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
The Commission has been appointed and has already begun the work of
investigation. Two of the members attended the sessions of the American
Prison Association at New Orleans and by interviews with penological
experts, both administrators and students, derived valuable suggestions
in regard to the special features of penal management which should
be carefully studied in other States. The Commission aims to proceed
with great caution, being aware that what may have been successful in
some States may be unsuited to conditions in other States. While its
members have authorized no statement of its aims for publication, it
may be safely stated that there is no desire to effect a revolution in
our present system, but to modify and add to the present regulations
so as to attain the highest efficiency consistent with right and
justice. The Commission is unanimous in the belief that employment
must be found for all prisoners in the State and county prisons. There
are some conflicting elements with regard to the question of prison
labor, and it will be the aim of the Commission to devise some system
of employment which may as far as possible be helpful to the prisoner,
when he is discharged, which may teach him self-respect, and the
duties and responsibilities of citizenship, and which may reduce the
administrative expenses to a minimum, even to the extent of making
our penal institutions self-supporting. To accomplish this desirable
purpose, the law of 1913 providing for the manufacture of articles for
State-use must be greatly strengthened; and the establishment of two or
three industries for the manufacture of articles or the production of
material for State-Account must be seriously considered. We are aware
that the relations of prison labor to other labor must be thoughtfully
and considerately observed so that the interests of all parties may be
conserved. We submit that when several thousand men are thrown out of
employment or are detained in idleness, the entire community sustains a
loss. On this subject the Commission will welcome any suggestions from
officials or any persons interested in this important matter.
The Commission is composed as follows:
Fletcher W. Stites, Chairman, Crozer Building, Philadelphia. (Attorney
and Member of the Assembly of 1917).
A. E. Jones, Attorney, Uniontown, Pa.
Mrs. Martha P. Falconer, Superintendent Girls’ House of Refuge, Darling
P. O., Pa.
Louis N. Robinson, Professor of Economics, Swarthmore College, Pa.
Albert H. Votaw, Secretary The Pennsylvania Prison Society,
Philadelphia.
STATE-USE SYSTEM.
Several bills were introduced in the late Assembly designed to
strengthen the Act of 1915 in regard to the manufacture of articles
by prisoners for the use of the public institutions, but we regret to
report that, save the reference of these bills to committees, no action
was taken.
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