Periodicals; Prisons -- Periodicals
As far as practicable the selection of the site for the farm shall
have reference to its advantages for various forms of husbandry,
fruit-growing, stock-raising, for brick-making, for the preparation
of road and paving material, and shall have good railroad, drainage,
sewage and water facilities. The prisoners are to be employed in work
“on or about the buildings and farm” in raising stock and supplies
for the use of said institution and for the use of other public and
charitable institutions in the District.
“All road material, brick, tile and concrete prepared” at these farms
not needed for the purposes of the institution, shall be offered for
sale at a price to be fixed by the Board of Trustees, the proceeds to
be applied towards paying the overhead expenses of said institution.
Discipline.
“All inmates shall be clothed and treated as provided for in this Act,
and in the rules and regulations of the industrial farm.”
Penalties.
“If any person refuses to perform the work assigned to him or her, or
is guilty of other acts of insubordination, the superintendent shall
punish such person by close confinement and a diet of bread and water
only, or in such other manner as the rules and regulations ... may
prescribe.”
Inebriates.
A separate apartment in the institution shall be appropriated to
inebriates and drug users which shall be called the Inebriate Home.
Any person habitually addicted to intemperance or to “dope” may on
application be admitted to this Inebriate Home, the bills for expense
being paid weekly by such applicant. It is further provided that if
any inmate of this Home is able to pay the expense of his keeping, the
court committing such person is authorized to make an order directing
the amount to be paid by the said inmate.
Expense.
The original cost of the farm and buildings and all fixed overhead
charges “shall be paid by the counties constituting the district, in
the ratio of their population according to the last preceding United
States census.” “The cost of the care and maintenance of the inmates
shall be certified monthly to the counties from which inmates have been
committed. Such cost shall be paid by the counties in proportion to the
number of inmates committed from each county.”
NOTES AND COMMENTS ON THIS ACT.
On first reading there were some provisions of the Act which seemed
impracticable. But we believe these minor imperfections may easily be
corrected by future legislative enactment. The general principle of
the Act is sound and in accordance with the trend of public sentiment.
Massachusetts and Indiana both have Industrial Farms for prisoners
serving short-time sentences. The State of Indiana has one such farm in
successful operation, but we are informed some officials are convinced
that it would have been wiser to institute two or three such farms. The
original bill we favored provided for six such plantations. However,
the nine farms may each have over 500 inmates to be cared for and
employed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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