|
42 NEW YORK STATE GAZETTEER.
faces turned to the side on which their keeper walks. Their shops have narrow openings in
tRe walls, through which they may be seen without the possibility of knowing it. They are con¬
fined at night in solitary cells ; and guards with woolen socks tread silently around their cells at
all hours of the night. The fare is abundant, but coarse; and all convicts are required to wear a
costume peculiar to the prison.1
Am Asylum for Insane Convicts is located at Auburn, in the rear of the prison. It is
under the general charge of a medical superintendent.2
Tlie New York. House of Refuge, situated upon Randalls Island, near New York
City, is an establishment for the reformation of juvenile offenders. It is partly a State and
partly a city institution.3 Tlie Western House of Refuge, located upon a farm of 42J
acres in Rochester, is another juvenile establishment of a similar kind. It is entirely under State
patronage. These institutions are under rigid discipline; and the inmates receive instruction in
the elementary branches of education during certain hours of the day, and are required to labor
during certain other hours. The New York institution was established in 1824, and receives both
sexes. The Rochester institution was started in 1849, and receives boys only.4
Tlie Prison Association of New York was formed Dec. 6,1844, and incorporated May 9,
1846. It has for its objects the amelioration of the condition of prisoners, whether detained for
trial or finally convicted, or as witnesses; the improvement of prison discipline and of the govern¬
ment of prisons, whether for cities, counties, or States; and the support and encouragement of
reformed convicts after their discharge, by affording them the means of obtaining an honest liveli¬
hood and sustaining them in their efforts at reform.5 The association is supported entirely by
private contribution. The members pay $10 annually. The payment of $25 constitutes a member
STATISTICS OF STATE PRISONS.
|
S3
■<
fa
1* |
AVERAGE NUMBER
CONVICTS. |
OF |
TOTAL YEARLY EARNINGS. |
EXPENSES INCLUDING IMPROVEMENTS. |
|
Auburn. |
Sing
1 |
Sing.
’S
g
$ |
| Clinton. |
Total. |
Auburn. |
Sing Sing. |
Clinton. |
Total. |
Auburn. |
Sing Sing. |
Clinton. |
Total. |
|
1848 |
497 |
664 |
80 |
146 |
1,387 |
$53,456.71 |
$51,652.77 |
$5,549.46 |
$110,658.94 |
$66,960.41 |
$97,221.41 |
$39,900.98 |
$204,082.80 |
|
1849 |
512 |
637 |
76 |
157 |
1,382 |
63.021.54 |
63,052.83 |
13,210.97 |
139,285.34 |
56,777.99 |
81,850.28 |
50,126.47 |
188,754.74 |
|
1850 |
661 |
661 |
84 |
119 |
1,525 |
68,737.31 |
71,178.99 |
18,451.95 |
158,368.25 |
71,164.07 |
95,828.64 |
37,698.97 |
204,686.68 |
|
.1851 |
752 |
723 |
73 |
114 |
1,662 |
73.494.91 |
88,385.27 |
17.664.10 |
179,544.28 |
88,546.25 |
79,506.82 |
37,958.13 |
206,011.20 |
|
1852 |
759 |
788 |
81 |
125 |
1,753 |
64,986.29 |
99,380.12 |
29,736.20 |
194,102.61 |
86,291.73 |
85,414.42 |
39.825.20 |
211,531.35 |
|
1853 |
753 |
865 |
96 |
186 |
1,900 |
81,150.24 |
99,082.89 |
37,207.77 |
217,440.90 |
80,516.37 |
120,818.73 |
49,483.14 |
250,818.24 |
|
1854 |
747 |
933 |
110 |
199 |
1.989 |
81.994.74 |
95,345.34 |
41,674.04 |
219,014.12 |
72,417.82 |
136,142.24 |
61,088.75 |
269,648.81 |
|
1855 |
730 |
915 |
111 |
249 |
2.005 |
74.948.53 |
90,904.71 |
32,372.19 |
198,225.43 |
67,783.15 |
116,774.37 |
48,832.42 |
233.389.94 |
|
1856 |
686 |
862 |
101 |
304 |
1,953 |
72,763.48 |
86,440.89 |
38,100.76 |
197,305.13 |
69.915.46 |
100,523.39 |
55,032.74 |
225,471.57 |
|
1857 |
678 |
976 |
84 |
278 |
2,016 |
69,954.08 |
94,946.97 |
26,882.58 |
191,783.63 |
74,180.35 |
109,586.53 |
47,947.29 |
231,714.17 |
|
|
The surplus expenses of the State prisons are paid from the general fund. Por a fuller account of these institutions, see
Introduction to Natural History of New York, Vol. I, pp. 181-188. |
|
2 TJntil 1859, persons charged with crime and proved insane
were sent to the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. An. act for
the erection of the present asylum was passed April 13,1855, and
the building was completed in 1858.
