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REVIEW 
 
 
 of the 
 
 County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 OFFICIAL REPORT 
 
 , BY 
 
 ALBERT H. VOTAW 
 
 Issued as a Prologue to No. 59 of 
 
 The Journal of Prison Discipline and 
 Philanthropy 
 
 V 
 
 MAY 1920 
 
 THE PENNSYLVANIA PRISON SOCIETY 
 FORREST BUILDING 
 PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
 
 Ui Ed. 5000—5-M920 
 
“TN the United States, you lose sight of 
 I the fact that your splendid Reforma- 
 A tories deal with merely a drop in the 
 bucket compared with the county and 
 city jails to which thousands of your 
 prisoners go, and where many are manu¬ 
 factured. ... In 1877 every prison and 
 jail in Ireland was put under central 
 administrative authority and the expen¬ 
 ses paid out of the imperial funds. We 
 closed half the prisons. . . I have to 
 give every person, whether tried or un¬ 
 tried, a separate room to sleep in, and I 
 would lose my job if I put two prisoners 
 in a cell. . . I am obliged by law to 
 give every prisoner two hours’ exercise 
 in the open air every day. . . And I 
 am obliged by law to make every con¬ 
 victed prisoner work even if he is sen¬ 
 tenced only for two days, and to offer 
 every untried prisoner work. In these 
 days of rapid communication, there is 
 no need of prisons in the center of a 
 city. ...” 
 
 J. S. Gibbons, 
 
 Chairman Prison Board of Ireland. 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 During the year 1919 the Secretary of The Pennsylvania 
 Prison Society has visited the sixty-seven county prisons of the 
 Commonwealth, and has become further confirmed in his convic¬ 
 tion that some radical change in administration is needed in order 
 to keep pace with modern principles of penology. Our duty to 
 the convicts does not end with confinement within certain defined 
 limits. But confinement appears to be the main purpose of the 
 majority of the county prisons. It must be recognized that some 
 form of useful employment is essential in order to maintain the 
 health and morale of our prisoners. Most of the officials of these 
 prisons lament the conditions which obstruct the useful employ¬ 
 ment of the majority of the inmates. We place no censure on 
 the sheriffs or wardens for the idleness so prevalent in the pris¬ 
 ons, yet there are some wardens and managers who are more 
 resourceful in finding some sort of employment than others. 
 But in most of the county prisons there are insurmountable diffi¬ 
 culties in securing employment. The population is small and 
 continually changing. And yet every man who remains in such 
 a prison a year is wasting in idleness three hundred days. No 
 provision has been made by the Inspectors or Commissioners 
 for any employment. In the reports of the individual counties, 
 which follow these general remarks, it will be noted that the idle¬ 
 ness, so prevalent in almost all these prisons, is deplored. 
 
 INDUSTRIAL FARMS 
 
 The Commonwealth should assume the care of her convicted 
 prisoners. They have committed offences “against the peace and 
 dignity of the Commonwealth.” Hence the county prisons 
 should be used only for the detention of the untried and of those 
 sentenced to a few days for minor infraction of local require¬ 
 ments. The establishment of a few State Industrial Farms, on 
 which agriculture, horticulture, quarrying, stone-crushing, con¬ 
 crete work, brickmaking and some two or three special indus¬ 
 tries may furnish employment, is the best solution of the most 
 vexatious of our prison problems. This statement is not based 
 on mere theories, but on successful experiments in other States. 
 A high degree of success in this method of employment may be 
 found in the Allegheny County Workhouse, at Hoboken, Pa. 
 
4 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 THE FEE SYSTEM 
 
 The observations on the prisons of the various counties are 
 intended to be neither comprehensive nor systematic. For more 
 complete statistics, see Report of the Board of Public Charities 
 soon to be issued. This inspection has been made with the inten¬ 
 tion of calling attention to certain salient features, some of 
 which are mentioned with commendation, others of which are 
 unhesitatingly disapproved. The fee system, whereby the sherilf 
 or warden receives a stipulated sum for boarding the prisoners, 
 is so liable to abuse that this practice, especially in the larger 
 counties, is invariably denounced. 
 
 In fifty of the sixty-seven counties the management of the 
 prison is under the supervision of the sheriff, though in a few 
 of these counties the sheriff may appoint a warden. In seven¬ 
 teen counties the sheriff’s duties, so far as the prison is con¬ 
 cerned, determine, when he has delivered the accused to the 
 prison keepers. As a rule those prisons which are under the 
 exclusive control of a warden are more efficiently administered 
 than those under the care of the sheriffs. The explanation is 
 not difficult. 
 
 1 The Wardens are usually chosen for their fitness to man¬ 
 age penal institutions. Frequently they hold their office as long 
 as their duties are faithfully attended to. 
 
 2 The Sheriff is changed every four years. He is often 
 selected for service to some political party, not for any adapta¬ 
 tion for the responsibilities of his office. If he is inclined to 
 study the best methods of prison discipline and management, 
 before he has fully learned his lesson, his successor is installed. 
 
 3 Under a sheriff the food is provided on the fee system. 
 Under a warden, the provision is usually supplied at the actual 
 cost. It is a vicious principle in institutional management to 
 stipulate that the superintendent shall depend for his personal 
 maintenance on the profit arising from supplying the inmates 
 with provision. It would be just as sensible to arrange that he 
 should derive a profit from clothing and heating the inmates— 
 an assumption which is preposterous. 
 
 THE FOOD 
 
 In this report we have given considerable attention to the 
 food conditions at the prisons, both as regards the daily bill of 
 fare and the service. There is much diversity among the coun¬ 
 ties with regard to the supply and distribution of food. In coun¬ 
 ties where the food is served at cost the average daily expense 
 per prisoner varies from 11 cents to 28 cents. In the counties 
 where from 40 to 50 cents per day are paid for boarding the 
 
Introduction 
 
 prisoners there is a universal wail that “there’s nothing in it.” 
 And yet the daily bill of fare is usually much better in the coun¬ 
 ties where the food is supplied at cost. In a few prisons tables 
 are provided at which the meals may be served, but the general 
 custom is similar to the methods of a zoological garden. Let us 
 be just. In most of the cells or apartments, the prisoners have 
 their own tables. Some of them prefer to eat in seclusion away 
 from the mob, many of whom have not received special education 
 in table manners. 
 
 SPECIAL LEGISLATION 
 
 From time to time, beginning about 1830 and continuing to 
 1868, the General Assembly passed special acts for the manage¬ 
 ment, respectively, of several of the prisons in the larger coun¬ 
 ties. These counties are Allegheny, Berks, Chester, Dauphin, 
 Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Luzerne, Montgomery, Northamp¬ 
 ton, Northumberland, Philadelphia and Schuylkill. There may be 
 special legislation affecting minor points in some other counties. 
 Some of those acts presented rather elaborate schemes for prison 
 management. Some features are taken from the statute of 1829 
 regulating the management of the Eastern Penitentiary. The 
 sheriffs or wardens are to reside within the prison limits and 
 are not to be absent over night unless officially permitted by the 
 Board. This regulation has been modified by a recent statute. 
 The prisoners are to be placed in “separate and solitary confine¬ 
 ment at labor,” a provision wholly unobserved except at the 
 Philadelphia Convict Prison, and everT here the labor condition is 
 not fulfilled. “Discreet and reputable citizens” are to constitute 
 the Board of Inspectors. They must make weekly rounds among 
 the prisons, unaccompanied by the warden, except by their 
 request, and are to take note of all complaints. In at least two 
 counties the inspectors are to be elected by popular vote. Once 
 weekly the inspectors are to check off the prisoners from an 
 authoritative list. Matrons are to be appointed to care for the 
 female prisoners. The warden may visit the women’s quarters, 
 but must do so in the company of the matron. It is explicitly 
 stated that the women prisoners are to be “given such instruc¬ 
 tion as may tend to their reformation and to render them useful 
 members of society.” The minuteness of directions included in 
 these lengthy statutes is a source of embarrassment. The pro¬ 
 visions of the present Constitution, in effect since 1874, forbid 
 such special legislation, but the special legislation in effect prior 
 to 1874, remains in force. 
 
6 
 
 Review of County Jail * in Pennsylvania 
 
 UNIFORMITY 
 
 We are convinced that it is desirable to aim at greater uni¬ 
 formity in the management of our penal institutions. It would 
 be unwise to include in the Constitution a comprehensive scheme 
 of penal management, which, however efficient at the present 
 time, would probably need in a few years to be materially modi¬ 
 fied in order to keep pace with the progressive spirit of the age. 
 Article X, Section 1, of the present Constitution, provides that 
 “the General Assembly shall provide for the maintenance and 
 support of a thorough and efficient system of public schools, 
 wherein all the children of this Commonwealth above the age of 
 six years may be educated, and shall appropriate at least one 
 million dollars each year for that purpose.’' There are two other 
 sections, one providing that sectarian schools are not to be sup¬ 
 ported by public school money, and another providing that women 
 may be eligible to any office under the school system. The fur¬ 
 ther details are wisely left to legislative enactment. 
 
 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 
 
 We have, therefore, submitted to the Commission now 
 engaged in the task of preparing a tentative draft of proposed 
 changes to the Constitution, the desirability of including a simi¬ 
 lar article relating to Penal Affairs. 
 
 PENAL SYSTEM 
 
 Section 1. The General Assembly shall provide for the main¬ 
 tenance and support of a humane and efficient penal system in 
 accordance with modern scientific principles of penology, such 
 system to include adequate provision for suspension of sentence, 
 the indeterminate sentence and release on probation and parole 
 of convicted offenders, as may be determined by law. It shall 
 also provide that all persons convicted of crime or delinquency 
 who shall be committed to penal, correctional or reformatory 
 institutions shall be employed in useful labor and shall receive 
 such treatment and instruction as shall tend to effect their moral 
 reformation and qualify them to become useful citizens of the 
 Commonwealth. 
 
 Section 2. The General Assembly shall create such admin¬ 
 istrative and supervisory department or departments or such 
 other agencies as may be necessary to carry into effect the pro¬ 
 visions of this article. 
 
Introduction 
 
 If such article is adopted, it will pave the way for the estab¬ 
 lishment of some general system whereby more care and super¬ 
 vision may be given to the efficient management of all our pris¬ 
 ons. The principles of reformation and employment will be 
 recognized as being inherent in any scheme for the treatment of 
 offenders. The Commission had already proposed that the fee 
 system should be abolished so far as county officials are con¬ 
 cerned, hence we did not include the revocation of fees for board¬ 
 ing prisoners in our proposition. 
 
 RECAPITULATION 
 
 For two reasons much attention has been given to the daily 
 ration in the prisons: 
 
 1 To demonstrate that the fee system is inequitable and 
 uneconomical. 
 
 2 To give such information to the managers of the county 
 prisons as will enable them to institute comparisons and, in some 
 instances, to make improvements both in the bill of fare and the 
 service. 
 
 The reader will note a monotonous reiteration of invective 
 against the idleness so frightfully prevalent in most of the pris¬ 
 ons in order to make as emphatic as possible our plea for the 
 adoption of a different system under the control of the State, 
 whose “peace and dignity” have been assaulted by the offenders. 
 In 1914 our survey of the county prisons revealed that in one 
 year more than one million days were wasted in idleness in our 
 county prisons. The operation of the three P’s, Parole, Proba¬ 
 tion and Prohibition, has considerably diminished the population 
 of our county jails, yet our estimate, based on much study of 
 the situation, reveals that from six to seven hundred thousand 
 days are annually wasted, or worse than wasted, in these prisons. 
 The exercise of ordinary business sagacity ought to recover a 
 large part of this waste time. The labor of convicts should be 
 utilized both for the sake of their own morale and for the eco¬ 
 nomic advantages to the prisoners and to the community. 
 
 The Secretary desires to acknowledge his obligations to the 
 sheriffs, wardens and county officials who have so courteously 
 and patiently assisted in making this investigation. Many of 
 them are aware of the deficiencies and are honestly endeavoring 
 to do the best possible for the delinquents placed in their charge. 
 They deserve our sympathy. An enlightened public sentiment 
 ought soon to bring about wholesome improvements in our entire 
 penal system. 
 
 ALBERT H. VOTAW, Secretary. 
 
8 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 The County Prisons of Pennsylvania 
 
 ADAMS COUNTY—Gettysburg Visited Aug. 4, 1919. 
 
 The prison is an antique structure of stone and brick. There is a wide 
 inside corridor with cells opening into it on each side. Windows are chinks. 
 Of the eight prisoner's, four were serving time and four were held for trial. 
 There is a small rather unattractive yard the freedom of which is allowed to 
 such prisoners as seem worthy of the privilege. One of the prisoners was a 
 woman who was taking her exercise at the same time the men were out. There 
 is some supervision. The sheriff is a humane official who exercises his judg¬ 
 ment as to the proprieties. He believes in regulations of the “square deal” 
 variety, and therefore has little trouble. For supplying, cooking and serving 
 food, the sheriff receives 45c per diem for each prisoner. On the day of in¬ 
 spection, the following menu was served:— 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, coffee, hominy. 
 
 Dinner—Meat, beans, potatoes. 
 
 Supper—Bread, coffee, fried potatoes. 
 
 The food is plain, but the sheriff can not be accused of profiteering. 
 They eat at tables, in civilized fashion. 
 
 The prisoners have the privilege of purchasing extra provisions and of 
 receiving same from their friends. They may write all the letters they 
 choose which may be inspected, and they may receive visitors at any rea¬ 
 sonable time. They buy or beg tobacco. 
 
 The Judge of the Court sometimes releases a misdemeanant on proba¬ 
 tion instead of confining him in jail. This policy is recommended in every 
 possible case, since in this prison there is no employment. A transgressor 
 may be kept in this prison for one year with absolutely nothing to do. It 
 may be necessary to restrict a malefactor within limits for the good of the 
 community, but it is an additional crime to support him in idleness. It 
 ruins the individual and is an economic blunder of the first magnitude. It is 
 the duty of the State to provide opportunities for these delinquents to sup¬ 
 port themselves. The problem will be solved by the establishment of State 
 Industrial Farms to which those sentenced for short terms may be con¬ 
 signed. The citizens of Adams County ought not to be taxed year after year 
 for the support of from three to eight husky chaps who ought to be making 
 their own living. Their offences were “against the peace and dignity of 
 the Commonwealth,” not of the County, hence it is the duty of the State to 
 take the proper care of delinquents. In 1918 for the maintenance of the 
 
 County Prison there was paid .$4,786 
 
 For maintaining convicts at State Prison . 1,829 
 
 This does not indicate a large proportion of criminality in Adams 
 County. 
 
 ALLEGHENY COUNTY—Pittsburgh—The City Prison 
 
 Visited June 16, 1918. 
 
 As a place of detention for those who are held for trial, this prison is 
 ably administered. It must not be considered as an industrial establish¬ 
 ment. About ten per cent, of this number are convicts, most of whom are 
 employed in domestic service about the prison. The average time spent by 
 .the inmates of the prison is thirteen days, hence a large number are incar¬ 
 cerated for less than thirteen days. Regular work could not be provided for 
 a transient population except at some employment like breaking stone with 
 
Allegheny County 
 
 9 
 
 a sledge hammer. Remembering that nearly 90 per cent, of the inmates 
 are held pending trial or arrangements for bail, the profession of stone¬ 
 breaking would attract few practitioners. Convicts may be compelled to 
 work, but the same rules do not apply to the untried. Occasionally it hap¬ 
 pens that for good reasons, a man or woman is detained for months or even 
 longer before arraignment in Court. In many counties, the Court adjourns 
 from May or June to September, so that a considerable number are held for 
 some months amid associations more or less vile before they face judge and 
 jury. It is quite possible that many of these would gladly welcome an op¬ 
 portunity for some sort of employment. The inducement of a small wage 
 or of a more elaborate dietary would induce the majority of them to ac¬ 
 
 cept employment. 
 
 The number in prison June 16, 1919—Males.509 
 
 The number in prison June 16, 191^-—Females. 59 
 
 568 
 
 Of whom the number under sentence. 71 
 
 Average daily number 1918.547 
 
 Average age in years. 33 
 
 Daily cost of food for each prisoner in 1918. 12}4c 
 
 Daily overhead cost for each prisoner. 34%c 
 
 Excepting ttye few who are detained in the City Prison for domestic 
 service, those who are sentenced are committed to the Allegheny County 
 Workhouse, to a State Prison, or to a Reformatory. 
 
 The Warden is accessible and takes interest in the welfare of those 
 under his charge. 
 
 In the last two years, meat is supplied to the prisoners four times each 
 week, generally in the shape of Hamburg steaks. The cooking and the serv¬ 
 ice are to be commended. While we do not approve of cell-feeding, as it 
 suggests the method of the Zoological Garden, in their limited space there 
 appears to be no place for a dining-room. There is another reason for pass¬ 
 ing their food into the cells. In the untried department there are all sorts 
 from the innocent to the most desperate criminals. The jailer can make no 
 discrimination, hence it may be wise to prevent congregating. In detach¬ 
 ments the prisoners take an hour each day in exercising in a small yard. No 
 rules forbidding conversation. They are allowed to purchase food and to 
 receive provisions from their friends. All letters are subject to inspection. 
 
 A call on the Parole and Probation officer revealed the following facts 
 
 of interest:— 
 
 Number paroled prisoners June 16, 1919. 143 
 
 Number of offenders on probation. 798 
 
 Percentage of success. .94 
 
 Number of probationers of last two years in the Army. 200 
 
 Costs and fines collected, generally on installment plan.$26,530 
 
 Amount collected in excess salaries of officials . 20,000 
 
 Amount collected in instalments for restitution from thieves, 
 etc. 16,674 
 
 A special effort is made to induce the pilferers to restore to owners the 
 value of the articles taken. 
 
 They seem to be particularly successful in collecting from wife desert¬ 
 ers, etc. Amount collected in 1919 (taken from report received April, 1920), 
 $414,731. 
 
 It appears that most of the men found guilty of failure to support their 
 families are released on condition of paying some weekly stipulated sum to 
 the Probation officer who forwards the amount to the deserted wife, mother 
 or other dependent. Counting 300 business days in the year, this means 
 that on every day the amount collected and distributed averages about 
 $1,382. 
 
10 
 
 Remcic of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 If the defendant in such cases is not counted worthy of parole, or if when 
 placed on parole he fails without good excuse to make the payments required, 
 he is sent to the Allegheny County Workhouse and required to labor in 
 that institution. By the act of 1911, (Act 330, P. L. Pennsylvania, 1911), 
 the sum of 65c daily is to be paid to the plaintiff in the case of all such 
 defendants. Very few counties of the Commonwealth observe this law. 
 ALLEGHENY COUNTY—Pittsburgh—The Workhouse at Hoboken 
 
 Visited June 16, 1919. 
 
 This Institution is situated on a plantation about nine miles from the 
 Court House in Pittsbui'gh. Here may be found the best demonstration of 
 what may be accomplished in the way of convict labor in the Common¬ 
 wealth. We do not forget the possibilities of the State Farm at Beliefonte, 
 but here no industries aside from agricultural operations have been created. 
 So at the present time we must award the prize for individual operations 
 at a penal institution to the Workhouse of Allegheny County. 
 
 The commitments in 1918 were.4,015 
 
 over half of which were for 30 days. The time of imprisonment ranges from 
 five days to six years and some of them have an indeterminate sentence, 
 who, after some time of testing, are eligible for release on parole. 
 
 The prisoners make brooms, brushes, carpets, chairs and engage in 
 
 farming and gardening. 
 
 The estimated profit on manufacture in 1918 was.$58,904 
 
 Besides what they consumed from the products of the farm, they 
 
 sold stock, vegetables, etc., to the value of. 19,068 
 
 The actual cost for each prisoner is. 81.4c 
 
 On account of the profits this is reduced to. 49.5c 
 
 Average number of prisoners per day . 722 
 
 Saved to taxpayers by profits or earnings .$84,066 
 
 All who are able are at work. Even tho the terms of the majoidty 
 are less than thirty days, the industries are successful. The inmates make 
 enough to pay forty per cent, of their expenses. Is it possible to increase 
 this efficiency? It is. The time may come when the prisoners here and 
 elsewhere will earn 100% of their maintenance. Some time it will be re¬ 
 garded as an obsolete and stupid policy to support the criminals in idle¬ 
 ness. Any able bodied person ought to have opportunity to earn his “board 
 and keep.” If he won’t work, he should be made to work. 
 
 They have religious services on the Sabbath, attend school in the win¬ 
 ter, and have access to a library of 4,000 carefully selected volumes. 
 
 Much of the food is obtained from the farm. There is a well equipped 
 dining room in which they eat in civilized fashion except in one important 
 particular. They tell us that conversation during the meal time conduces 
 to health and cheerfulness. Here they eat in silence and are penalized for 
 talking. They may talk elsewhere but not while they eat. Formerly they 
 were allowed to converse in the dining room, but “the privilege was abused, 
 hence conversation has been forbidden.” Doubtless there were rough 
 talk, profanity, wrangling. Much depends on the officers in charge. Under 
 expert handling this privilege could be restored. Most of our penal institu¬ 
 tions are learning that the enforcement of petty rules does not constitute 
 true discipline. So far as possible, friction should be abolished and a nor¬ 
 mal method of living adopted. 
 
 The new cell block lacks nothing desirable in the line of sanitation, se¬ 
 curity, light and general comfort. It has scarcely a feature of home life. 
 Life in a cubicle is dismal, ghastly, depressing. 
 
 As a prison this institution is ably administered. What are the reform¬ 
 ing possibilities ? We do not hold with the extremists who might find no 
 redeeming features. The inmates get a taste of discipline which they have 
 never had before. They get a regular diet and better than found in many 
 of their homes. They are encouraged to form habits of industry. 
 
Armstrong Countg 
 
 11 
 
 But do these lawbreakers go out better than when they came in ? Are 
 they improved by the system of treatment which they have received ? Are 
 they supposed to be patients taking a cure ? Are they in any sense restored 
 when they leave the institution? Physically, yes; morally, not often. 
 
 Now let us be fair to the Workhouse. The average term is less than 
 thirty days. You can’t diagnose mentality and morality, and administer 
 clinical treatment in thirty days. It is readily seen that the entire system 
 needs changing from the moment of the arrest till the delinqunt has had 
 a discharge after having received appropriate treatment and demonstrated 
 his fitness to become a helpful member of the community. Recidivists need 
 a purely indeterminate sentence under expert care. 
 
 Nearly one-fourth of the prisoners have served ten or more sentences. 
 
 Twenty-one of the prisoners have been sentenced fifty times or more. 
 
 Is there not a better way of treating the chronic cases ? 
 
 It is quite possible that the prohibition of the liquor traffic may have 
 some bearing on this question. 
 
 ARMSTRONG COUNTY—Kittanning Visited July 16, 1919. 
 
 There were five prisoners, all held for trial, on the day of the inspection. 
 In the year 1918, the average daily attendance was 8. 
 
 Gloomy place, large cells, chinks for windows, no sheets nor pillows fur¬ 
 nished. 
 
 Should be used only as a place of detention for the untried prisoners, 
 and yet some have been sentenced to remain in this fastness for six months. 
 150 working days wasted. Nothing to show for it. As a rule prisoners 
 leave the prison worse than when they entered. Idleness never reforms. 
 It weakens the muscles and impairs the morale. 
 
 For breakfast and supper, the prisoners received coffee, molasses and 
 bread which costs ten cents per pound loaf. For dinner on the day of the 
 inspection they had macaroni and vegetable soup. Meat is rarely served. 
 For these delectable “eats,” the sheriff receives from the county fifty cents 
 per day for each prisoner. While much better meals are served in many 
 jails for the same sum, the sheriff is not getting wealthy. But he ought not 
 to try to make any profit whatever. Any system which makes a warden 
 or sheriff dependent in the slightest manner upon the profits of boarding 
 prisoners for his financial reward is absolutely wrong in principle. 
 
 Expenses of the County prison in 1918. $5,631 
 
 The average yearly cost per prisoner, approximately. 480 
 
 For prisoners sent outside the county the bill was.10,171 
 
 When that Industrial Farm for convicts is established, much of that 
 .$15,802 will be saved for Armstrong County. Many of the prisoners will 
 be sent to this Farm where in good time they may be almost self-supporting 
 if under the right sort of management. 
 
 BEAVER COUNTY—Beaver Visited June 14, 1914. 
 
 In 1914 we found in Beaver an old unsanitary building which as a 
 prison we unhesitatingly condemned. We are glad to report that on this 
 visit we find a much more creditable structure built of steel and admirably 
 adapted as cages for dangerous animals. Sanitation good, light poor, bed¬ 
 ding, on hard iron slats, nothing to boast of. Men have the freedom of the 
 corridor from 7 A. M. till 9 P. M. There is a small yard but unused. 
 Forty-three men were there on the day of inspection and five women entirely 
 separated from the quarters of the men. Twenty-eight of these creatures 
 had not received sentence. Twenty were serving time in idleness and daily 
 taking lessons in demoralization. If by the year the county has every day 
 the same number of convicts in its prison, that means an annual waste of 
 6,000 days equivalent to at least a loss of $6,000. These men should have 
 been under proper supervision engaged in some sort of industry at which 
 
12 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 they would earn their maintenance, thus relieving the county of the $3,000 
 paid for the food which the sheriff supplied to them at 50c a day and on 
 which he made a profit of “umty-umph” dollars. 
 
 Cost of maintaining the prison in 1918.$9,367 
 
 This county sends a considerable number of convicts to the Allegheny 
 County Workhouse which charges the county about 85c per diem for each 
 man. Give the county some credit for this policy of sending the men to the 
 Workhouse. They would pay the sheriff only 50c per diem for boarding 
 the prisoners, but they prefer to deliver the men from the evils of pure loaf¬ 
 ing by paying 85c daily for their sustenance in an institution where they 
 must toil. In the case of those convicted for non-support, they pay $1.50 
 daily. Here is the explanation. They pay 85c daily for any prisoner. In 
 the case of those convicted of desertion, the Workhouse forwards to some 
 one designated by the Court the sum of sixty-five cents for each day said 
 convict is at work and then sends to the Commissioners of the County a bill 
 for the amount thus forwarded. In some counties having no workhouse, the 
 Court will not sentence a man to any workhouse outside the county in order 
 to escape the payment of the small stipend to the dependents. In 1918, this 
 county paid the sum of $634.50 to the dependents of the more or less worth¬ 
 less derelicts who were sent to the Workhouse. 
 
 Some half dozen prisoners assist in cleaning, serving food, etc. 
 
 The bedding should be improved. 
 
 The Court occasionally may grant parole. 
 
 BEDFORD COUNTY—Bedford Visited Sept. 12, 1919. 
 
 The prison consist of a few steel cells opening on inside corridor, the 
 whole surrounded by an outside corridor and walled in. 
 
 The toilet was sadly out of repair, and the ventilation was unwholesome. 
 Sufficient bedding except sheets. 
 
 There were five inmates, four of whom were serving time, being cared 
 for at the expense of the county. No work to mention. One who was called 
 a trusty was a sort of handy man about the place. It has happened that a 
 man may be sentenced to remain in this “castle of indolence” for one year. 
 They have bread and coffee morning and evening and on the day visited 
 dined on bread and pepper pot. Meat is served once a week. The county 
 pays the sheriff 60c per diem for supplying provisions to the inmates. If 
 the prisoners have money or friends and are dissatisfied with the menu, 
 they may secure extra supplies, a privilege which is allowed in nearly all 
 the county jails of the State. This practice is unsound in principle. Firstly, 
 the provision furnished should be plain but sufficient. Secondly, those who 
 have money have a decided advantage over the friendless and the impe¬ 
 cunious. 
 
 The gross expense per diem for each prisoner in 1918 was.$ 1.48 
 
 The cost of maintaining the jail in 1918. 2,752.68 
 
 Cost of maintaining and transporting prisoners elsewhere. 2,798.00 
 The average daily population in 1918 was only two prisoners. 
 
 BERKS COUNTY—Reading Visited Aug. 6, 1919. 
 
 Number of male prisoners on day of inspection.63 
 
 Number of female prisoners on day of inspection. 8 
 
 The rules of the Board prescribe that one half pound of meat is to be 
 given daily to each prisoner. No profiteering of any kind is allowed in fur¬ 
 nishing food, as the bills for provisions are sent for payment to the county 
 treasurer when authorized by the Inspectors. There is a regulation which 
 provides that the daily cost of the sustenance for each prisoner shall not ex¬ 
 ceed 28c. Cell feeding is still in vogue, and the supposition is that a prop¬ 
 osition to have them eat at tables in the corridors would be regarded as sen- 
 
Berks County 
 
 13 
 
 timental, over-indulgent and even dangerous. No offense is intended, and 
 yet there are some intelligent people who believe that the more civilized the 
 
 environment, the greater hope of reformation. 
 
 They bake bread of excellent quality. 
 
 The cost of the food in 1918 was.$ 7,695.74 
 
 The net cost of maintaining the prison in 1918 . 31,888.51 
 
 At a reported average number of 75 prisoners each day, it 
 required in Berks County to maintain one prisoner for 
 
 the year 1918. 425.11 
 
 Or, the daily cost of each prisoner is. 1.16 
 
 The daily cost of each prisoner sent to Eastern Peniten¬ 
 tiary . .51 
 
 To keep a prisoner one year at the Eastern Penitentiary 186.15 
 Saving of expense annually each prisoner sent to Eastern 
 
 Penitentiary . 238.96 
 
 Paid for maintaining prisoners at other Institutions. 18,322.95 
 
 The total maintenance for prisoners in 1918..... 50,211.66 
 
 This is an enormous bill. Perhaps, no county, X^higJ^excepted, in the 
 State having a population of 50,000 or more pays strmuc^per capita. 
 
 The County Prison is managed by nine inspectors elected by the people 
 under a special law of 1848. They receive a salary of $225 per annum. 
 
 Three or five inspectors would suffice. While we may not begrudge 
 them the small stipend they receive for their services, in no other county 
 of the State do the inspectors receive aught except their expenses. 
 
 It is supposable that a board of nine managers chosen for their busi¬ 
 ness ability would be able to make a better financial showing. The pris¬ 
 oners in 1918 with old fashioned hand looms made 15,600 yards of carpet 
 and the sales amounted to $9,568. Several of the inmates have been al¬ 
 lowed to cultivate a few acres on the almshouse farm, thus supplying fresh 
 vegetables to the prison and effecting some economy thereby. Possibly the 
 management has fallen into ruts from which it is difficult to rise. Under 
 the present system there is little hope of greater economy or of reforming 
 the prisoners. The inmates are allowed to take some mild quiet exercise 
 in the open air for three hours each week. The freedom of the corridors 
 is not often granted. The weavers work and sleep in the lint laden atmos¬ 
 phere of the same cells in which the looms are installed. Various sugges¬ 
 tions might be considered. Increase the production by the introduction 
 of machinery. The products may be sold to other institutions of the State. 
 And a considerable percentage of the products may be sold in the open 
 market. The Institution may be removed to a farm. Here it is quite pos¬ 
 sible the inmates may become self-supporting. The County should retain 
 a city prison for those who are awaiting trial. The old site may be sold 
 and a new smaller House of Detention be built. The best proposition 
 is for the Commonwealth to establish a few farms to which all the con¬ 
 victs sentenced to county prisons may be sent. 
 
 Since our last visit some creditable improvements have been made in 
 the women’s quarters. The bathing accommodations are complete. The 
 sewing room is light and cheerful. It is to be regretted that the women 
 have their cells in the same wing with the men. They are kept apart from 
 the men, but the segregation is not so complete as would be desirable. 
 
 At the time of our visit, fifty women, fifteen men, and one hundred and 
 thirty-five boys were released on parole. 
 
 Three causes—Parole, Probation and Prohibition—have diminished the 
 population of our county jails. 
 
 The practice of electing the inspectors of the county prison by the 
 voters is not to be commended. The terms are short so that the inspectors 
 barely get somewhat familiar with the institution before a new Board is 
 chosen. With every shift of the political situation, the warden whom the 
 
14 
 
 Review of County .tails in Pennsylvania 
 
 inspectors appoint is liable to be removed. Such institutions need able 
 superintendents of constructive proficiency,—men who have rare powers 
 of leadership. Neither the warden nor the managers should be changed 
 with the whim of petty politics. (See Report Northampton County.) 
 
 BLAIR COUNTY—Hollidaysburg Visited Sept. 10, 1919. 
 
 On the day of inspection there were 31 prisoners, fourteen of whom 
 were convicts. 
 
 By a state enactment, the County Commissioners are the managers 
 and they appoint the warden, who supplies food to the prisoners at the 
 daily rate ot 45c for each prisoner. Breakfast and supper consist of the 
 usual bread and coffee. Bread is supplied in slices usually in the shape 
 of a molasses sandwich. By rule some meat is supplied every day which 
 is usually boiled or stewed with vegetables. We have condemned the fee 
 system in unmeasured terms. It is altogether wrong in principle to farm 
 out paupers, insane or convicts at any stipulated sum per diem unless at 
 the same time a fixed dietary is prescribed. But this system is liable to 
 abuse under any conditions. Pay your caretakers a sufficient salary and 
 let the provisions be supplied by contract. The invariable result is that the 
 expense to the taxpayers is lessened and the food is more satisfactory. 
 
 The building is of an old-fashioned type. The windows are mere chinks 
 and the corridor is lighted by holes in the roof. No lighting arrangements 
 in the cells. Sanitary arrangements are fair, but it seems necessary to 
 resort to a general flushing of the waste pipes twice every day. 
 
 We should urge a new prison if we did not expect that within a few 
 years no convicts will be confined in the present county jails. 
 
 The prisoners are in the central hall or court for eight hours every 
 day and are allowed once weekly to spend an hour in a rather dismal look¬ 
 ing yard. There are 168 hours in a week, fourteen hours of which the pris¬ 
 oners spend in the corridors and one hour in the yard. 
 
 Those who have money may buy aditional provisions twice in the week. 
 
 A wooden door separates the women from the men. 
 
 There is abundant room in the corridor for a table on which the pris¬ 
 oners might have their meals served. Cell feeding is the regulation. 
 
 One or two of the prisoners assist in domestic service. It is to the 
 credit of the Managers that ten of the prisoners have been requisitioned 
 for work on the highways. 
 
 Estimating the average number of prisoners in 1918 at 39 per diem, the 
 average annual cost to the county of each prisoner was.$228 
 
 The maximum sentence in this prison is 364 days, and the parties re¬ 
 sponsible for imposing a sentence to idleness for 364 days ought to be dealt 
 with. 
 
 Bread is bought, but it would give some employment to some prisoners 
 and result in economy if they should establish a bakery in the prison. 
 
 Expense of supporting prisoners at other institutions, 1918.$18,093 
 
 Expense of making report to Board of Public Charities.... 20 
 
 BRADFORD COUNTY—Towanda Visited Aug. 22, 1919. 
 
 There were nine male prisoners on the day of inspection, of whom 
 three were convicts. 
 
 There is no opportunity for exercise in the open air. The prisoners 
 have the freedom of the corridors every day. Rather a gloomy prison. The 
 county officials should give early attention to the bathing arrangements. 
 
 The women, when they have any, are segregated but must pass through 
 the men’s quarters in order to reach their apartment. 
 
 For breakfast and supper, they enjoy bread, syrup, coffee and pota¬ 
 toes, and sometimes tea. They pay 35c per pound for their coffee, hence 
 it is of fair quality. Meat is furnished for dinner three or four times 
 
liuvks County 
 
 15 
 
 ■weekly. The sheriff receives 40c a day for each prisoner for the food sup¬ 
 plied. 
 
 Bedding: consists of mattress on springs with a blanket or two. In 
 most civilized prisons sheets and pillows are furnished. 
 
 BUCKS COUNTY—Doylestown Visited, Dec. 12, 1919. 
 
 Prohibition and parole have decreased the number of prisoners. 
 
 Here we learned that one effect of Prohibition was to lessen the morale 
 of the inmates. Many of the thirty day “drunks” were a rather decent sort 
 when they recovered from the effects of their potations. Those who are 
 now confined have committed more venial offences and are not so trust¬ 
 worthy. Still we shall not advocate the opening of the saloons in order 
 to improve the morale of the inmates of our prisons. 
 
 There were 21 male prisoners and two female prisoners on the day of 
 inspection. The women are entirely separate from the men. The main 
 wing for the men consists of a wide corridor with twelve large cells on 
 each side. Each cell has an electric light. The windows are chinks. The 
 bedding consist of a fairly comfortable mattress on iron slats with a 
 blanket. They ought to have sheets and pillows. They have ample room 
 and time for laundry work. Twice a day they are served with bread, syrup 
 and coffee mixed with some substitute. Meat is supplied in the shape of a 
 stew thrice each week and bean soup furnished on other days. The sheriff 
 is paid 40 cents a day per prisoner for supplying provisions. He is not 
 getting wealthy as a landlord but the system is a vicious one. They have 
 a good bakery. 
 
 The sanitary arrangements are antiquated. Water is drawn in buckets 
 for flushing the closets. This system could easily be changed. 
 
 The inmates generally gain in weight. This is in part due to the 
 exercise which they take daily in the yard. Daily the prisoners are in the 
 open air for eight hours swinging sledge hammers at the stone pile. No 
 particular stunt is required. This feature in Bucks County is unique and is 
 a vast improvement over the idleness so prevalent in the other prisons of 
 the Commonwealth. 
 
 BUTLER COUNTY—Butler Visited June 14, 1919. 
 
 Nineteen inmates, all convicts, rather more than usual for this county. 
 Some of them had been guilty of the illicit sale of whiskey. 
 
 They have no yard for recreation and no work to do. 
 
 Let other wardens note the food program: 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, butter, oatmeal with milk, coffee with sugar. 
 
 Supper—Bread, butter, fruit, tea. 
 
 Dinner—Soup, relish, vegetable, bread. Meat twice weekly. 
 
 Cooked and served by the sheriff’s wife, who is more devoted to humane 
 principles than to pecuniary profits. The prisoners have the privilege of 
 buying extra supplies, but the food supplied is ample for their necessities. 
 The sheriff receives 50c per diem for each prisoner thus boarded. 
 
 Letters are delivered unopened, but letters going out are inspected. Let¬ 
 ters ought to be inspected when received. The prisoners will generally 
 sign a paper releasing the sheriff from the U. S. penalty for opening let¬ 
 ters, and if the prisoner refuses the sheriff will decline delivery till the 
 prisoner is released. 
 
 To confine nineteen men without work is equivalent to nineteen of¬ 
 fences against the welfare of society. 
 
16 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 CAMBRIA COUNTY—Ebensburg Visited July 18, 1919. 
 
 Here we find one of the few well-managed county prisons in the State. 
 The Warden is appointed annually by the Prison Board and retains his po¬ 
 sition during good behavior. A sheriff who is not elected with special ref¬ 
 erence to his ability to manage an institution can not be expected to suc¬ 
 ceed so well as a prison manager as one who is chosen for that specific 
 purpose. 
 
 Food is allotted to the prisoners in accordance with their classifica¬ 
 tion. Three classes of prisoners are recognized. 1. Vagrants, drunks, etc., 
 held for short terms. 2. Those sentenced for a term of several months 
 up to three years. 3. The workers. 
 