3 The New York Asylum is conducted by a close corporation,
consisting of 30 managers, who serve without pay and report ann u-
ally to the Common Council of New York and to the State Legis¬
lature. It is supported by the labor of its inmates, an annual
appropriation from the Marine Hospital fund, theater and circus
licenses, school moneys from the Board of Education, and grants
from the City and State of New York. It can accommodate
1,000 inmates. In 1858 there were received 378; of which num¬
ber 301 were boys and 74 were girls. The former are engaged
in making shoes, chair-seats, wire cloth, weaving, &c.; and the
latter in needlework. Each day 7 hours are devoted to labor,
4! to school, 1! to meals, 9! to sleep, and 1! to recreation.
|
• * Statistics of Houses of Ref 'aye for 1857. |
|
|
New York. |
Rochester. |
|
Cost per capita.................................. |
$85 |
$96 |
|
Officers employed............................... |
31 |
22 |
|
Aggregate salaries............................ |
$9,119 |
$8,345 |
|
Revenue from labor........................... |
$13,414 |
$12,000 |
|
Per cent, reformed............................ |
75 |
75 |
|
Average period of detention............... |
16 mo. |
24 mo. |
|
Deaths since opening........................ |
59 |
14 |
|
“ in last 12 months.................. |
3 |
1 |
|
Escapes since opening........................ |
97 |
9 |
|
“ in last 12 months................... |
4 |
0 |
|
Average age of inmates..................... |
13| |
13! |
|
Cost of location and buildings............ |
$330,441 |
$110,000 |
|
Annual expenses.............................. |
$42,005 |
30,000 |
|
|
The Western House of Refuge is supported by the labor of
its inmates, the product of its farm, and an annual State appro¬
priation. Its managers are appointed for a term of 3 years by
the Governor and Senate, and are so classified that 5 are ap¬
pointed annually. Its rules require half an hour more at labor
and an hour less at school than is required at the New York
Asylum; and 10 hours are allowed for sleep. In 1859, 508 boys
were received at this institution. Of these, 128 were employed
in making chains, 171 in making shoes, 37 in making brushes,
7 upon the farm, 20 in the sewing rooms, and 23 as domestics.
6 The condition of prisoners has from a remote period enlisted
the sympathies of the benevolent and led to associated efforts
for their relief. A society was formed in New York, soon after
the Revolution, for the relief of imprisoned debtors. “The
Philadelphia Society for alleviating the miseries of Public
Prisons” was formed over 80 years since by the Friends; and
the Prison Discipline Society of Boston is nearly 20 years older
than that of similar objects in New York. The Prison Associa¬
tion of New York for some time issued a' bulletin called the
“Monthly Record.” The female department for some years
maintained a Home for the temporary residence of discharged
female prisoners until other means of support could be found.
This association has for several years appointed committees for
visiting county jails; and the facts reported show abundant
reason for continuing efforts for reform in their management.
The aid furnished by this association to discharged convicts
during the last three years reported has-been as follows: —
Number of discharged persons aided with 1854. 1855. 1850.
money.............................................. 230 439 282
Number supplied with clothing.................. 131 147 138
Number provided with situations............... 52 155 112
Total.................... 413 741 632 |
|