 Rather a scant portion is supplied to those of the first class mentioned. 
 Their presence is not welcome. A sufficiency of food is given to those of 
 the second class who are kept in enforced idleness. The workers have 
 a rather substantial dietary. The average cost of the food each day for a 
 prisoner in 1918 was 10.4c. Note that, all ye wardens and sheriffs, who are 
 supplying nothing better, and even a more scanty supply of food, for from 
 
 forty to fifty cents per day! 
 
 Net cost of the prison in 1918.$22,612 
 
 Overhead cost for each inmate by the day. 43.3c 
 
 Take notice, ye taxpayers in other counties, where the overhead cost 
 per prisoner is from $2.00 to $4.00 per diem. 
 
 In 1918 the authorities granted permission to the Warden to have some 
 prisoners cultivate a few acres with the result that there were produced 
 potatoes, onions, lettuce, radishes, peas, beans, corn, turnips, cabbage, cu¬ 
 cumbers, cauliflower, etc., to the value of $1,826, at an expense of $636. 
 showing a clear profit of $1,190, and very greatly adding to the variety and 
 healthfulness of the daily menu. 
 
 The workers eat at tables, and if such facilities could be provided, the 
 warden would gladly abolish cell-feeding altogether. 
 
 There were 110 men and eight women incarcerated on the day of in¬ 
 spection. 
 
 The average attendance in 1918 was 144. 
 
 Some prisoners are paroled, usually under supervision of the warden, 
 and in 1918 the amount received from paroled men in the line of costs and 
 fines was $12,222, all of which prior to the operation of the parole law 
 would have been lost, to say nothing of the expense incurred in retaining 
 in prison the paroled men and also the demoralization resulting from con¬ 
 finement in idleness. 
 
 There are two grievous faults. While the prisoners are allowed the 
 freedom of the corridors for several hours each day, they have no place of 
 exercise in the open air and quite a number are confined in this institution 
 for one year or longer. . 
 
 Unemployment of over one-half of the inmates is to be deplored, lhe 
 ocupations are, domestic service about the plant, farming and some work 
 on the roads. All very proper employment, but the warden’s best efforts 
 result in the employment of less than 40 per cent, of the inmates and many 
 of these are not continually at work. We estimate that about 30,000 days 
 labor is wasted at this institution by the system of idleness which is forced 
 upon the county prisons of Pennsylvania. This labor ought in some way 
 to be utilized. Now that the contract system of employing prisoners has 
 been abolished, surely some method of using this energy, now wasted, may 
 be devised which will in a satisfactory way meet the objections of the 
 Knights of Labor. . 
 
 We nominate the warden of this prison for the superintendence of one of 
 the industrial farms which the Commonwealth should soon establish for the 
 betterment of the county convicts. 
 
CAMBRIA COUNTY PRISON. 
 
Cameron County 
 
 17 
 
 Through the efforts of the warden a neat little park has been laid 
 out adjacent to the prison, a view of which we are pleased to present in 
 this issue. 
 
 Prohibition has certainly diminished the commitments in this county. 
 
 CAMERON COUNTY—Emporium Visited July 10, 1919. 
 
 Three prisoners, two of whom had been convicted, were found, who re¬ 
 sided in the basement of the sheriff’s residence. No special bathroom, 
 but other sanitary appliances reasonably good. Mostly above ground, yet 
 rather gloomy and damp. 
 
 No opportunity for exercise in the open air. The sum of fifty cents per 
 diem for each prisoner is paid to the sheriff, who furnishes a sufficiency 
 of provision. 
 
 Breakfast—Cereal, bread, butter, coffee, sugar. 
 
 Supper—The same as above, except some vegetable instead of cereal. 
 
 Dinner—Soup and vegetables. Meat twice weekly. 
 
 The prison is good enough for detention of a few days, but if the 
 county officials are intending to continue the practice of sending men to 
 the prison for one to nine months, they need different arrangements. 
 
 CARBON COUNTY—Mauch Chunk Visited Aug. 26, 1919. 
 
 For many miles the Lehigh River flows through a canyon whose steep 
 walls are usually over a thousand feet in height. At a few places there 
 are breaks in this wall when a narrow chasm with high banks of its own 
 furnishes drainage for the upper country and also access thereto. Along 
 one of these narrow valleys is built the town of Mauch Chunk, the county 
 seat of Carbon County. About one-fourth of a mile from the river, up 
 the winding rift in the mountain side, is built the county prison of the 
 olden type with a turreted tower in front. Nineteen prisoners were found 
 in this gloomy structure, where both on account of the hills on either side 
 and the almost total absence of skylights, the inmates live in the shadows. 
 There is a small yard, rather unkept, in which the men occasionally may 
 enjoy fresh air. They are generally allowed to remain for eight hours 
 each day in the inner corridor. Nine of the men were awaiting trial. 
 They eat in cells, though there is ample space in the corridor for a table, 
 which at other times could be used as a writing table. 
 
 The food program is quite monotonous. Breakfast and supper—Bread, 
 molasses, coffee. Dinner on the day of inspection: Cabbage, potatoes, 
 meat, the latter being served thrice weekly. The sheriff receives forty- 
 five cents daily for each prisoner supplied with food. 
 
 Expenses of this prison for the year 1918.$3,578 
 
 Expenses for convicts at other prisons. 5,242 
 
 The prisoners should have pillows. They are supplied with other 
 necessary bedding. 
 
 One man is serving a sentence of ten months. Entirely too long for 
 a jail of this kind. The time is hastening when it will be impossible to 
 sentence a man or woman to such a jail for a longer time than thirty days. 
 
 CENTRE COUNTY—Bellefonte Visited Aug. 21, 1919. 
 
 Four prisoners were found, three of whom were being detained for trial. 
 The average daily population in 1918 was 10J4. 
 
 For boarding prisoners the sheriff receives fifty cents. 
 
 Total expenses for provisions in 1918.$ 1,943 
 
 Other prison expenses in 1918. 1,691 
 
 Expense for convicts in other prisons. 10,153 
 
 They are supplied with sufficient bedding, except sheets. 
 
Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 18 
 
 All day long the prisoners, unless by chance they have a lunatic or a 
 dangerous criminal, have the freedom of the corridor and a small yard, 
 which they share with the chickens. 
 
 It costs the county forty dollars to prepare the annual report for the 
 Board of Public Charities. 
 
 The arrangements for segregating the men from the women are un¬ 
 satisfactory. 
 
 A better skylight is needed. 
 
 Prisoners have been employed in mowing the Court House lawn and 
 in gangs, under the care of the son of the sheriff, have worked on the roads. 
 
 The effort to find employment for them is commendable, but the prison 
 should be condemned as an institution to which men may be sentenced for 
 thirty days or more. 
 
 CHESTER COUNTY—West Chester Visited Oct. 7, 1919. 
 
 One of the best of the older prisons. Built in 1839, but now equipped 
 with modern improvements. Heated by steam. A wing was more recently 
 constructed for women prisoners. This is of concrete construction and 
 the ordinary jail appearance is almost wholly lacking. 
 
 There were sixty-five inmates on the day of inspection, of whom seven 
 were being held for trial. Average daily population in 1918, 64. 
 
 The diet is plain, but is cooked well. The men eat in cells and it 
 would probably be regarded as a serious innovation to have them eat at 
 tables placed in the corridors. They manage to do this in the prison in 
 Mercer County and in Westmoreland County to good effect. 
 
 They bake bread of excellent quality. 1918 1919 
 
 The total daily cost for each prisoner.53.6c. 63.4c. 
 
 Of which the cost of food was.18.2c. 19.1c. 
 
 The cost in 1919 is somewhat higher, but it is readily seen that a plain 
 menu need not cost fifty cents per diem. Prisoners may have fruit sent to 
 them or may purchase fruit only, if they have money. 
 
 This prison is more nearly self-supporting than any prison in the 
 Commonwealth. For many years the earnings were sufficient to meet 
 the expenses of management, except the amount paid for salaries. All 
 the men are at work, being engaged in caning chairs, weaving carpet, 
 weaving a plaid of neat pattern for their uniforms or in domestic service. 
 
 In 1918 the sales of carpet amounted to $7,255. 1918. 1919. 
 
 Whole number sentenced by Court. 122 95 
 
 Number sentenced for less than one year. 102 66 
 
 “ “ from one to two years. 16 20 
 
 “ “ from two to ten years. 4 9 
 
 So long as regular work is furnished to the inmates the Court is justi¬ 
 fied in sending convicts to the county prison rather than to the peniten¬ 
 tiary, where just now there is scant opportunity for employment. 
 
 The rules at one time forbade conversation, a rather absurd regula¬ 
 tion, but at present the rule seems to be honored in the breach rather than 
 in the observance. To condemn men to silence for some months or years 
 is a relic of barbarism. 
 
 It is unfortunate that the institution has so little space for taking 
 exercise in the open air. Most of the prisoners are within the walls of 
 the building from the time they enter until they are discharged. We 
 recommend that during the religious services on Sabbath the prisoners 
 be allowed to sit in the corridors. 
 
 CLARION COUNTY—Clarion Visited July 12, 1919. 
 
 In 1918 the average number of prisoners held in the county prison did 
 not exceed three by the day. One convict and one untried prisoner were held 
 on the day of inspection. 
 
Clearfield County 
 
 19 
 
 The prisoners receive an abundance of food, based on the diet of the 
 average fanner, except that recently the amount of meat has been dimin¬ 
 ished. The sheriff is paid seventy-five cents daily for each prisoner. Since 
 an act of the State Legislature allows fifty cents as the maximum fee, 
 we may consider twenty-five centB of the sum granted as a compensation 
 for care and service. 
 
 There is no yard attached to the prison. _ 
 
 The bedding is deficient in pillows and sheets. 
 
 In 1918 prison expenses.$ 951.00 
 
 “ “ repairs . 1,821.00 
 
 “ Expenses for prisoners at other prisons . 3,115.00 
 
 CLEARFIELD COUNTY—Clearfield Visited Aug. 30, 1919. 
 
 The number of inmates was twenty-six, of whom only two were convicts. 
 
 In some counties there is no court of any kind during the months of 
 July and August, hence prisoners, who are unable to secure bail, accumulate 
 till court opens in September and in some counties in October. 
 
 The structure is antique with inside corridor, poorly lighted, but with 
 fair bedding and sanitary accommodations. Marking on the walls should 
 be forbidden. 
 
 The daily average in 1918 was twenty-one. Prohibition has resulted in 
 greatly decreasing the number. The prisoners have the usual prison diet, 
 for which the sheriff receives from the county fifty cents daily for each 
 
 prisoner. 
 
 The net cost of maintenance in 1918. $5,106.00 
 
 Annual cost each prisoner. 243.00 
 
 Daily overhead cost each prisoner. Plus .66 
 
 Expense of supporting prisoners at other prisons. 13,722.00 
 
 There is no work for the prisoners, hence no one should remain in such 
 a place more than thirty days, though they have been sentenced for one 
 year of idleness in this prison. Such detention is an outrage. 
 
 CLINTON COUNTY—Lock Haven Visited Aug. 21, 1919. 
 
 Four men and two women were imprisoned, one of whom was held 
 for trial. 
 
 The daily average attendance in 1918 was nearly sixteen persons, who 
 had no employment, except occasionally in assisting with the housework, 
 who were allowed to spend a part of every day in the open air, who ate the 
 better than usual prison fare at a table, who had no opportunity to take 
 a hot bath and might remain there for a year, and for whose victuals the 
 county was charged fifty cents per diem. 
 
 There is a charge made of twenty dollars for preparing the report 
 for the Board of Public Charities. 
 
 To maintain a prisoner there for one year costs the taxpayers $264. 
 
 For inmates sent to other prisons the county in 1918 paid $10,682. 
 
 No one. should be sentenced to this prison longer than thirty days. 
 Why? Idleness spells demoralization. 
 
 COLUMBIA COUNTY—Bloomsburg Visited July 2, 1919. 
 
 There were six prisoners at the time of the inspection, one of whom 
 was awaiting trial. The average daily number in 1918 was 10 1-3. 
 
 The cost of maintaining the prison in 1918 was $2,963.48, or for each 
 prisoner the sum of $286.79. For a small prison this is not exorbitant. 
 
 The sheriff is to be commended for his effort to provide fresh vege¬ 
 tables for those under his charge. Around the prison there are a few 
 hundred square feet of space, every available part of which is utilized for 
 
20 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 garden or for a poultry yard. The sheriff receives a fee of thirty-five 
 cents for supplying food, a fee which is as low as any other prison, Lebanon 
 excepted, but with the aid of his garden he manages to keep within his allow¬ 
 ance. Meat is supplied once a week in the summer time. 
 
 To make out the report for the Board of Public Charities costs ten 
 dollars. 
 
 For prisoners sent to other prisons the charges in 1918.$4,919. 
 
 While we may deplore the lack of regular employment, in consideration 
 of the efforts of the caretaker to find some work for the men and to give 
 them opportunity for recreation in the open air, there are some redeeming 
 features to chronicle about this prison. 
 
 CRAWFORD COUNTY—Meadville Visited July 14. 1919. 
 
 No prisoner was confined in this prison on the day of visitation. 
 
 The average number the year previous was fifteen. 
 
 Some forty or fifty have been released on probation and a few on parole. 
 
 Prohibition is having its anticipated result. 
 
 Even with a fairly good bill of fare, the institution has no boarders. 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, coffee, cereal, milk, sugar. 
 
 Supper—Bread, tea and some relish. 
 
 Dinner—Meat two or three times weekly. Vegetables always. 
 
 The fee, forty-three cents. 
 
 The total expense in 1918.$2,850.00 
 
 Or annual expense each prisoner. 190.00 
 
 They send more of their prisoners to other institutions as the 
 bill may signify. 9,296.51 
 
 As there is no employment, the court should send as many as possible 
 elsewhere. No yard, but freedom of corridors is allowed. The cells are 
 cages. 
 
 CUMBERLAND COUNTY—Carlisle Visited Aug. 5, 1919. 
 
 Seven men and one woman were languishing in this jail with plenty of 
 time to consider their sins. 
 
 They lounge about the inside corridor most of the day, but are taken 
 out in the yard for one hour daily. 
 
 They assist in domestic duties. 
 
 They engage in unhallowed conversation. 
 
 They remain here from a few days to one year. 
 
 The reformatory influences are scant. 
 
 For breakfast and supper they receive one-half of a pound loaf and 
 some warm drink brewed from a mixture containing a goodly proportion of 
 coffee. For dinner a meat stew with vegetables. Fee in 1918 was 30c; in 
 1919, 35c. The turnkey takes additional orders from those who have the 
 cash. 
 
 The bedding is deficient in sheets and pillows. 
 
 The redeeming feature is the use made of the parole privileges. In 
 1918, 41 prisoners were placed on parole. Probably only those were 
 detained who were awaiting trial or who were deemed to be unworthy of 
 parole. 
 
 It would be both economy and a blessing if an acre or two could be 
 secured where the prisoners could produce a large part of their sustenance. 
 
 DAUPHIN COUNTY—Harrisburg Visited June 17, 1919. 
 
 For jail population this County ranks third in the Commonwealth. 
 
 On the day of inspection tnere were 134 men and 13 women, nearly all 
 of whom were serving an imposed sentence, some for a few days, some for 
 
Dauphin County 
 
 21 
 
 one year or more. Thirty-two of the prisoners were employed in domestic 
 duties. Some had been employed on the State Highways under appropriate 
 guard, and had earned at the rate of 25c per diem the sum of $1053. A 
 few had been employed on the almshouse farm. The warden had exerted 
 himself to find employment, and yet nearly three-fourths of the inmates 
 have wasted their energies and undermined their morale in listless inactivity. 
 In this prison about 30,000 days annually are frittered away. Good busi¬ 
 ness sense would contrive some way whereby these men would earn their 
 sustenance. The cost of their maintenance in 1918 was $31,061. 
 
 Will the people, or the voters of Dauphin County, continue for year 
 after year to pay the bills for the manufacture of criminals, or will they by 
 the aid of common sense, devise some method whereby these malefactors 
 may work out their own salvation and maintenance? The problem is not 
 insoluble. 
 
 The inmates breakfast and sup on bread, coffee and syrup. 
 
 They dine on soup, meat, vegetables, invariably. 
 
 They bake bread in the prison, and the quality is fine. 
 
 Food is supplied at cost price, the fee system having been abolished in 
 1913. The prisoners may buy certain standard foods and may purchase or 
 receive any sort of tobacco, except cigarettes, which are strictly barred. 
 
 There is a small yard in which they exercise for an hour or two daily. 
 
 The bedding lacks the complete paraphernalia. 
 
 The Court at Harrisburg is not convinced of the benefit of parole. An 
 invalid may be paroled. Some are released on probation. 
 
 The old law for imprisonment for non-payment of fines appears to be in 
 vogue. Unless the fine is paid, the finee spends thirty days in prison, if 
 fifteen dollars or less; ninety days, if over fifteen dollarsfl Many counties 
 allow those who are unable to pay fines to be released on promise of paying 
 a small amount each week or month, and in this way some counties have 
 collected thousands of dollars which otherwise would have been lost. Let 
 us suppose that a man is fined twenty dollars. In default of payment he is 
 committed to prison. The county loses the fine and pays the board of the 
 man so long as he is imprisoned. Suppose he is released on condition of 
 paying the fine at rate of one dollar weekly. In nine cases out of ten the 
 fine is paid. Which is the better way for both the man and the county? 
 Which method is the more sensible? Which plan evinces greater business 
 sagacity? 
 
 It seems that the land w'as granted to the county to be used as a prison. 
 This plot may revert to heirs if the prison is removed. We venture this sug¬ 
 gestion. Retain the prison as a place of detention for those awaiting trial 
 or bail, and for those sentenced for a few days. Establish some comfortable 
 barracks on some farm in the vicinity where the convicts are to be sent. 
 Prison farms are annually increasing in number and they are sometimes 
 remunerative. Quarrying, stone-crushing, and one or more industries in 
 addition to agriculture should give ample employment. If the returns al¬ 
 low, the inmates should share the proceeds. Adjacent counties could make 
 contracts to have their convicts sent to said Industrial Farm. This plan is 
 not novel in Pennsylvania. A number of counties in the western part of the 
 State send convicts to the Allegheny County Workhouse. In the year 1918 
 the receipts at this Workhouse for caring for prisoners from other counties 
 were $52,812, and there were still due $13,380. 
 
 In due time the labor of the prisoners may be utilized in constructing 
 more substantial concrete buildings if the farm proposition is adopted. 
 
 DELAWARE COUNTY—Media Visited Nov. 11, 1919. 
 
 The prison is antiquated. The present warden has put in new skylights, 
 has greatly improved the sanitary arrangements and has taken the looms 
 
•» 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 from the cells to a separate building in the jail yard. What is needed is an 
 entirely new plant, or at least a thorough renovation within the walls. 
 
 Every part from cellar to garret needs reconstruction. They ought to 
 have entirely separate quarters for the women prisoners. 
 
 Shall a new and elaborate prison be built at the present site? No. 
 
 The plot of ground is too cramped for the best type of modem prison. 
 The structural iron men are cunning and are able advocates of their handi¬ 
 craft. There is room for a 4-story structure of iron and steel and some to 
 spare. They can put a lot of cages with every device for security and the 
 convenience of the keepers. They can guarantee light, warmth, sanitation. 
 And when it is all done, you will have a palace suitable for a collection of 
 lions, chimpanzees, catamounts and hyenas. It is difficult for any civil¬ 
 izing influence to penetrate into such a structure. 
 
 The expense is too great for the erection of a style of building which 
 already in many quarters is being condemned. 
 
 Build some dormitories suitable for those who are detained for trial 
 or who are held for a few days. You will need some cells for the lunatics 
 and the obstreperous. Some part of the old buildings can possibly be altered 
 for this purpose. 
 
 Buy a farm. Erect reinforced concrete buildings thereon, using the 
 prisoners to do most of the work. It will take from three to five years to 
 get the farm and buildings ready to receive all the convicts. Meanwhile 
 the products of the farm will furnish most of the provision for the prison¬ 
 ers. The expense of this operation will extend over some years and should 
 impose no great addition to the taxes. Much of the material for construc¬ 
 tion will be found on the farm. Men will live in the meantime in cottages, 
 in semi-barracks. They will have regular employment and will be subject 
 to such rules as apply to labor in any well-regulated community. They will 
 have a sort of communal life. This is no idle dream, for the experiment 
 
 has been successfully tried. In time the institution should be self-sup 
 porting. 
 
 The net cost of maintenance was reported in 1918 to be... .$50,071 
 
 The average daily population was. 143 
 
 The annual cost of each inmate almost. $350 
 
 In the State of Indiana, the farm for county convicts cuts the cost of 
 maintaining the convicts about one-half at the end of the third year. After 
 five years of operation, the cost was reduced to one-third of the former 
 cost. The greatest gain arose from the restoring effects of the new treat¬ 
 ment. Recidivism has greatly decreased. 
 
 Find your man. It takes a person of force and enthusiasm to push 
 this project to a successful consummation. 
 
 The cost of the food for each prisoner per diem in 1918 was 17c. 
 
 Whatever may be built, it is to be hoped the prisoners will eat at tables 
 in the new structure. The food appears to be sufficient. From the farm 
 which they have rented they get an abundance of milk, so that is very often 
 served for a part of the dinner. They bake bread. The privilege of pur¬ 
 chasing additional articles of food is not granted. Where the food is suf¬ 
 ficient and nourishing, it is better that the prisoners should not be pam¬ 
 pered with additional supplies. Suitable food is given to invalids. 
 
 The convicts wear plain suitings of cloth woven at the prison. 
 
 The sales of carpets and rugs in 1918 amounted to.$18,776 
 
 They have religious services every Sabbath, during which the prisoners 
 Temain in their cells. The minister does not see his hearers but his voice 
 is supposed to reach into the cells, the door of which is open a hand 
 breadth. This is an obsolete practice which will probably be discontinued 
 when the new buildings are constructed, and a new regime inaugurated. 
 
Elk County 
 
 23 
 
 ELK COUNTY—Ridgway Visited July 11, 1919. 
 
 Population—Nine men, one woman, six of whom were convicts. 
 
 On the day of inspection, the following menu was served: 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, coffee, cereal, milk. 
 
 Supper—Bread, coffee, beans. 
 
 Dinner—Potatoes, tomatoes, bread. (Meat is served four times each 
 week). 
 
 The menu is subject to change every day. The sheriff receives a fee, 
 
 50c. 
 
 No opportunity for exercise in the open air. No employment. 
 
 Prison built 1888. A steel centre with inside corridor to which the pris¬ 
 oners have access during the day, and an outside corridor around tho cages 
 to which they have rare access. 
 
 The prisoners have good bedding on iron cots and their linen is washed 
 weekly. 
 
 Convicts may remain here in reasonable comfort, but in absolute unem¬ 
 ployment for one year. Such sentences are indefensible. If the counties 
 will not provide properly for the offenders, the Commonwealth will provide 
 for them. They are arrested for committing crimes against the “peace and 
 dignity of the Commonwealth,” not against the county. Perhaps, most of 
 the counties will be much pleased to have the State deal with all offenders. 
 
 ERIE COUNTY—Erie Visited July 14, 1919. 
 
 A large coop without yard. Four stories of steel cages, each range of 
 nine cells with narrow corridor facing a larger area extending to the outer 
 wall and as high as the topmost range. Sufficiently secure. The prisoners 
 usually in each range have the freedom of the narrow strip in front of the 
 nine cells of the range. Here a prisoner may be “cribbed, cabined and con¬ 
 fined” for one year. Incontrovertibly, a wrong policy. The cubicle in which 
 he sleeps contains 384 square feet, and sometimes it happens that two men 
 must be confined for the night in one of these cells. 
 
 Population 59 men, 11 women. 
 
 Average daily population in 1918 estimated at 113. 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, coffee. Supper—Bread, tea. 
 
 Dinner—Soups almost daily. Concocted with some reference to calory 
 value. One-half pound meat four times weekly. 
 
 For preparing and serving these meals the daily fee is fifty cents. The 
 sheriff’s recompense formerly was three dollars per week, but was raised 
 in May, 1919, to $3.50. It appears that the sheriff in this county is expected 
 to earn a portion of his living by the profit from boarding the prisoners, 
 and probably to meet from the same profit some of the jail expenses. Mak¬ 
 ing some estimate in accordance with figures furnished by some other of the 
 larger prisons where the actual cost of the food is paid by the county, the 
 profits on boarding the prisoners may be estimated at from eight to ten 
 thousand dollars per annum. This may not be considered an undue recom¬ 
 pense if the sheriff’s obligations are to be taken into account. But the 
 system is utterly wrong. As soon as possible an arrangement should be 
 made whereby the county may pay the exact cost of the food and may re¬ 
 ward the sheriff by some other method. It will be found that the county is 
 the gainer by such arrangement and that the prisoners will not suffer. 
 
 The net cost of maintaining the county prison in 1918.$29,539 
 
 (This sum includes the commitment and discharge fees.) 
 
 The average annual cost of each prisoner approximately... $261 
 
 We are glad to learn that many citizens of Erie County are studying 
 the penal problem as it looms up in Erie County. They are ready to estab¬ 
 lish an Industrial Farm if other counties in their district will unite with 
 them. Economy and social justice are involved in solving the problem. 
 
Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 24 
 
 Making: the annual report to the Board of Public Charities. 
 
 costs . $40 
 
 Erie County has a large bill to pay for the offenses of its citizens. 
 
 For transportation and suppoi't at other institutions.$49,320 
 
 Total annual cost.$78,869 
 
 A prison bakery would furnish useful employment to a few prison 
 and would in addition prove to be an economical measure. 
 
 This does not include numerous court expenses directly connected with 
 the dispensation of justice to misdemeanants. 
 
 We are sure that a large part of this expense will be saved by the es¬ 
 tablishment of an Industrial Farm for convicts. 
 
 A few prisoners have been paroled who make reports to officials desig¬ 
 nated by the Court. Forty-four offenders were sent to the Allegheny Work- 
 house for whose support the county pays probably, 85c per diem. If any 
 of these are convicted of desertion, the county pays an additional 65c per 
 diem to the plaintiff. For this purpose only $62.40 was paid in 1918. 
 
 (For comparison, see reports for Fayette and Luzerne Counties.) 
 
 FAYETTE COUNTY—Uniontown Visited July 17, 1919. 
 
 Number of prisoners on the day of inspection.124 
 
 Average daily number of prisoners in 1918.115 
 
 This prison is under the care of a warden and the bills for provisions 
 are paid by the Commissioners. The warden receives a salary and is not 
 obliged to support himself and family by the profits of boarding the pris¬ 
 oners on a fee system. Until the last two or three years, it was the custom 
 to furnish to the prisoners only two meals daily. On the day of visitation 
 there was the usual prison breakfast, namely, bread and coffee. Dinner— 
 Beans and potatoes. Supper—Vegetable soup with meat, bread. Liberal al¬ 
 lowance of meat on the Sabbath. Probably not as much meat is served as 
 in the prison at Erie, still some comparison will be interesting. The aver¬ 
 age daily number of prisoners was nearly the same in 1918 in each county. 
 In Fayette County the daily cost of the food per prisoner was 21c 
 In Erie County the taxpayers are charged daily for each 
 
 prisoner . 60c 
 
 Including all expenses of the prison the annual cost per pris¬ 
 oner in Fayette County.$164 
 
 Including all expenses of the prison the annual cost per pris¬ 
 oner in Erie County.$261 
 
 Remember that Erie County uses the fee system and the figures above 
 quite clearly indicate that the additional $97 for each prisoner paid by 
 Erie County is almost directly the result of the fee system. Erie County 
 pays over $17,000 more than Fayette County each year, a sum which for the 
 most part represents the profits arising from boarding the prisoners at 50c 
 per day instead of paying the actual cost of the provisions supplied. Why 
 do not the Commissioners or the Prison Board of Erie County abolish the fee 
 system? Surely it is not to be supposed that an efficient Board would per¬ 
 petuate a system in order to reward some astute politician. The practice 
 may be due to dense ignorance. Note that the total expenses in Fayette 
 County include the salaries paid to the warden and his assistants. Moral: 
 Let the authorities in Erie County divorce the management of the prison 
 from the office of the sheriff and employ a warden, who will perform his 
 duties for a salary. Result will be greater economy and no temptation to 
 stint the supply of food. 
 
 In Fayette County prison there are no employments other than domestic. 
 
 We recommend that, as a measure of economy, they construct a 
 bakery, and cease to buy bread. 
 
Forest County 
 
 2 5 
 
 But efforts have been made to find employment outside of the prison 
 walls. In 1918, 132 prisoners worked on the roads, and 194 worked on 
 farms. No wages were paid; however, the sentence of a worker was short¬ 
 ened one day for each day he worked. We recommend this plan to the 
 notice of judges and parole officers throughout the State. 
 
 Occasionally the county pays 65c daily to the plaintiff in cases of con¬ 
 viction for non-support. In 1918 the amount thus paid was $135.20. 
 
 A number of prisoners have been paroled, generally to attorneys. If 
 this plan means that a prisoner with money has better opportunities for 
 parole than a penniless convict, we would remind the citizens that justice 
 ought to be meted out to rich and poor alike. 
 
 There is no yard for exercise. During the day the inmates may spend 
 much of the time in social amenities in the corridors. 
 
 Except for an ample supply of blankets, the bedding is scant. 
 
 The commitments in 1918 were 2,622. 
 
 Net cost of maintaining County Prison in 1918.$18,614.88 
 
 Expenses for inmates in other prisons.$42,939.23 
 
 Total annual cost for inmates of penal institutions.$61,554.11 
 
 FOREST COUNTY—Tionesta Visited Aug. 19, 1919. 
 
 Number of prisoners confined on day of inspection. 0 
 
 Average daily number of county prisoners in 1918. 0 
 
 Cost of boarding the prisoners in 1918. 0 
 
 It has not been difficult to tabulate the criminal statistics in Forest 
 County. 
 
 If the sheriff should have any prisoners he would feed them from his 
 own table and charge the county 50c daily for each prisoner boarded. 
 
 The prison is a part of the residence of the sheriff, and the vacant 
 rooms testify to the absence of criminal proceedings. The three P’s, Proba¬ 
 tion, Parole and Prohibition, have aided in emptying the jail. 
 
 FRANKLIN COUNTY—Chambersburg Visited Aug. 5, 1919. 
 
 There were 25 male prisoners on the day of our visit. The daily aver¬ 
 age number in 1918 was nearly 30. 
 
 Annual cost of maintaining a prisoner in 1918 was $215. 
 
 The sheriff receives 35c daily for each vagrant he supplies with food, 
 and 40c for other prisoners who are supposed to be of higher rank. 
 
 Total expense per day for each prisoner averages about 59c, which is 
 considerably lower than most counties. The provision cost is often less than 
 one-fourth the other expenses, indicating more princely salaries or more 
 luxurious accommodations. Here the cost of provisions is nearly 60 per 
 cent, of the total cost, proving an economical administration. 
 
 At this prison for breakfast and supper, bread and coffee are served. 
 For dinner, vegetable soup enlivened with meat twice weekly. Vagrants 
 have a more simple diet. 
 
 The prison is a three-story structure with cells placed back to back, thus 
 making two distinct divisions. In the lower story the cells open directly 
 upon an outside corridor. The upper ranges open upon narrow corridors 
 communicating by stairways with the main area. 
 
 Happiness did not reign at the time of the visit. Some prisoners had 
 been using the wire taken from the spring cots in the endeavor to dig or 
 excavate their way to an unlawful freedom. So nearly all prisoners were 
 confined in their cells, the furniture mostly being removed therefrom. The 
 prisoners had a blanket on the floor, and were without other furnishings. 
 
 At a previous visit the relations between keepers and prisoners were the 
 reverse of cordial. When the prisoners are “good,” they are allowed the 
 freedom of the main area from 6.30 A. M. to 9 P. M. Those wardens get 
 
26 
 
 Review of County Jail* in Pennsylvania 
 
 along with less friction and worriment who establish pleasant relations 
 with the prisoners. A tactful guardian adopts such a policy. 
 
 Information was given that the forbidding dungeons with strap and 
 chains were no longer used. 
 
 The prison is rather insecure. 
 
 Other than a little domestic assistance, there is no employment. Pris¬ 
 oners are rarely kept more than a few months. The confinement of hu¬ 
 man beings without employment even for a few days has demoralizing, de¬ 
 generating tendencies. 
 
 The county official whose duty it is to collect fines from those who are 
 released with privilege of paying fines and costs by instalments reports 
 failure. Too often the finees abscond. They work it better in many other 
 counties. 
 
 FULTON COUNTY—McConnellsburg Visited Sept. 13, 1919. 
 
 Nobody in prison. No one goes to prison in this county, except in very 
 rare instances. Total expense in 1918 was $392. For prisoners sent to the 
 penitentiary the cost was $752. Total criminal expense for maintenance was 
 $1,144. 
 
 The prison is a shabby structure connected with, or a part of, the res¬ 
 idence of sheriff who supplies a prisoner from his own table at rate of fifty 
 cents per diem. A rule of a former sheriff forbade the purchase of addi¬ 
 tional provisions except candy. There is an upper floor, a lower floor and 
 a dusty weedy yard. As a place of confinement for human beings, this 
 prison except for a very brief interval should not be used. No bathing fa¬ 
 
 cilities. Lighted at night by a coal oil lamp. 
 
 GREENE COUNTY—Waynesburg Visited July 16, 1919. 
 
 Average daily number of prisoners in 1918.3 Yi 
 
 Number of prisoners day of inspection.0 
 
 Five cells for men, two for women. 
 
 Good bathing arrangements, but no toilet in cells. The Commissioners 
 should improve the sanitary accommodations. 
 
 Neither sheets nor pillow cases furnished. 
 
 A small amount of tobacco is supplied to each prisoner who so desires. 
 
 No employment of note. 
 
 Prisoners eat at table and are supplied from sheriff's own cuisine, ex¬ 
 cept meat is a part of the dietary only twice weekly. Fee system, the sher¬ 
 iff receiving 50c per diem. Prisoners spend the days in the corridors, there 
 being no yard attached. 
 
 The preparation of the report for State Board of Public Charities costs 
 
 $ 20 . 00 . 
 
 The prison should be used only as a place of temporary detention. 
 
 HUNTINGDON COUNTY—Huntingdon Visited July 18, 1919. 
 
 On the day of inspection there were 19 male prisoners, of whom four 
 were being held for trial. If the county is expecting to entertain twenty or 
 more inmates by the year in this institution, they should build a prison with 
 improved accommodations. For an old prison it is not superlatively bad. 
 The cells have an outside window chink, the doors opening into a corridor 
 from which there is access to a walled garden to which there is free admis¬ 
 sion for the inmates. Tub and shower bath, fair ventilation, poorly lighted, 
 bedding consisting of mattress, blanket and pillow on iron slats. The parole 
 law is occasionally invoked. Under the fee system—45c being paid. The 
 meals are better than are usually supplied. In addition to the customary 
 “bread 'n coffee” breakfasts and suppers, they supply hominy for breakfast 
 and frankfurters for supper. Soup with vegetables for dinner with meat at 
 times. 
 
Indiana County 
 
 The Court sometimes sentences a prisoner here for one year. This is an 
 absolutely wrong practice, since there is no employment except peeling po¬ 
 tatoes, scrubbing floors, and the like. 
 
 INDIANA COUNTY—Indiana Visited July 18, 1919. 
 
 Seven men and one woman were incarcerated, the woman being remote 
 from the men. A three-story set of cages with doors opening on an interior 
 corridor, with an outside corridor around the cages, the whole enclosed 
 by wall and roof. The same fee is paid for feeding the prisoners as in 
 Huntingdon County, but the daily bill of fare is inferior. “Bread ’n’ coffee” 
 breakfasts and suppers, vegetable dinners with meat once a week. As in 
 most prisons, the inmates, if in funds to do so, may purchase extra sup¬ 
 plies or their friends may furnish their needs. The sentences are not over 
 six or seven months, and even such sentences are entirely too long for a 
 man or woman to be detained in idleness at the expense of the county. The 
 inmates assist in the laundry and in keeping the place commendably clean. 
 
 The net cost of maintaining the prison in 1918. $5,773 
 
 Maintenance of prisoners sent to other institutions.$11,535 
 
 Total maintenance of prisoners.$17,308 
 
 JEFFERSON COUNTY—Brookville Visited July 11, 1919. 
 
 An old prison with nineteen cells. 
 
 Three men confined, all held for trial. 
 
 The average daily number of prisoners 1918 was 6. 
 
 The fee system is in vogue, 48c being paid. For this amount per diem 
 the sheriff supplies a prisoner with bread, coffee, molasses and fried mush 
 for breakfast. Same without mush for supper, and a vegetable dinner, en¬ 
 livened with meat once weekly. 
 
 The overhead cost daily for each prisoner is about 95c, or by the year 
 $347. The cost of maintenance of the prison 1918, $2,048. For maintenance 
 in other prisons, the county paid $5,870. Light, ventilation, toilet and bath¬ 
 ing facilities, all satisfactory, but the bedding is fair only. 
 
 There is no employment, hence a confinement of a few days is amply 
 sufficient for such a prison. 
 
 JUNIATA COUNTY—Miffiintown Visited Sept. 9, 1919. 
 
 One convict and one untried prisoner were confined in this dismal jail 
 on the day of inspection. There are six cells in an upper story opening into 
 a central hall. It was reported that the average daily number held in 1918 
 in this unsanitary institution was over nine. There is absolutely no place 
 for women except in one of these cells which may be locked day and night. 
 In three of the cells there are some sanitary accommodations, in the others 
 at night the bucket system is in use. There is one large cell into which 
 they throw vagrants and ride-stealing passengers which are evicted from the 
 rods and platforms of the cars on the Pennsylvania Railroad. This large 
 cell has neither bedding nor sanitary accommodations. The room is usually 
 filthy and can not be kept decent with any occupants. No truly civilized 
 community should tolerate such a prison. 
 
 Let the Commissioners speedily authorize the construction of a small 
 secure jail with a small yard and a stone pile. Set the vagrants to work 
 in crushing stone for the highways. 
 
 The overhead daily cost of each prisoner is about 65c, of which th« 
 sums 35c, 45c, 50c respectively are paid for the daily sustenance. 
 
 Vagrants and illegal train-riders are supplied with a scant dietary at 
 a daily cost of 35c. What marks the distinction between the 45c and the 
 60c daily portions deponent saith not. At any rate they get a cooked din- 
 
28 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 ner every other day, alternating with some bread, coffee and something or 
 other. There is one bath, not available for the ti-ain riders who need it 
 most™ The ventilation is poor, there is one electric light in the hall and the 
 bedding in the better cells seems to lack sheets and pillow cases. There is. a 
 dungeon which we trust is rarely or never used. The iixstitution itself is 
 dungeon enough. 
 
 It is more than possible that the jail in Juniata county is the worst in 
 the State. 
 
 Net cost of maintaining the jail in 1918.$1,525 
 
 A report issued by the county officials places the expense of mainte¬ 
 nance at the Western Penitentiary and the Asylum at $3,878, but thei*e 
 seemed to be no way of ascertaining what part of this sum was for convicts. 
 
 Fines are usually collected by the sheriff, to whom a commission is paid. 
 
 LACKAWANNA COUNTY—Scranton Visited July 3, 1919. 
 
 One of the large county prisons of the Commonwealth. 
 
 Number of prisoners on the day of inspection was 95, ten of whom wei'e 
 women. Thirty-seven were being held till the Court should meet in October. 
 For three months these men, some of whom were probably innocent, were 
 held for trial. The number of untried prisoners was liable to daily increase 
 till time of the sessions of the Court. In some counties, the Judges hold 
 court through the summer weekly for the benefit of the untried who desire 
 to plead guilty and to make an early beginning of serving their time. So far 
 as the guilty are concerned, doubtless the Court in pronouncing sentence 
 takes into consideration the time they have spent while awaiting trial. 
 
 Prohibition has undoubtedly tended to decrease the number of prisoners 
 which in 1915 showd a daily average of 150. 
 
 About twenty of the prisoners assist in domestic duties. Aside from 
 such sexwice, there is no regular employment. The maximum sentence is 
 one year, a vei*y long time to be idle. We do not understand why the au¬ 
 thorities and good citizens of Lackawanna County year after year permit 
 the absolute waste of from 30,000 to 40,000 days’ labor in their old Bastile. 
 Sound business sense ought to prevent a large part of that loss, and at 
 least place those delinquents where they could earn their maintenance. The 
 fee system of boarding the prisoners has been abolished. The Prison Board 
 expects the daily expense for food not to be over 20c for each prisoner. For 
 this sum, in the summer of 1919, the following daily menu was supplied:— 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, prunes, coffee. Supper—Bread, tea. 
 
 Dinner—Meat five times weekly, vegetables, prunes with rice, etc. 
 
 Take notice ye sheriffs and wardens who claim that fifty cents per diem 
 is too small an allowance!! 
 
 In no prison in the State, not excluding any State institution, is the 
 clothing which the prisoners bring better cared for. Here they wear a uni¬ 
 form of khaki or plain cloth with inconspicuous stripe. Their own clothing 
 is carefully labeled and placed on hangers on racks in a special room. Moths 
 and vermin are exterminated. “When a man is discharged he finds his 
 clothing in good condition, often better than when he arrived at the prison.” 
 
 In the time of religious service the men sit in the corridors outside of 
 their cells. No trouble has arisen on account of this permission. It is un¬ 
 reasonable to ask a minister to preach to blank walls and closed doors. 
 
 Some repairs have been needed for years. Let the Commissioners get 
 busy. 
 
 LANCASTER COUNTY—Lancaster Visited June 17, 1919. 
 
 Number male prisoners day of inspection. 55 
 
 Number women prisoners. 3 
 
 Average daily number 1918. 84 
 
Lancaster Conn in 
 
 29 
 
 Annual cost of each prisoner 1918.$418.00 
 
 Daily cost of food each prisoner 1918 nearly... 33c 
 
 Overhead cost each prisoner daily 1918. $1.10 
 
 This prison appears to be managed on rather an expensive scale, and 
 yet it is not due to extravagant salaries. The highest salary is $1,200 and 
 the total compensation including the small sums paid to the Inspectors 
 amounts to $12,911. 
 
 For some years we have noted that the apartments of the women were 
 rather too near those of the male prisoners, but information was given that 
 this defect is soon to be remedied. 
 
 The men are allowed to be outside of their cells some hours every day in 
 a rather attractive yard and garden which they care for. 
 
 For breakfast the prisoners receive the usual bread, coffee, syrup. They 
 have meat every day, served either with the soup or cooked with vegetables. 
 
 The bread is bought, and the quotation given was at six cents the 
 pound, rather lower than elsewhere. 
 
 The population of the prison is sufficiently large to justify the instal 
 lation of a bakery, thus giving some employment and also lessening the 
 food expense. 
 
 If the prisoner has the cash, he may purchase fruit, crackers and such 
 wholesome supplies. There seems to be no restriction on letter-writing and 
 to those who so desire one postage stamp is furnished monthly. 
 
 Weaving carpet and caning chairs are the industries aside from domestic 
 service. The profits of the carpet industry in 1918, $529. 
 
 Possibly two-thirds of the prisoners have some sort of work. Still there 
 is too much idleness. 
 
 Persons guilty of vagrancy and unlawful train-riding are thrust for a 
 few days in a separate room with no furniture or bedding. As many as may 
 find room may rest upon a bench around the walls of the room. It might be 
 supposed that the ride-stealers would hesitate to pass through either Lan 
 caster or Mifflintown. 
 
 As is the case with a few other counties, the Lancaster County Prison 
 is managed under the operation of a special statute. The six Inspectors and 
 the warden are elected every two years by popular vote, hence the advent 
 of politics into an institution which ought to be managed on a non-partisan 
 basis without regard to the vagaries of popular whims. In Berks County the 
 inspectors are chosen by vote of the people, but in no other county is the 
 warden thus compelled to solicit patronage from the electorate. Not views 
 on tariff, but merit should determine the office of warden. 
 
 The Parole Law is discounted in Lancaster County. This is to be re¬ 
 gretted. 
 
 LAWRENCE COUNTY—Newcastle Visited June 14, 1919. 
 
 There were 34 prisoners held on the day of visitation, the average daily 
 number for 1918 being 26. 
 
 It appears from the Auditors’ Report, 1918, that the total expense con 
 nected with the prison was $6,826.97, or annual cost each prisoner, approxi¬ 
 mately $262, of which about $156.40 was spent for food. 
 
 The expense for maintaining convicts in other prisons amounted to the 
 enormous sum of $30,417.38. Altogether over $37,000. 
 
 Fifty prisoners were on parole. 
 
 Crime costs the citizens a large sum in proportion to the population. 
 What can be done to check the lawlessness ? Do you know that if you were 
 to have the opportunity to send most of your prisoners to an industrial 
 penal farm, the expenses the first year might be reduced one-half? 
 
 The jail is poorly lighted in the rear, the ventilation was not good, the 
 bedding was scarcely decent. Toilet and bathing facilities were fair. 
 
Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 :;o 
 
 But don’t put any more money in repairing or rebuilding the old jail, 
 till we reach some settlement about the District Penal Farm. 
 
 The old jail should be used merely as a place of brief detention. 
 
 The prisoners from the city of Newcastle are kept in the County Prison, 
 unless they agree to work on the streets. 
 
 There is little employment in the prison. They aid in scrubbing, etc., 
 but not in cooking. 
 
 It ought not to be possible to keep any sane person in this prison more 
 than a few days. While they have the liberty of the corridor in the day 
 time, there is no yard for recreation. 
 
 LEBANON COUNTY—Lebanon Visited Aug. 6, 1919. 
 
 The arrangement of the quarters for prisoners in this jail are well 
 adapted for classification. There is a central hall with two lateral corridors 
 on each side, making four ranges of cells entirely seregated. Some years 
 ago, we found one range occupied by the women, another by the untried 
 prisoners, a third by ordinary convicts, a fourth by a few prisoners who 
 seemed to be criminal aristocrats and could purchase supplies for their own 
 cuisine. 
 
 On the day of inspection there were 16 prisoners about equally divided 
 between tried and untried. No women. The average daily attendance in 
 1918 was approximately 14. 
 
 There is some curious history connected with the fee for boarding the 
 prisoners. In 1868 a special bill was passed by the Legislature, providing 
 that on account of the H. C. L. the jailer in the Lebanon County Prison 
 should be entitled to a^um not exceeding fifty cents per day for boarding 
 each prisoner#* In 1887 this law was absolutely repealed with no amend¬ 
 ments or substitutes, 4 of any kind, leaving, as may be inferred, the amount 
 of the fee to be determined by the County Commissioners. For many years 
 the fee has been fixed at 25c, no change on account of H. C. L. having- been 
 made to the time of this inspection. 
 
 For this sum the prisoners breakfast and sup on bread and coffee, and 
 dine on vegetable soup with a small quantity of meat. The sheriff of this 
 county is not enriching himself on the profits of boarding the inmates. Nom¬ 
 inally the sheriff is in charge, but executive functions have been discharged 
 by a jailer. For many years this official has been a grim veteran of the 
 Civil War who served as keeper, turnkey, disciplinarian, cleaner, cook, 
 server, adviser and general factotum. If thought necessary he can en¬ 
 force discipline with boot or fist. The man who walks uprightly and speaks 
 humbly will receive kind treatment, but woe unto that man with froward 
 lips and unseemly behavior. Being eighty years of age, he is about to be 
 mercifully released from these duties which he has discharged according to 
 the best of his ability for inadequate pay. 
 
 Not to be harsh at all, in some, respects this prison is a vile resort. 
 
 Men may be incarcerated here for a year with nothing to do except to 
 play with dirty cards and to exchange stories of criminality and salacious 
 vulgarity. The sewage system of the town does not reach the prison, 
 
 hence-. The bedding is a blanket on a spring cot. The prisoners are 
 
 usually locked in their cells at 6 P. M. The bucket system is in use at night, 
 a deplorable and loathsome practice. 
 
 If the new jailer is alert, enterprising, altruistic, he will suggest many 
 improvements. 
 
 Two or three prisoners are daily paroled in season to care for the lawn 
 and the garden. There is a yard which ought to be used for wholesome rec¬ 
 reation. 
 
Lehigh County 
 
 31 
 
 LEHIGH COUNTY—Allentown Visited Aug. 26, 1919. 
 
 According to a piece of special legislation adopted in 1869, the Lehigh 
 County Prison is officially managed by the three Commissioners and two 
 others appointed by the Court. 
 
 They appoint the Warden and his assistants, and give close attention to 
 the details of management. 
 
 The institution appeared to be carefully administered. 
 
 The effect of the three P’s—Prohibition, Parole, Probation—is shown in 
 
 the decrease of the prison population. 
 
 In 1915 average daily attendance.150 
 
 In 1918 average daily attendance. 73 
 
 The figures for 1919 may show a still smaller number. 
 
 Twenty of the men may weave carpet. In 1918 they wove 39,489 yards, 
 and the profits on carpet sold amounted to $813.33, the highest on record. 
 
 Formerly the Court was opposed to the principle of parole, but latterly 
 he has changed his mind. In 1918, 118 prisoners were paroled and in the 
 first nine months of 1919 the privilege was granted to 74. There were 12 
 parole violators out of 192 paroled. Many of the men have been paroled to 
 work on farms. Their wages are paid to the parole officer who at time of 
 settlement deducts fines and costs and pays the balance to the men, unless 
 he has been handing the money over to the destitute families of the con¬ 
 victs. The direct saving to the county resulting from this system in 21 
 months has amounted $14,413. Surely this is worth while, but the moral im¬ 
 
 provement is of vastly greater importance. 
 
 At carpet weaving the men earn from $2 to $5 monthly. 
 
 The daily cost of provisions per prisoner in 1918 was.... 26j^c 
 
 The annual cost per prisoner all expenses included.$321.15 
 
 There is entirely too much idleness, which the Board and officials greatly 
 regret, and they are ready to welcome some change in legislation which 
 will make it possible to employ all the inmates. 
 
 The dietary is fair, meat being served six days of each week. 
 
 Under normal conditions they ought to construct a bakery. 
 
 Here men may remain from ten days to ten years. They have no yard 
 for recreation purposes. A special entrance has been constructed for the 
 women inmates, in order that they should not be exposed to the curious 
 gaze of the male prisoners on the way to the apartments for women. 
 
 There were fifty-seven men and four women prisoners on the day of 
 inspection. 
 
 LUZERNE COUNTY—Wilkes-Barre Visited July 3, 1919. 
 
 Number of inmates day of inspection was ninety-five, of whom eight 
 
 were women. 
 
 The daily average in 1918 was. 77 
 
 The average annual cost of each prisoner in 1918.$445 
 
 This sum is exceeded by no other county in the State. 
 
 Luzerne County pays a colossal bill for correcting her delinquents. 
 
 Net cost of maintaining the County Prison.$ 41,641 
 
 Cash for maintaining prisoners at Eastern Penitentiary- 17,684 
 
 Cash for maintaining prisoners at Houses of Refuge. 30,277 
 
 Boys’ Industrial School at Kis-lyn. 79,954 
 
 Total .$169,556 
 
 Some twenty thousand dollars of the expense of Kis-lyn may be 
 charged to construction; however, the cost of restraining and reforming 
 the bad people in Luzerne County is something enormous. The daily ex¬ 
 penses per prisoner in the county prison is $1.49, perhaps, the maximum 
 for the entire State. 
 
32 
 
 Review o/ County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 The Institution for boys at Kis-lyn compares favorably with any sim¬ 
 ilar institution in the Commonwealth. It is in its infancy and as time 
 passes the school will tend to become more self-supporting. The cottage 
 plan has been adopted. 
 
 As to general expenses it will be of interest to compare with some 
 other counties, the figures being given for the year 1918. 
 
 Average daily Net expense, Total expense, 
 
 County number inmates county prison including other 
 
 prisons 
 
 Berks . 75 131,888 $50,211 , 
 
 Cambria . 144 22,612 46,604 
 
 Chester . 64 12,527 34,637 
 
 Dauphin. 150 estimated 37,369 63,628 
 
 Erie . 113 29,539 78,859 
 
 Fayette . 115 18,614 61,554 
 
 Montgomery . 100 22,672 50,520 
 
 Northumberland . 91 29,657 50,565 
 
 Schuylkill . 89 30,471 40,381 
 
 Luzerne. 77 41,641 169,556 
 
 Let the authorities ponder these figures with intent to stop the leaks. 
 (For comparison see report for Northampton County.) 
 
 There are three wings to the county prison, each of three stories, the 
 upper two stories being occupied. The women are confined in the central 
 wing. There is no employment at the prison which is revenue producing, 
 but some prisoners have been loaned to the almshouse farm, who receive 
 average wages, the sum of one dollar being charged weekly to costs and 
 the balance credited to the men or sent to their families. 
 
 There is domestic service for all at the prison. The inmates cook, 
 care for the lawn, repair shoes, do furnace work, clean and scrub, work in 
 the laundry, etc. The warden, in his report, states: “All the convicts have 
 had steady work during the year.” Very few prisons present such a record 
 of industry. 
 
 About eighty prisoners were on parole and fifty on probation at the 
 time of the visit. The sum of $2,522 in fines and costs had been collected. 
 In Lehigh County the parole officer has had better success in making such 
 collections, which in 1918 amounted to $6,796. The parole officer in Luzerne 
 County needs more assistance. It is difficult for him to keep in touch with 
 all those placed under his charge. A better system of collecting fines and 
 costs by instalments needs to be devised. 
 
 Although it is stated that every prisoner has employment, it is also 
 reported that those confined to their cells have the freedom of the corridor 
 only one hour each day, and unless they are employed about the grounds 
 they get no exercise in the open air. If possible, this matter should receive 
 attention. 
 
 The prison should h^ve a well-equipped bakery. So long as they can 
 purchase bread at seven cents the pound it may not be so greatly needed; 
 however, a bakery would give employment and on the whole would be a 
 decidedly economical proposition. 
 
 LYCOMING COUNTY—Williamsport Visited July 4, 1919. 
 
 An old prison with large inside corridor, usually so dark that artificial 
 light is needed for twenty-four hours. 
 
 Number of prisoners day of inspection was fifteen, of whom three were 
 women, one was a Federal prisoner, four were untried and the balance were 
 male convicts. 
 
 The average daily number in 1918 was about twenty-six. 
 
 They breakfast and sup on bread, coffee, molasses. 
 
McKean County 
 
 OO 
 
 Twice weekly they have a meat dinner, but at other times they may 
 have vegetables, with soup made from the traditional soup bone. 
 
 For thus furnishing the inmates with provisions, the county pays the 
 sheriff fifty cents daily for each prisoner. There ought to be some profit in 
 the transaction if we compare with the menu at other prisons, where the 
 actual cost of the daily supply is estimated at from twenty to thirty cents. 
 We have repeatedly said that the principle is wrong which compels any 
 county official to earn any part of his own living by the profits from board¬ 
 ing either prisoners or paupers. 
 
 Parole and probation have recognition in this county. 
 
 The toilet and bathing accommodations have been somewhat improved 
 within the last two or three years. The prisoners sleep on wire-bottomed 
 cots, with mattress and blanket. Sheets or pillows were not seen. It 
 would be well to install some better laundry accommodations. 
 
 No one should remain in this prison longer than is absolutely necessary. 
 The inmates should be removed to some other institution where there is 
 wholesome employment. 
 
 Usually the men have the freedom of the corridors during the day. 
 There is no yard attached to the prison. 
 
 There is no reason why they should not allow the prisoners to have 
 a table in the corridor, at which they may eat their meals in civilized 
 fashion. The more normal are the conditions in prison, the more readily is 
 reformation effected. 
 
 McKEAN COUNTY—Smethport Visited Aug. 14, 1919. 
 
 The number of prisoners on the day of inspection was eleven, which 
 was approximately the average daily number in 1918. 
 
 The sheriff receives sixty cents daily for feeding each prisoner, the 
 extra ten cents being granted for general kindly care. A State law does not 
 allow the compensation for boarding prisoners to be in excess of fifty cents 
 per day. 
 
 There are cells with a corridor around the whole for light and ventilation 
 and with an inside corridor, into which the cells open, for their daily use. 
 They eat at a table as do the most of the civilized world. They enjoy the 
 usual prison menu for breakfast and supper. They are served with meat 
 twice weekly and on other days they have vegetables with a gravy made 
 from suet. 
 
 Report was made that letters are uninspected. The privilege of inspec¬ 
 tion should always be assumed by the warden or sheriff. 
 
 The bedding is comfortable and the accommodations generally are good. 
 
 There being no employment, the time of tarriance should be as brief 
 as possible. Of the eleven incarcerated, seven were being held for trial. 
 
 MERCER COUNTY-Mercer Visited July 14, 1919. 
 
 On the day of inspection there were nineteen prisoners, of whom six 
 were women, convicted of unlawfully selling booze. 
 
 The average daily number in 1918 was thirty-seven. Prohibition has 
 curtailed the labors of the sheriff. The parole law is respected in this county. 
 
 The sheriff receives fifty cents per diem for each prisoner under his 
 charge. 
 
 This sum appears to entitle the prisoners to receive for breakfast and 
 supper the usual bread, coffee, syrup and sometimes tea. 
 
 Twice a week they have a cooked dinner with half pound meat. On other 
 days they have soup, with vegetables in season. As in most prisons, the 
 prisoners are allowed to receive from friends extra supplies of food and, if 
 they have the wherewithal, to purchase sugar, etc. 
 
 There is no yard for exercise and recreation. 
 
34 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 The inmates assist in domestic service and in caring for the Court House 
 and lawn. As a rule most of the work about the Court House and the 
 ground adjacent thereto could be performed by the prisoners in every county 
 of the State. Very few counties avail themselves of this privilege. Such a 
 plan is economical for the county and is a blessing to the prisoners. A small, 
 flourishing garden adjacent to the jail structure furnishes the inmates with 
 fresh vegetables. 
 
 The bedding can be improved. 
 
 The present sheriff (1919) has used endeavors to reform the charac¬ 
 ter of the inmates. He believes there is “some good in everybody.” There 
 is a special effort to conduct song services and to provide musical entertain¬ 
 ments. He reports that the Salvation Army has done a good work. 
 
 He gets acquainted with the men and gives them practical advice. 
 
 As a civilizing influence, he has arranged to have them take their meals 
 at tables. There are ranges of cells with a range corridor. Outside of 
 these is another corridor extending to the wall, a sort of construction not 
 at all rare in prisons. To the upright bars between the two corridors he 
 has, by an ingenious but simple contrivance, fastened plain smooth boards, 
 which can be raised or lowered at pleasure. When unused they can be 
 hoisted and secured out of the way, but at meal times they are lowered and 
 fastened at the right height for a dining table. 
 
 It is unusual and gratifying to find a sheriff who takes a warm personal 
 interest in his wards. 
 
 MIFFLIN COUNTY—Lewistown Visited Sept! 9, 1919. 
 
 Rather a featureless prison. As there is no employment, no prisoners 
 should be detained therein more than a few days. 
 
 There were five prisoners on the day of inspection, four of whom were 
 held for trial. 
 
 For fifty cents per diem they are being served as follows: 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, coffee, oat porridge with sugar. 
 
 Supper—Bread, coffee, tomato soup. 
 
 Dinner—Vegetable soup with bread. Meat at least once a week. 
 
 The prisoners are allowed the freedom of the inner hall, very poorly 
 lighted (no skylight) during the day. Sometimes with a guard they take 
 exercise in a small yard. 
 
 The bedding is quite respectable, especially since a large portion of 
 their prisoners have been unlawfully riding on the rods. 
 
 MONROE COUNTY—Stroudsburg Visited Aug. 25,1919. 
 
 We found six prisoners on the day of inspection, all being held for trial. 
 The daily average in 1918 was nearly seven. 
 
 Forty-five cents per diem was paid for feeding the inmates in 1918, 
 changed later to fifty cents. The menu will compare to the disadvantage 
 of other counties of the same class as Monroe. 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, syrup, oatmeal with milk and sugar, coffee. 
 
 Supper—Bread, coffee, syrup, macaroni or baked beans. 
 
 Dinner—Soup, with vegetables. Cooked meat dinner once weekly. 
 
 This dietary is rather above the average. 
 
 There is no employment except for light domestic work, hence no 
 prisoners should be confined here longer than absolutely necessary. 
 
 To maintain a prisoner one year costs.$251 
 
 The prisoners have the freedom of a poorly lighted corridor during the 
 day, but rarely have the privilege of an hour in the open air. 
 
 They have the usual bedding, except sheets, other living arrangements 
 being fairly satisfactory. 
 
Montgomery County 
 
 35 
 
 MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Norristown Visited Dec. 30, 1919. 
 
 Number of inmates on the day of inspection. 94 
 
 Average daily population, 1918.100 
 
 The commitments illustrate the decrease of crime, or, at least, of 
 misdemeanants. 
 
 Commitments in 1885.3,596 
 
 “ 1917.!. 998 
 
 “ 1918. 602 
 
 “ 1919. 619 
 
 Through the courtesy of the Board of Inspectors, who have sent us 
 advance reports for 1919, we are able to present some comparative facts 
 
 of interest. 
 
 Daily average number of prisoners 1918.100 
 
 Daily average number of prisoners 1919.109 
 
 Number paroled for work on farms 1918. 41 
 
 Number paroled for work on farms 1919. 15 
 
 There were five parole violators in 1918, three of whom were detected 
 and returned to prison. 
 
 There were five violators in 1919, one of whom was apprehended and 
 returned to custody. 
 
 The result in 1919 has somewhat discouraged the authorities with regard 
 to parole work. Most of the men have worked at the almshouse farm, prob¬ 
 
 ably with insufficient guard. 
 
 Cost of provision per diem for each prisoner 1918.$.211 
 
 Cost of provision per diem for each prisoner 1919. .236 
 
 Entire maintenance per diem for each prisoner 1918 .631 
 
 Entire maintenance per diem for each prisoner 1919 . .643 
 
 They bake their own bread and serve meat four times weekly. 
 
 Some of the prisoners work at finishing rugs. 
 
 Earnings of the prisoners 1918.$ 780.35 
 
 Earnings of the prisoners 1919. 1,669.13 
 
 which shows a gratifying increase. 
 
 The living accommodations are reasonably good. 
 
 There is an exercise yard sufficiently large, and we recommend that 
 
 the prisoners be allowed to take exercise for a longer time than one hour 
 daily. 
 
 Religious services have been held each Sunday during the year under 
 the care of the religious organizations of Norristown and vicinity as 
 arranged by the Chaplain, Mrs. Annie McDermott. 
 
 A Bible class of prisoners met each Sunday during the year. 
 
 A night school with six classes, under the supervision of the Society 
 ©f Friends, opened in October, 1919, with a large attendance. Much interest 
 is manifested both by the Bible class and the night school. 
 
 MONTOUR COUNTY—Danville Visited July 2, 1919. 
 
 Not much occasion for a prison in this county, for the daily average 
 number in detention is less than one. 
 
 On this warm day of inspection three men were held, one of whom was 
 awaiting trial. 
 
 The food is such as may be found on the average table of a farmer, 
 meat only being limited in quantity. Eggs are often substituted for meat. 
 The sheriff receives fifty cents daily for each prisoner. 
 
 The inmates sleep on felt mattresses on spring cots and improvise their 
 own pillows. 
 
 Cleanliness prevails. 
 
 It is reported that a prisoner may remain in this place of detention for 
 an entire year. There is nothing to do save read, think and sleep. At the 
 time of this inspection one of the men was called a “trusty” and allowed 
 
36 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 to care for the small lawn and perform various chores. There is no yard 
 for recreation in the open air. 
 
 One convict is paroled. 
 
 NORTHAMPTON—Easton Visited Aug. 26, 1919. 
 
 The prison is under the management of a Board of Inspectors, three of 
 whom are appointed by the court and two by the commissioners. They 
 appoint the warden and other officials. They give careful attention to the 
 administration from a sense of honor and duty, the compensation not being 
 sufficient to pay for their time and expenses. The prisons in the larger 
 counties are always more efficiently managed under the control of an 
 appointed warden than under the sway of a sheriff, who is elected by the 
 vote of the people. A sheriff holds office only for four years and is not 
 eligible for re-election. A warden in most counties retains his position, if 
 he has been faithful in the performance of his duties. We hope the warden 
 of the Northampton County prison may hold his job for many years to come. 
 A sheriff often secures his position not from any fitness to look after the 
 welfare of the delinquents, nor from any faculty of reforming wrongdoers 
 or of dealing with them with an eye single to their betterment, but because 
 of services to some political faction. In fact, the management of the larger 
 prisons under sheriffs was so notoriously inefficient that in 1909 a law was 
 passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor providing that a 
 warden should be appointed for the prison in any county having over 150,000 
 inhabitants and less than 350,000. This did not prevent other counties from 
 appointing a warden should the authorities choose to do so. Several coun¬ 
 ties, as Chester, Delaware, Bucks, Dauphin, Northumberland and North¬ 
 ampton, whose population at the last census did not reach 150,000, have 
 placed their prisons under the management of a warden. In all these 
 counties the provision is supplied by direct purchase, there being no profit 
 derived by any official from boarding or exploiting the prisoners. In any 
 county having more than 50,000 inhabitants the care of the jail should be 
 divorced from the jurisdiction of the sheriff. Such an arrangement makes 
 for the welfare of the prisoners and also for much greater economy for the 
 taxpayers. 
 
 Number of prisoners day of inspection. 76 
 
 Average daily number 1918. 91 
 
 Average daily number 191.4.142 
 
 Overhead cost per day per prisoner 1918. 85c 
 
 Overhead cost per day per prisoner 1914. 38c 
 
 The maintenance of the prisoners has doubled in expense since 1914 oa 
 account of H. C. L. The salary list has not proportionately increased. 
 
 Salaries paid Northampton County 1918.$ 9,205 
 
 “ “ Montgomery “ 1918. 9,813 
 
 “ “ Chester “ 1918. 7,255 
 
 “ “ Lehigh “ 1918. 10,995 
 
 “ “ Dauphin “ 1918. 12,480 
 
 “ “ Fayette “ 1918. 6,908 
 
 “ “ Berks “ 1918. 18,359 
 
 “ “ Luzerne “ 1918. 23,097 
 
 Note the salary expense in last two counties. There one may find a 
 partial explanation for the excessive per capita expense of maintenance. 
 
 The industries are carpet making and also the manufacture of rugs. 
 
 Yards of carpet manufactured during the year 1918. 68,609 
 
 Number of rugs made in 1918. 248 
 
 Profits on these industries paid to the county. $7,000 
 
 In both 1918 and 1919 a number of men have worked at farming with 
 beneficial results, though no figures are available. 
 
 The authorities still maintain the practice of cell feeding. 
 
Northumberland County 
 
 The dietary appears to be wholesome. Meat is served every day for 
 the workers and every other day to those who have no employment, still 
 we are assured that all who are able have something to do. About twenty 
 find employment in various forms of domestic service. The workers earn 
 from three to eight dollars monthly. 
 
 We recommend the establishment of a bakery. 
 
 The old portion of the jail has been improved by the addition of a new 
 and enlarged skylight. 
 
 For maintenance of prisoners in other institutions the county has paid 
 in 1918 the sum of $20,908. Some of this could be saved by committing 
 more prisoners to the county institution. There is now a better opportunity 
 for getting employment in the county prison at Easton than in the State 
 Penitentiary. 
 
 The cost of the limited amount of tobacco furnished in 1918 was $330. 
 
 It seems that the court is only partially committed to the support of 
 the parole principle. Hence very few are released on parole. This is to 
 be deplored. 
 
 NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY- Sunbury Visited July 2, 1919. 
 
 Number of prisoners day of inspection. 16 
 
 Average daily number in 1918.~. 28 
 
 The actual daily cost of food per prisoner 1918 was twenty-seven cents. 
 The bill of fare about the average for prisons and it was reported 
 that prisoners almost invariably gain in weight. 
 
 The large inside corridor or hall needs more light from above. 
 
 Net cost of prison maintenance 1918.$16,399.00 
 
 Annual cost per prisoner 1918. 586.00 
 
 Daily average cost per prisoner 1918. 1.60 
 
 Of which there should be charged to provision each day. .27 
 
 Even with the recent high prices of provisions, the actual cost of the 
 food rarely exceeds the estimate given above. 
 
 They have a few looms for the making of carpet. In 1918 there was 
 obtained from the sale of carpet $1,332. There is insufficient employment. 
 
 The men are allowed to spend an hour daily in the yard for purposes 
 of recreation. In former years there was a base ball team organized which 
 occasionally played with clubs from outside. Such privileges improve the 
 morale. 
 
 There is a yard for the use of the women, but as windows of some 
 adjacent factories overlook this parade ground, the arrangement is far 
 from satisfactory. At the time of the inspection the women were confined 
 to their apartments, which is separated from the apartments of the male 
 prisoners by a wooden partition and a wooden door. This will all be 
 changed when that new prison is constructed, but we sincerely hope it may 
 not be built on this site. The tendency is all toward the removal of prisons 
 to farms. What is needed is a comparatively small place of detention, but 
 all convicts should be taken to the Industrial Farm. 
 
 If more special attention could be given in this county to the collec¬ 
 tion of fines and costs by instalments, the ends of both justice and economy 
 would be better served. 
 
 PERRY COUNTY—New Bloomfield Visited Sept. 9, 1919. 
 
 The average daily attendance in 1918 was about 4^ prisoners, but on 
 the day of inspection no prisoner was found. 
 
 Prohibition has greatly decreased the number. 
 
 Under the fee system, the sheriff receives forty cents daily for each 
 prisoner. 
 
 Breakfast and supper—Bread, potatoes, mush, coffee. 
 
38 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 “A boiled dinner with meat three times each week.” 
 
 There is no employment, no yard, no sheets, no pillows, no specified 
 time for receiving visitors, no tobacco supplied, no long sentences. 
 
 In general the sanitary accommodations are adequate. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA COUNTY—Philadelphia. 
 
 There are two departments of the County Prison. The Moyamensing 
 
 prison was visited Dec. 31, 1919. 
 
 Number of prisoners on day of inspection .363 
 
 Of these the greater part -were those detained for trial. 
 
 Average daily number 1918 .615 
 
 Not only in this prison but in the various station houses throughout 
 the city, the advent of prohibition has decreased the number of prisoners 
 from 40 to 60 per cent. For assistance about the premises and for domestic 
 service, about 100 convicts are retained at Moyamensing, the remainder 
 of those serving time being forwarded to the convict depai'tment at Holmes- 
 burg. 
 
 The female prisoners, both untried and convicts, are at Moyamensing. 
 
 In any large city, the most difficult penal problem is connected with 
 the untried prisoners. Among them may be found every variety of human 
 beings from the most depraved to the comparatively innocent, from the 
 lowest dregs of humanity to some with claims to gentility, from imbeciles 
 and morons to the alert and brilliant. Some remain but a few days, 
 others on account of the law’s delays may be held for months and even years. 
 
 What mode of treatment is best adapted to this hodge-podge, this con¬ 
 fused mass of humanity? We are far from saying that any prison in the 
 State has fully solved the problem. However there are many in the out¬ 
 side world who fail to recognize the gravity, the difficulties of the situation. 
 The community demands that these supposed derelicts be securely confined 
 until the charges against them have been proven or disproven. In any 
 well regulated place of detention there will be some attempt at classifi- 
 fication. Those who are charged with the. more heinous crimes will be 
 segregated. But unless we insist on entire segregation of each individual 
 from all others, there will be many an opportunity for the young and 
 innocent to learn too well of the vileness of the underworld. In such a 
 prison we should not criticize the effort to confine the inmates in separate 
 cells. In fact, the proper treatment of the untried has received scant 
 attention from writers on penology. 
 
 A house of detention is not a penal institution; it is, however, a 
 prison because the interests of society require that certain men and women 
 should be held within prescribed limits. They should not wear a felon’s 
 garb, nor should they be subject to the same regulations which obtain in 
 a convict prison. They should not associate with the convicts. At Moya¬ 
 mensing they are kept in a separate block. They should have rooms rather 
 than cells. While they must be detained and must be subject to certain 
 wholesome and protective regulations, they ought to be treated as nearly 
 as possible on the presumption that they are innocent until they are proven 
 guilty. It goes without saying that it will be necessary for them to obey 
 the very few rules which under the circumstances are essential. They 
 should have quite full freedom of using the mails, subject of course to 
 surveillance. Visitors and near friends should not be denied access, yet 
 an official must be present at all interviews. It is more important that 
 they should take their meals in their own rooms than for the convicts. 
 At Moyamensing the untried are allowed the privilege of purchasing or 
 receiving milk and tobacco. There should be the minimum amount of 
 restriction on the visits of authorized counsel. They can not be com¬ 
 pelled to work, not being under sentence, but voluntary offers to assist 
 in domestic service or otherwise, should not be disregarded, since in many 
 
PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PRISON- MOYAMENSING. 
 
Philadelphia County 
 
 39 
 
 cases employment drives away gloom and moroseness. Here the greatest 
 discretion on the part of the authorities is needed in order to determine 
 who will not abuse the privileges of the workers. In Delaware County, 
 the untried may choose between labor or a more scanty diet. We are 
 aware that many of them are gutter-snipes and arrive in all their filth and 
 degradation, yet as far as possible the appointments in the rooms assigned 
 to them, though plain, should be fairly comfortable. The furniture and 
 bedding should not be stinted. It should be the duty of some official to 
 attend to various outside errands of more or less importance for those 
 who are detained. They will desire very soon to get in touch with an 
 attorney; they will desire to locate a parent, brother or a near friend; 
 they will wish to have some effects recovered from the station-house; 
 they may need to have their claims for wages presented to some employer; 
 they will need certain articles and clothing brought from their homes, etc. 
 For such purposes the inspectors of the Philadelphia County Prison have 
 employed an official known as the Agent. The General Agent of the 
 Pennsylvania Prison Society also performs many services for the untried. 
 
 It ought to be the special concern of the prosecuting attorney to 
 have these people brought to a speedy trial. They should not be held a 
 moment more than is absolutely necessary. 
 
 It should be impressed on the prison officials everywhere that these 
 persons are captives, not convicts, and that the treatment accorded to 
 them should clearly recognize this distinction. In Philadelphia and Pitts¬ 
 burgh they are detained in separate quarters, but we are not sure that 
 all the regulations have been made with reference to this distinction. 
 
 In nearly all other counties of the Commonwealth, there is little or no 
 discrimination made in the treatment of the untried. 
 
 Under a sense that the untried prisoners should receive more appro¬ 
 priate care than was accorded to them in the county prisons, the legislature 
 of 1917 passed an act, which received executive sanction, that cities of 
 the first-class in Pennsylvania, namely, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, should 
 establish a separate detention prison for those detained for trial. This 
 act provided that in such a house of detention those held for trial should 
 have comfortable and separate rooms and should be subject to the mini¬ 
 mum amount of restraint. The provisions of this act have not been carried 
 out in either city, and we trust it may never be necessary. The initial 
 cost may be a half-million dollars and a new army of officeholders will 
 be added to our already distended pay-roll. We do not believe the results 
 will justify this expense. We believe the inspectors of these two large 
 city prisons have been led to study the problem from a different angle, 
 have already introduced some changes and are willing to meet the situa¬ 
 tion in reasonable mood. Perhaps the inspectors of the Philadelphia 
 County Prison may be somewhat hampered by the lav/ of 1835 rather 
 minutely defining their duties, and not specifying any distinctions as to 
 the classes of inmates, but if this law does really obstruct the proper 
 treatment of the untried, we should prefer to have this statute amended 
 rather than at present to construct another prison in Philadelphia. 
 
 We do not know that the commission now at work in revising the 
 Constitution of the Commonwealth will deal with this subject, but it may 
 be wise to await their action before making any drastic changes. 
 
 Believing in the law of progress and development, we should favor 
 some questionnaire to be sent annually to all the county prison boards 
 of the State, and among the questions the following are suggested: 
 
 What improvements either in discipline or management have been 
 made or tested during the past year? 
 
 What evidences of reformation have come under your observation ? 
 
 In good business, the methods of 1910 are out of date in 1920. So in 
 prison management, regulations which may have been up to date in 1835, 
 are altogether unsuitable to conditions of 1920. 
 
40 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 PHILADELPHIA COUNTY—Holmesburg County Prison 
 
 Visited Dec. 8, 1919. 
 
 This prison is used exclusively for male convicts. 
 
 Number of convicts on the day of inspection .668 
 
 Daily average in 1918 .490 
 
 The physical appointments leave little to be desired. 
 
 The one-story wings like spokes from a hub extend in several directions 
 from a central circular hall or rotunda. Light, ventilation, sanitation and 
 the usual creaturely comforts have been secured. No purchases or gifts 
 of extra provisions or tobacco are allowed. There is much medical opinion 
 to the effect that the use of tobacco is injurious. There is some expert 
 opinion to the contrary. The physical and mental effect of depriving a 
 habitual user of the weed could be studied at this institution. 
 
 The dress is a sort of inconspicuous jeans woven in the prison and 
 also made up into suits. The other employments are shoemaking, hosiery 
 making, printing and domestic service. No wages are paid and nothing 
 is made for sale. About one-half of the inmates are employed. Those 
 who are unemployed are held in “separate and solitary confinement,” but 
 not at labor. Here may be observed the effects of the solitary system, 
 which is practised in accordance with the law of 1835. In no other prison 
 of the State is separate confinement featured so extensively. For many 
 years, say from 1820 to 1860, The Pennsylvania Prison Society stood pre¬ 
 eminently for this system. The old reports are filled with controversial 
 literature on this subject. In later years we have ceased to advocate 
 such a system. At the same time we are aware that when prisoners are 
 thrown together in unrestrained intercourse, they become schools of crime 
 and of abominable practices. 
 
 When the Pennsylvania Prison Society was organized, in 1787, the 
 prisoners in the old Walnut Street jail were herded together indiscrimi¬ 
 nately under most filthy and disgraceful conditions. Men and women, 
 the young and the old, the tried and the untried, debtors, murderers, 
 thieves, without bedding other than that what they had furnished for 
 themselves, were massed in the same apartments. The Society insisted 
 rightfully on segregation, and persisted till they had attained the ful¬ 
 fillment of their slogan, “separate and solitary confinement at hard labor.” 
 As time progressed, we have withdrawn somewhat from this extreme 
 position, advocating regular and systematic employment and seasons of 
 recreation under the observation of discreet and sympathetic officers. Pris¬ 
 oners should lodge in separate rooms. 
 
 At this prison the workers have their dinner in a large dining-room. 
 The secretary was served with the same ration as the prisoners received. 
 It was a plain substantial meal. A loaf of bread, baked in the prison 
 bakery, was carried out and sampled by “particular” eaters, and pro¬ 
 nounced to be high-grade bread. 
 
 Although the negroes in Philadelphia constitute approximately one- 
 twelfth of the population, at this convict prison they constitute, on the day 
 of visitation, 48 per cent., or nearly one-half of the inmates. 
 
 Including Moyamensing the daily cost of food per 
 
 prisoner, 1918 .19.17c. 
 
 Including Moyamensing the daily overhead cost.72.43c. 
 
 Total cost of administering the County Prison in 1918... .$293,970 
 
 As we have mentioned, the administration of the prison is primarily 
 vested in nine inspectors appointed by the judges. They serve without pay 
 from purely altruistic motives. The regulations (for the most part) were 
 adopted in 1835 for the special government of the prison. Since 1835 there 
 has been great advancement in penological methods. “Separate and solitary 
 confinement at labor” was directed in the regulations. To some extent 
 they have adhered to the old rule of solitary confinement, but they have 
 
Philadelphia County 
 
 41 
 
 failed to give the prisoners employment. It is true that some legislation 
 in later years interfered with efforts to secure employment, but the judges 
 still sentence to imprisonment with labor. Have the inspectors been diligent 
 in contriving to find methods of employing those who are placed in their 
 charge as wards? It is generally admitted that nothing is so conducive 
 to moral, mental and physical deterioration as compulsory idleness. Ac¬ 
 cording to the returns, over 70,000 days were wasted in this prison in 
 idleness in the year 1918. In other words the work of 245 men for one 
 year each was lost. Meanwhile the county maintained them. More and 
 more it is the conviction of many thinkers and also officials that it ought 
 to be considered a crime to consign any human being to a life of idleness. 
 
 In the statutes of 1823, the managers of the County Prison were 
 authorized and required to construct a “stepping mill” for the proper exer¬ 
 cise of the prisoners. We are not advocates of that method of providing 
 recreation for the prisoners, but we are curious to know what became of 
 that stepping machine. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA COUNTY—House of Correction Visited Dec. 8, 1919. 
 
 This institution is not under the care of the Inspectors of the County 
 Prison, but has been conducted as a department under the Director of 
 Public Safety. Under the new Philadelphia charter which went into effect 
 the first day of January, 1920, this institution is transferred to the Bureau 
 of Public Welfare. It is a municipal prison. 
 
 Convicts are sent hither by magistrates and the Municipal Court; rarely 
 and, with some question as to the authority, by the higher courts. 
 
 Their sentences range from thirty days to two years, and the inmates 
 in most States would be termed misdemeanants, though in Pennsylvania 
 there is no legal line of demarcation between a felon and a misdemeanant. 
 
 Number male convicts day of inspection .289 
 
 Number female convicts day of inspection.427 
 
 Average daily number, 1917 .709 
 
 Average daily number, 1918 .550 
 
 The average daily number for 1919 .556 
 
 The number of officers and employes in 1918 was 102. 
 
 It is rather an expensive proposition, the cost in 1918 
 
 being .$302,443.00 
 
 Daily cost per capita, 1914, approximately. .25 
 
 Daily cost per capita, 1918. 1.16 
 
 Daily cost food, per capita, 1914, approximately . .14 
 
 Daily cost food, per capita, 1918, approximately. .27 
 
 It will be observed that high cost of living has almost doubled the cost 
 of the provision, but has more than quadrupled the administrative expenses. 
 
 For salaries and wages there were paid in 1918.$115,576.00 
 
 There is one peculiar feature about the commitments. An inmate of 
 the House of Correction is not necessarily a criminal or even one against 
 whom a charge has been preferred. Any person who finds himself or 
 herself without means or occupation may go before a magistrate and make 
 request to be committed to the House of Correction. So this institution 
 was regarded as a haven of rest and refuge by 104 persons in 1918. 
 
 The men eat in their cells, the women at tables. 
 
 For breakfast and supper the usual prison fare is supplied. 
 
 For dinner a mutton stew or a soup of meat and vegetables, the amount 
 of meat computed on a basis of one gross pound for each inmate, is provided. 
 No one is allowed to purchase or receive extra supplies of food. 
 
 One small plug of chewing tobacco is supplied weekly to each male 
 convict, but what is furnished in this line to the female convicts was 
 not stated. 
 
42 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 We regret to report than in the men’s quarters the “bucket system” 
 is still to be found. We trust the Bureau of Public Welfare will install a 
 better sanitary system. 
 
 The redeeming feature is that practically all able-bodied prisoners 
 have employment. 
 
 In 1918, engaged in productive labor, principally in the manu¬ 
 
 facture of gas, coke, etc., there were employed .185 
 
 In the same year in domestic service, on the farm, etc.321 
 
 Unemployed for various reasons, chiefly physical disability .... 44 
 
 Total as above.550 
 
 The institution is not credited on the books for services rendered to 
 various municipal departments, the value of which services amounts to 
 several thousand dollars each year. 
 
 They have a farm of some two hundred acres or more, the produce of 
 which furnishes a considerable part of the sustenance of the inmates. The 
 value of the agricultural products is not shown in the financial statement. 
 
 “Eighty-five men were committed under the provisions of the Act of 
 May 24, 1917, . . . for non-support of their dependents. Working at 
 
 the rate of $.65 per day, Sundays and holidays excepted, these men earned 
 $3,215.83. Warrants for this amount were drawn out of an appropriation 
 of $5,000 for this purpose, in favor of the Court Clerk, for distribution 
 amongst the dependents entitled thereto.” Philadelphia County is one of 
 the six counties of the State which are carrying out the provisions of 
 this act: 
 
 In consideration of the fact that the population of the Philadelphia 
 County Prison and that of the House of Correction is less than one-half of 
 the number of inmates four years ago, the question of the consolidation of 
 our penal institutions is imminent. For some reasons it is rather a delicate 
 question, but whether there is good and sufficient reason for the continu¬ 
 ance of two expensive systems when one administration with one set of 
 officials and employees could efficiently control and superintend the entire 
 penal situation is a subject worthy of the profound consideration of the 
 citizens of Philadelphia. 
 
 We have before us the Report of the Probation Officer of Philadelphia 
 
 for the years 1918 and 1919. 
 
 Number of adults placed on probation .829 
 
 Number who complied with the conditions and were discharged 600 
 Number who failed to conform to the conditions and were re¬ 
 turned . 28 
 
 The failures have averaged less than four per cent. 
 
 200 probationers were in the American Expeditionary Forces. 
 
 The probationer is made to feel that he is responsible to those whom 
 he has wronged. Hence he is impressed with the fact that he will be 
 expected to make restitution. In the two years the sum of $8,337 was re¬ 
 ceived for restitution. 
 
 The probation officer makes this statement which we cheerfully endorse: 
 
 “I think it has been proven that probation is beyond the experimental 
 stage, and it is satisfaction to report that through our beneficent proba¬ 
 tion system many young men were performing a service that very largely 
 atones for their offences and misdeeds of the past.” 
 
 PIKE COUNTY—Milford Visited Aug. 25, 1919. 
 
 The daily average number of inmates, 1918, was approximately one and 
 one-quarter. One man was being held for trial at the time of inspection. 
 
 The sum of fifty cents per diem is paid for boarding the prisoners, 
 
Potter County 
 
 43 
 
 and the dietary is such as one usually enjoys in country districts, except 
 that the meat ration is rather shy. 
 
 No place for a female prisoner. If a woman is arrested she must 
 lodge in the part of the edifice reserved for the family of the sheriff. The 
 jail is a part of the residence of the sheriff and consists of two or three 
 cells, opening into a hall with connecting door to the residential section. 
 
 The bathing arrangements are inadequate, and the method of heating 
 rather dangerous if a fire should break out. 
 
 The commissioners should consider the propriety of installing better 
 accommodations for the family of the sheriff in the interest of common 
 decency and correct living. The new heating arrangement could be con¬ 
 nected with the prison, and proper bathing accommodations supplied. 
 
 During the brief intervals when culprits are confined, they are kept 
 within very narrow limits, with no opportunity for exercise in the open. 
 
 There are two county seats in Pennsylvania without railroad facilities, 
 Milford and McConnellsburg. Possibly this fact may account for the great 
 expense charged against the county for transporting a prisoner to the 
 reformatory or the penitentiary. We saw one bill for such a service which 
 amounted to $259.77—an amount which is exceeded for a similar service 
 by no county in the Commonwealth. 
 
 POTTER COUNTY—Coudersport Visited Aug. 14, 1919. 
 
 This county maintains in its prison, on the average each day, four or 
 five prisoners. There was one lone man on the day of inspection. 
 
 They do not anticipate the care of women prisoners as they have no 
 place for them. 
 
 The sheriff was a good example of the humane official. The law allowed 
 him fifty cents per diem for supplying food to each prisoner, but he does 
 not make the high cost of living a pretext for stinting the food supply. 
 The prisoners receive a wholesome and nutritious ration, about the same as 
 any good farmer might furnish, butter, milk and sugar not being omitted. 
 
 This sheriff takes a genuine interest in those placed under his care, 
 believes in the square deal, gives them reasonable opportunity for exercise, 
 supervises those on parole, is convinced that there is some good in every 
 man, and is glad at times to receive visits from those to whom he has been 
 guardian, friend and adviser. It is a pity we have so few officials of 
 this type. 
 
 SCHUYLKILL COUNTY—Pottsville Visited Dec. 12, 1919 
 
 Number convicts day of inspection . 58 
 
 Number held for trial. 9 
 
 Number held as witness . 1 
 
 Total . 68 
 
 Daily average, 1918 . 89 
 
 Dailv average, 1915 .200 
 
 There are at least three potent factors to be considered in accounting 
 for the decrease. They are Parole, Probation and Prohibition. We did 
 not leam the exact number whom the judges have released on probation 
 but are informed that the principle is recognized and acted upon. 75 charged 
 with desertion were under the jurisdiction of the court. 416 had been 
 paroled. The number slated for “drunk and disorderly” is fast appi'oaching 
 the vanishing point. 
 
 Under the instalment method, $3,070 had been collected in 1918 on 
 account of fines and costs. It is thought that in this county the method 
 of collecting fines by instalments was initiated. At least the system was 
 in vogue in Schuylkill County before the Act of 1917 was approved. The 
 
44 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 results have been eminently satisfactory. 
 
 In 1918 the daily expense for food for each prisoner was near 28c. 
 
 In 1915 the daily expense for food for each prisoner was near 12c. 
 High cost of living, not the management, is responsible for the in¬ 
 crease. The prisoners receive the usual prison breakfast and supper. For 
 dinner they have meat every day except on Friday when fish is served. 
 
 Vegetables in season are also served. 
 
 Net cost in 1918 daily average 89 prisoners.$30,471.80 
 
 Net cost in 1915 daily average 200 prisoners. 30,471.00 
 
 Another illustration of high cost of living. 
 
 At present the closets are flushed by drawing water into a bucket 
 from a spigot, and emptying same into the bowl. Direct flushing arrange¬ 
 ments should be provided. 
 
 The segregation of the women from the men is not so complete as would 
 be desirable. 
 
 Maintenance of convicts at other penal institutions, 1918, $9,811.94 
 
 So the entire bill for maintenance of prisoners is much less than any 
 other county of its class. How does this happen? The authorities argue 
 that they have a prison sufficiently commodious for all their prisoners s» 
 they retain them in the county except those found guilty of murder, and 
 the younger criminals who may be sent to the Catholic Protectory or to 
 the House of Refuge at Glen Mills. 
 
 Some of the men work at carpet weaving. Sales of carpet in 1918 were 
 $3,568. A considerable number are employed in domestic duties. But it 
 goes without saying that the problem for the prisoners in the Schuylkill 
 County Prison has not been solved. Nearly a half century was wasted in 
 this Bastile in 1918, and somebody or bodies should be held responsible. 
 The trend of public sentiment is rapidly veering toward the establishment 
 of prison farms where there may be found employment for all inmates. It is 
 unwise and unjust to support our wrongdoers in genteel idleness. Let them 
 earn their maintenance. 
 
 There is a recreation ground of about one acre within the walled en¬ 
 closure on which at times may be seen all the men playing games, strolling 
 about and engaging in quiet conversation. This privilege is humane and 
 wholesome. 
 
 SNYDER COUNTY—Middleburg Visited Sept. 10, 1919. 
 
 There were two convicts and one untried prisoner on the day of in¬ 
 spection. The average daily number is less than one. 
 
 The prison is directly connected with the apartments of the sheriff, 
 and is a 2-story structure with rooms opening into an inside hall. There 
 is a door leading into a yard to which the prisoners may have access at any 
 time of the day. There was one woman prisoner who remained with the 
 family of the sheriff and ministered to their wants. 
 
 The prison was in much better condition than when inspected by us 
 in 1914. 
 
 A bath tub or a shower bath should be installed. 
 
 Fair treatment is the rule of the prison. 
 
 The sheriff receives 75 cents daily for each prisoner in his care, 50 cents 
 for food, and 25 cents for care. 
 
 The county pays $20.00 for the preparation of a report to the Boai’d 
 of Public Charities. 
 
 The meals correspond to those served at a farmer’s table. Eggs or 
 meat are served every day. 
 
 It is reported that the court is opposed to the principle of parole. This 
 antiquated obsolete notion would be quite serious if there were many mis¬ 
 demeanants in this county. 
 
Somerset County 
 
 45 
 
 SOMERSET COUNTY—Somerset Visited Sept. 11, 1919 
 
 Number incarcerated day of inspection .18 
 
 Average daily population, 1918 .16?^ 
 
 The food fee is fifty cents, and the meals supplied are ample. 
 
 There is no opportunity for exercise in the open air, but the prisoners 
 have the freedom of the corridors all day long. The inmates assist in do¬ 
 mestic service. No other employment. No one should be detained here 
 longer than thirty days. The prison should be used merely as a place of 
 detention for the untried and for those sentenced to a few days. 
 
 The sanitary arrangements have been improved and are now quite 
 correct. 
 
 To make the report to the Board of Public Charities costs $20.00. 
 
 SULLIVAN COUNTY—Laporte Visited July 7, 1919. 
 
 There was only one prisoner and if he had fully appreciated the rules 
 and privileges of parole, the prison would have had no occupant. 
 
 No prisoner in 1918. 
 
 Meals were furnished to the prisoner by the hotel of the county seat 
 for which the sheriff received daily the sum of fifty cents. 
 
 The jail is comfortable and was kept scrupulously clean. 
 
 The parole law has friends in Sullivan County. 
 
 SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY—Montrose Visited July 3, 1919. 
 
 Six prisoners were found confined in this dismal jail, and this number 
 was about the average daily number in 1918. 
 
 It is entered from the residence of the sheriff and appears to consist 
 of a basement with an upper story. 
 
 Four of the inmates were federal prisoners, being entertained tem¬ 
 porarily. 
 
 There were sixteen cells, rather dark and forbidding in appearance. 
 
 The prisoners assist in domestic duties and may aid in caring for a 
 garden. There is a small outdoor plot to which the prisoners at times have 
 access. The bathing arrangements are justly condemned. It would be 
 better for the commissioners to order a new prison constructed with refer¬ 
 ence to modem requirements. The present structure is a disgrace to the 
 county. 
 
 For breakfast and supper we noted bread, coffee, potatoes and cereal. 
 
 For dinner, macaroni with cheese, potatoes, bread and gravy. The fare 
 is above the average for prison fare, and the sheriff receives from the 
 county a fee of fifty cents daily per prisoner. 
 
 Fines were levied in 1918 to the amount of $370, of which $295 was re¬ 
 ported as uncollectible. On the instalment plan as provided by the Act 
 of 1917, a larger percentage of fines and costs could be collected. 
 
 TIOGA COUNTY—Wellsboro Visited Aug. 22, 1919. 
 
 The County Prison was doubtless constructed in view of contingencies 
 which have probably never been contingent. At one time, a few years ago, 
 no one was imprisoned on the day of inspection and this year but one 
 person was confined at the time of the visit. The daily average for the 
 year 1918 was not quite three. There is a two-story set of cages with inside 
 and outside corridor, but the accommodations are in excess of the demand, 
 and we trust the establishment may have even fewer patrons than hitherto. 
 
 If the building is to be used at all, the bathing arrangements need a 
 thorough overhauling. The most ordinary hotel supplies to a guest a 
 pillow and sheets. These are lacking in this place of entertainment. 
 
 It is reported that a man may be boarded in this institution for a year 
 
46 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 without employment or an opportunity to exercise in the open air. All 
 wrong. A very few days are sufficient for incarceration in this prison. 
 
 The bill of fare is not luxurious, but sufficient. 
 
 Breakfast—Good bread, real coffee, cereal. 
 
 Supper—Good bread, tea, fried potatoes. 
 
 Dinner—Vegetables with gravy. Meat once or twice weekly. 
 
 The sheriff’s fee is fifty cents. 
 
 UNION COUNTY—Lewisburg Visited July 2, 1919. 
 
 No one imprisoned and the daily average, 1918, was less than one. 
 
 Even if there were prisoners, a sub-basement is no place to detain a 
 human being. No yard is attached to the jail. The prisoners must re¬ 
 main in his damp quarters till released. The other living arrangements 
 are fair, and the food is the same as the ordinary family dietary. The 
 fee is seventy-five cents, and since the law fixes the maximum fee fox- 
 food at fifty cents, we may state that the sheriff receives fifty cents for 
 the food supplied and twenty-five cents for the serving. 
 
 Children or young people may be released on probation. 
 
 Either a new prison should be constructed or the prisoners removed 
 as soon as possible to some district penal institution on a farm. 
 
 VENANGO COUNTY—Franklin Visited July 12, 1919. 
 
 Number of prisoners on the day of inspection was ten, seven of whom 
 were being detained for trial. Average daily population, 1918, was less 
 than three. So the midsummer population was rather excessive and un¬ 
 happy. They could not be happy cooped up in this fashion to remain till 
 court should assemble in autumn. No wonder, since there is no employment 
 and no opportunity for exercise other than in a narrow range corridor in 
 front of the steel cages. 
 
 The boarding fee is forty cents. This amount secures for the prisoners 
 the usual prison breakfast and supper and a dinner of meat with vegetables 
 every day, though eggs sometimes take the place of meat. 
 
 There appeared to be a lack of harmony between the jailer and his 
 wards. A few months ago the jailer was quite badly beaten up by some 
 prisoners who planned to escape. On this day one of the men was scat¬ 
 tering the contents of his mattress about his cage and the corridoi'. No 
 reason was assigned. The spirit of antagonism was rife. There was 
 lack of team work. Either the criminals of Venango County are really a 
 bad set, or there was lack of tact in the management. 
 
 The toilet and bathing facilities are inadequate, and the bedding is 
 incomplete. 
 
 We confess to a feeling of disappointment in penal conditions in 
 Venango County. Let the prisoners have some sort of an occupation. En¬ 
 large their privileges. Try some reformatory measures. Enlist their 
 good will. 
 
 WARREN COUNTY—Warren Visited Aug. 19, 1919. 
 
 Constructed of stone walls with an inside steel structure of 36 cages, 
 which on the day of visitation were occupied by ten pi-isoners, seven of 
 whom were being detained until the court should convene. The daily average 
 number confined in 1918 was less than four. 
 
 They eat at tables and have regular meals. 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, imitation coffee, milk, sugar and cereal. 
 
 Dinner—Bread, two vegetables, gravy made of suet, apple butter, 
 meat twice weekly. 
 
 Supper—Bi-ead, coffee or tea, remnants of dinner. 
 
Washington County 
 
 47 
 
 For this supply of provisions, the sheriff receives fifty cents daily 
 for each prisoner, and for his care in the matter $520 annually. The far# 
 is rather better than the average prison fare in the State, and while th« 
 sheriff is not enriching himself with the profits, he is far from losing 
 money in the venture. 
 
 The men have the freedom of a rather wide corridor, and a few of 
 them are allowed at times to work about the Court House grounds. In 
 almost every county there would be economy in allowing the prisoners 
 do the necessary work about the Court House and lawn. 
 
 Some tobacco is furnished. The beds are neat with full equipment and 
 the living facilities are satisfactory. 
 
 There are weekly religious services. 
 
 There was no appearance of dissatisfaction. 
 
 WASHINGTON COUNTY—Washington Visited June 16, 1919. 
 
 The management is under a sheriff who employs a warden. 
 
 There are three stories of cages, each range of cages with narrow 
 corridor. The prisoners have during the day the privilege of roaming 
 back and forth in the narrow range shelving. Outside the range corridors 
 there is an ample area reaching to the outside wall. It is a pity that more 
 of them are not allowed more freedom in this area. However, the labor 
 of the prisoners is utilized in the care of the Court House and lawn, thereby 
 making the prisoners more docile and effecting considerable economy for 
 the taxpayers, for the men appreciate the privilege of doing some work 
 and are really on their good behavior while so employed. 
 
 Their beds and bedding deserve the condemnation which has been 
 lavishly heaped upon them, and doubtless at the time of the next inspection 
 we will have some improvement to chronicle. 
 
 Criminals may be sentenced to remain in this prison for one year, 
 though the employment is exceedingly insufficient. Not more than ten or 
 fifteen can be employed about the premises. The authorities have given 
 some attention to the idleness so prevalent at the prison, and we hope 
 some solution may be found. The citizens are aware of the situation but 
 they are very dilatory about finding the remedy. Their diagnosis is correct, 
 but, using no remedies, the conditions remain the same. The counties of 
 the southwestern portion of Pennsylvania were among the first to consider 
 the establishment of a joint Industrial Penal Farm. Possibly they are 
 awaiting the result of prohibition, in order more accurately to determine 
 the need of such an institution. 
 
 Number imprisoned day of inspection ... 65 
 
 Number of these held for trial . 34 
 
 Number of days wasted in idleness by prisoners, 1918, 
 
 approximately . 15,000 
 
 Paid to the sheriff for board, commitments, etc.$11,385 
 
 Various prison expenses. 1,297 
 
 (Does not include gas, electric lighting, coal, water, etc., the 
 expense of which is blended with the court house costs, 
 so that they cannot be differentiated.) 
 
 Juvenile Court expense . 2,638 
 
 Maintenance of prisoners, other institutions . 51,570 
 
 For penal institutions .$66,890 
 
 The establishment of a penal farm would result eventually in saving 
 a large part of this expense. 
 
 The salaries paid in the Probation Department.$3,960 
 
 There is no service in the line of delinquency more beneficial and more 
 valuable than the Parole and Probation Department. 
 
 Note a few figures. 
 
Review of Comity Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 48 
 
 Under the general parole law and also under the law of 1917, allowing 
 those detained for non-payment of costs and fines to be released on con¬ 
 dition of paying these charges in instalments, some splendid work has 
 been accomplished in Washington County. 
 
 Amount received from costs and fines, 1918.$30,661 
 
 Cost to the county if these defendants had remained in 
 
 prison estimated at... 19,600 
 
 The county is better off to the tune of .$50,261 
 
 This is not the whole story. 
 
 Total number paroled in 1918. 245 
 
 It is estimated that they have earned for the support of themselves 
 and of their dependants the sum of $125,000, which sum represents the 
 revenue coming into Washington County, and which will largely be spent 
 in the county. It is also estimated that one-half of the families of these 
 paroled men would have needed help from the community. So however 
 large the cost of caring for delinquents in the county, this sum would 
 be doubled except for the operation of the parole law. Very much de¬ 
 pends upon the officials chosen to administer this work. The attention of 
 other counties is called to the excellent results attained in Washington 
 County. The salaries paid are not commensurate with the service so faith¬ 
 fully rendered. 
 
 Whole number on parole, January 1, 1919 .654 
 
 The prisoners have the usual breakfast and supper, except that at 
 supper gravy is often served. They dine on vegetables with soup, but 
 meat is given twice every week. For this provision the sheriff is now 
 paid 37^4 cents daily for each prisoner. The authorities still adhere to 
 the objectionable fee system. The actual cost of food per diem for each 
 prisoner in counties which have discarded the fee system varies from 
 eighteen cents to twenty-eight cents. Granting that in counties operating 
 under the fee system, the sheriff is responsible for certain expenses of 
 care and service which are directly chargeable to the county under a 
 different system, still the principle is wrong which converts an official 
 into a boarding-house keeper. His profits and rewards should be based 
 upon direct service rendered to the community, not from any trade or 
 business. Sheriffs are of different temperaments and different degrees 
 of self-interest. While you may at present have a sheriff who is humane, 
 how do we know that the next sheriff will not exploit the prisoners to his 
 own advantage? 
 
 But this arrangement will soon terminate. By an Act of 1909, counties 
 having a population of over 150,000 and less than 250,000 must release 
 the sheriff entirely from any management of the prison. A Board of 
 Managers is to be duly appointed who shall select a warden for super¬ 
 intendent, and it is explicitly provided that the food is to be purchased by 
 contract, the fee system being entirely abolished. The next census will 
 doubtless show that Washington County has more than 150,000 inhabitants. 
 If a sheriff has been elected on the old basis, it will be a subject for 
 judicial decision as to when that law shall go into effect. 
 
 WAYNE COUNTY—Honesdale Visited Aug. 23, 1919. 
 
 Two prisoners were discovered, one of whom was being held for trial. 
 The convict was serving a sentence of 14 months, entirely too long in 
 such a prison excepting for the fact that he was regarded as a “trusty” and 
 was engaged in caring for the ample garden on the premises. The inmates 
 eat at a table and have no complaint as to their living arrangements. Fee 
 system, fifty cents, which is none too much for the fare they receive. 
 
 A small prison of six cells with the comforts of the usual dwelling- 
 house. Cleanliness rules. Some tobacco is supplied by the sheriff. 
 
Westmoreland County 
 
 49 
 
 Paraphrasing an expression of President Lincoln, “For a prison of 
 this kind there is no objection to it as a prison of this kind.” 
 
 WESTMORELAND COUNTY—Greensburg Visited July 17, 1919. 
 
 Number in prison day of inspection .. 85 
 
 Average daily number, 1918 . 67 
 
 Number commitments, 1918 .1210 
 
 Hence we may infer that the average term of imprisonment is 
 probably less than thirty days, though a few have served time in this 
 contracted space for a year. 
 
 The pi'ison is situated adjoining the court house, therefore convenient 
 of access to the untried prisoners. Otherwise the prison is very poorly 
 located. The men’s quarters are cramped, and the women are sent to a 
 sky parlor. There is no prison yard, no opportunity to enjoy the open 
 air. The kitchen is crowded in next to the street and ought really to be 
 renovated and have its position changed so that more easily could the 
 most of the work therein be performed by the convicts. The prison should 
 have been built on some city property outside of the city limits and a 
 van provided for use in court time. No court of any kind is held in the 
 summer so that the 57 guilty or innocent who have failed in getting bail 
 and who were confined at the time of inspection must languish behind these 
 steel bars till court convenes in the autumn. Then they must await the 
 convenience of the court before they are summoned. 
 
 On this prison farm they would have an environment more wholesome 
 in every way. A great part of their sustenance would come from the 
 farm. In 1918 a few prisoners were paroled to work on this farm, or 
 were sent out under guard for same purpose. Seventeen prisoners had 
 enjoyed the activities of a road camp. This indicates that a laudable effort 
 has been made to find work for the men, but entirely too many men had 
 been allowed to suffer the evil effects of idleness. 
 
 When the authorities conclude to make some necessary changes in 
 the culinary department, let them also give some attention to improving 
 the sanitary and ventilating appliances. A canvas cot with blanket may 
 answer for camping out purposes, but really beds should be beds even in 
 a prison. A laundry operated by the prisoners will take care of the linen. 
 
 Imagine a high and wide hall on either side of which is a steel door 
 opening into a corridor with two-story ranges of steel cells on each side. 
 Thus may one visualize this prison. Some years ago the warden had 
 tables placed in the corridors at which the men take their meals. There 
 was no trouble caused by this arrangement. The cells were kept cleaner. 
 It was noted that the men did not converse during the meals. The general 
 effect would be improved if the men were allowed to indulge in quiet 
 conversation. 
 
 They are together much of the day in their respective corridors. 
 
 Daily cost of food per prisoner in 1918. 19^0 
 
 Breakfast—Bread, coffee, no syrup. 
 
 Supper—Bread, coffee and some vegetable. 
 
 Dinner—Soup with ^ lb. meat daily. Change of vegetables each day. 
 
 The sheriffs and wardens, who receive a daily fee for boarding pris¬ 
 oners, say there is no profit in feeding them at forty or fifty cents daily. 
 Note the menu served in this prison at less than twenty cents daily. 
 
 WYOMING COUNTY—Tunkhannock Visited Aug. 23, 1919. 
 
 Five prisoners were found, four of whom were untried. Those who 
 wish to plead guilty may have speedy sentences, as the court during the 
 summer gives the prisoners this privilege. 
 
50 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 An old prison with inside corridor and chinks for windows. Except 
 the bedding, the living arrangements are satisfactory. 
 
 The sheriff supplies the prisoners with food from his own table, and 
 receives from the county the sum of fifty cents per day for each inmate. 
 
 The net cost of the prison in 1918 .$393.50 
 
 Cost of maintaining prisoners elsewhere. 544.00 
 
 Total maintenance .$937.50 
 
 So criminals in Wyoming are neither numerous nor expensive. 
 
 In nearly all prisons of the State, the inmates are allowed to buy 
 extra supplies of provisions. Here they buy tobacco only, an indication 
 that the sheriff’s bill of fare is ample and satisfactory. 
 
 There is a small yard in which they occasionally take exercise. 
 
 There is no proper accommodation for segregating the women prisoners. 
 
 The maximum sentence is ninety days. There is so little employment 
 that the maximum ought to be no more than five days. 
 
 YORK COUNTY—York Visited Aug. 4. 1919. 
 
 It is customary with writers, who attempt to describe the York County 
 prison and its methods, to condemn with severity the administrative policy, 
 and to reproach the management with entire lack of humanity in continu¬ 
 ing practices which are infamous, brutalizing and scandalous. 
 
 All this denunciation has appeared to have little effect. The good 
 citizens of York County are naturally conservative and are averse to mak¬ 
 ing changes. Why should they worry? 
 
 So let us drop opprobrious epithets and approach the subject from 
 a different angle. 
 
 In York County a new sheriff is installed into office on the first day 
 of each leap year. In this same county the sheriff has control of the 
 prison and its inmates, subject to such regulations as the commissioners 
 may prescribe. It may be assumed that their prescriptions have not to any 
 considerable extent interfered with the administration of the sheriff. We 
 have never heard, for instance, that they ventured to prescribe the dietary 
 suitable for prisoners whether guilty or not guilty. On the day of inspection 
 there were 53 prisoners, over two-thirds of whom, or 36, were held for 
 trial. It would be reasonable to furnish to those who are not convicted 
 the usual diet of the ordinary citizen. This matter may have received 
 due attention. There is one other phase of penal legislation in the Common¬ 
 wealth which the citizens of this county must consider. In 1910 the 
 census of York County revealed a population of 136,405. It is quite possible 
 that the census of 1920 will reveal a population of over 150,000. If this is 
 the case, Act 171, P. L., 1909, as amended by Act. 194, P. L., 1915, will auto¬ 
 matically relieve the sheriff of the care and responsibility of the prison, 
 and will constitute the controller, the three commissioners, along with 
 the sheriff, a board of management, who shall appoint a warden to carry 
 out the regulations of the board as may concern the discipline, and govern¬ 
 ment of the prison. “The present responsibility of the sheriff . . . shall 
 
 cease and determine. . . .” All the expenditures for the support and 
 
 maintenance of the prisoners shall be paid on authorized warrants by the 
 County Treasurer. The fee system terminates. 
 
 There is one section of the law which may require judicial interpre¬ 
 tation. “In all counties, where the sheriff is now the acting warden or 
 keeper of the county jail or prison, and has his residence therein, this act 
 shall not take effect until the expiration of the term of office of the sheriff 
 now so acting as warden. . . ” This bill was approved May 21, 1913, 
 
 and took effect thirty days after the bill was approved. What is the inter¬ 
 pretation of the word “now” in the section quoted above? Undoubtedly 
 
York County 
 
 51 
 
 as used in the bill, the word refers to the sheriffs serving in 1913. There 
 was no provision for retaining sheriffs in office in the years to come when 
 the population of any county should amount to 150,000. Would a construc¬ 
 tion according to sense result in forcing the anxious sheriff to retain his 
 position—to the end of the term for which he was elected? We sympathize 
 deeply with him in this predicament. We are by no means sure how this 
 law may be interpreted. If the sheriff has his residence outside the 
 prison, he can easily escape the jailer’s responsibilities, for the law ex¬ 
 plicitly states that if he “has his residence therein” he is not to be dis¬ 
 turbed till his term of office has expired. Considering the other duties 
 of the sheriff in a large county, he ought to be relieved from the care of 
 the prison. We congratulate the present sheriff on the ease with which 
 this relief can be obtained, if only the census may reveal a population 
 of 150,000. Just as soon as the official census figures are reported, the board 
 within thirty days may assume charge of the prison and appoint a warden, 
 who need not be dismayed by the high cost of living in providing a reason¬ 
 able supply of food for those under his charge. But we, as well as the 
 sheriff, may be disappointed in the census report. However, it is scarcely 
 credible to suppose that York County with all its attractive features has 
 not gained in the last decade at least twelve per cent. 
 
 In 1914 our notes present the following menu for a week: “Bread 
 and coffee every meal, enlivened with soup, meat and vegetables thrice 
 weekly.” Eighteen meals of bread and coffee, three real meals, each 
 week. Thirty cents daily for each inmate at that time was paid. Estimating 
 profit at 15 cents daily per prisoner, the sum daily realized on 80 prisoners 
 equaled $12.00, and in 365 days, $4,380.00. 
 
 In 1919, the report shows that the prisoners were regaled with soup, 
 compounded of meat and vegetables, twice each week, and that on one 
 other occasion potatoes were served. At other intervals during the week 
 bread and a liquid called coffee was served, but really it would be a mis¬ 
 nomer to speak of such a menu as a meal. The cost of a week’s board 
 at this institution was $3.15. At least the county pays this sum. The 
 prisoners have the privilege of securing additional provision either by 
 purchase or through the kindness of friends. This gracious concession is 
 used to the limit, but works to the decided disadvantage of the impecunious 
 inmate. 
 
 The former sheriffs have gone to their rewards. The present sheriff 
 enters upon his duties under a new dispensation or with the knowledge 
 that the appointment of a warden will relieve him of a heavy burden of care. 
 
 In the selection of a sheriff, doubtless the enlightened citizens of York 
 County have hitherto had in mind those qualities of heart and soul which 
 are most suitable for dealing with delinquents. The convicts sometimes 
 remain in this prison for a year. So it is evident that for such a work an 
 official should be chosen not only for his ability to keep law-breakers 
 in custody, but for his reformatory influences. If at all possible, these 
 inmates should receive such care and attention that when they leave the 
 prison behind they are the better for their imprisonment. Such is the 
 main object of imprisonment. When the new prison board meets to select 
 the warden, they should consider the fitness of the applicants to discharge 
 the responsibilities which belong to such a service. He should be a man 
 of integrity, a man who would command respect and esteem, a man who 
 could inspire those under his charge to adopt higher standards of living. 
 He should be a confirmed foe to idleness, and should never cease in efforts 
 to provide every man and woman with employment. 
 
 The political views of an aspirant for such a task have little to do 
 with his fitness. His ideas on the tariff or the League of Nations should 
 have no weight in determining the selection of the candidate; character, 
 and character only, coupled with administrative wisdom, should be taken 
 
52 
 
 Review of County Jails in Pennsylvania 
 
 into consideration. It is inconceivable that an intelligent board would 
 act otherwise. 
 
 It is reported that the sheriff whose term has recently expired has 
 forbidden the Sabbath religious services. Some sort of service should be 
 restored. Whether on account of quarantine regulations, or criticism of 
 the administration, or lack of team work, the services were discontinued, 
 we have not heard, but we hope to hear that the new management has 
 allowed such services to be resumed. In many penal institutions, the Salva¬ 
 tion Army has accomplished a good work. 
 
 There is no yard attached to the premises in which the inmates may 
 take any exercise in the open air. 
 
 The controller’s report shows that two probation officers are receiving 
 salaries. We have thought that they were largely connected with work 
 for juveniles and young misdemeanants, a most excellent work, but that 
 adult probation and parole have not been seriously considered by the court. 
 The report shows that during the year 1918, the sum of $66.63 was re¬ 
 ceived on account of costs and fines. This contrasts with the record of 
 Washington County where in 1918 the sum of $30,661 was received under 
 the supervision of the parole officer, and paid over to the county. If the 
 complete figures appear in the controller’s report, there is much lack of 
 proper management in the collection of fines and costs in York County. 
 
 The County Prison expenses for 1918 are reported to be $5,965.88. 
 
 This does not include the cost of boarding the prisoners, nor the 
 turnkey fees so far as we could discover. There must have been some 
 charges on these accounts in the year 1918. 
 
 Expenses in other penal institutions for maintenance $15,626.29. 
 
 If the prisoners are recruited from the ranks of the worthless vaga¬ 
 bonds or the idle classes, they should be compelled to work, not supported 
 in their chosen profession. 
 
 If the prisoners, through some mistake, or even fault, are taken from 
 the ranks of labor, whatever may be the occupation, they should be 
 allowed to continue in some gainful employment in order to maintain them¬ 
 selves, their families and their physical condition. No prisoner should be 
 subject to the demoralization resulting from idleness. 
 
 The problem of the employment of delinquents has not yet been solved 
 in York County. 
 
 N. B.—Since writing our annual fulmination against the iniquities of 
 the management of the York County Prison, some good news has been 
 received at headquarters. The reign of the new chief appears to be a 
 more happy one. “One square meal” daily is reported to be served. There 
 is much ground for the opinion that the prisoners are regarded no longer 
 as animals for exploitation, but as real human beings. There is a manifest 
 desire to find employment for the prisoners. 
 
 We have understood that one of the officials of the present regime 
 has offered to supervise the demolition of the old prison, now practically 
 disused, in order that an open air resort may be obtained for the prisoners. 
 The work is to be done by the prisoners themselves. This project should be 
 encouraged. 
 
 Let the good work proceed. 
 

 
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