Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1902 — THE STATE PRISON. [ARTICLE]

THE STATE PRISON.

Interesting Facts About the Penal Institution at Michigan City. The Indiana State Prison at Michigan City had its beginning in a veritable “pen” built of heavy timbers near the foot of Hoosier Slide nearly forty years ago. There is a great difference between that primitive prison and the substantial group of buildings In which 800 Indiana convicts are now paying the penalty of crime. The difference in buildings, however, is no greater than that in the spirit ..and methods characterizing the control of such institutions during the past third of a century, in states in touch with the times prisons are conducted on the theory that the problem of the convict is not solved when the gates of a prison close behind him—rather has the process of solution ju3t begun. In the matter of prison reform Indiana stands with the most progressive states of the Union. Her two penal institutions that at Jeffersonville, the reformatory for men of younger years, and that at Michigan City, the state prison, for offenders of maturer years and for life convicts, are conducted in accordance with the modern conception of the state’s duty to the criminal unfortunate, and upon a system of strict accountability in business matters to the state. It may safely be said, however, that during the present era of control, dating back to 1895, far more progress has been made than during any similar period in the history of the state’s institutions at Jeffersonville and Michigan City. Not only have marked improvements of a material character been effected, but a much nearer approach has been made to a realization of the doctrine set forth in the constitution of Indiana: “The penal institutions of the state shall rest upon the principle of reformation and not of punishment.” During this period the state prison has practically been rebuilt, and change after change, resulting in the betterment of conditions, has been effected. There is every reason to believe that in Warden Reed the board of control of the state prison has found an official entirely competent to not only continue but advance the program of improvement entered upon in recent years. He has entered upon his work not only with a disposition to make a record for efficiency in the management of the business affairs of the institution and the maintenance of discipline, but with a determination to realize from the parole law all its possibilities in the direction of reformation of the individual, and to show the unfortunates confided to his care his intention to make prison life endurable in proportion to the willingness of the prisoner to conform to the rules and make the best of the situation. The result of such a policy is a feeling among the men that the management of the institution is not hostile, but friendly, so long as it is met half way.

One of the features of the administrations of Governor Mount and Governor Durbin is the system of strict accountability which has been insisted upon in every state institution. At Michigan City, under this method of administration, the humblest taxpayer finds the books open for his inspection, and that inspection will reveal a system of bookkeeping and of double responsibility which makes it absolutely impossible for dishonest practices to be introduced without the connivance of an entire group of officials, and without, in addition, the knowledge of the warden and the board of control of the prison. Every bill for goods sold to the institution is filed in duplicate, and at the end of any month the aggregate amount of these bills, plus the pay-roll of the institution, equals the schedule of disbursements as shown by the books of the prison and of the auditor of state. Every dollar’s worth of supplies, except to bridge over occasional temporary shortages, is purchased from the lowest and best bidder after public advertisement and notices sent to every responsible firm desiring to have consideration. The bids are opened and the contracts awarded by the board of control, composed of three reputable business men, and notice of the result of the bidding is sent to each bidder. The board of control audits every bill presented, and funds are paid out only on checks or warrants approved by the whole board and signed by the president of the board and the warden. The system of accounting is carrien out with the greatest particularity. Supplies are disbursed only on requisitions which reach the warden every

morning from tne nead ot eacn department These requisitions must be approved by the warden. The cost of each item Is figured for each day on every requisition. It is thus possible to knoyr at the close of any day whai the per capita cost of maintenance h«« been, and indeed that information few the preceding twenty-four hours reaches the warden’s desk every morning. Twenty-five years hence the person desiring to know Just what the prisoners in the state prison had yesterday for breakfast, dinner or supper, Just what amount they ate, and what each article cost the state, will be able to satisfy his curiosity by referring to the records being placed on file daily at this institution. The average cost of food per day per prisoner, it may be said in passing, varies from 7 to 11 cents. The quality and quantity furnished is all that could be desired. The meat used at the prison, for instance, comes from Chicago once a week in refrigerator cars, and is at once transferred to a large cold-stor-age room within the walls of the prison. Every shipment received is carefully Inspected before its acceptance, and promptly returned if found to be below standard or not in accordance with the specifications of the contract.

The storeroom at the state prison is an object of interest to visitors. It is a large, light room where supplies are stored in such quantity that the appearance of a wholesale house is presented. It takes supplies in quantity to provide for the dally wants of more than eight hundred men. The storekeeper is held responsible for every article received by him, as shown by the invoices on file in the office of the chief clerk. At the end of each month the steward is required to come before the board of control with a detailed account of shrinkage and gain in supplies on hand, and at the end of the year an invoice is made by the chief clerk which must show the presence of all supplies received, after deducting those issued, as shown by the requisition on file.

Under the regime beginning with the administration of Governor Mount corporeal punishment has been done away with. The strap and the paddle are no longer disciplinary measures—it is doubtful if they ever accomplished more than the kindling of a spirit of resentment in the victim. Where prisoners formerly slept in the clothes worn through the day, they are now provided with nightshirts. Another innovation is the issuance of a special suit of clothes for Sunday wear. Where bathing was foremrly done in tubs and often man after man in the same water, shower baths are provided once a week or twloe if desired. The lock-step was done away with by Warden Harley. Stripes, the traditional badge of the "Jail-bird,” have been done away with, except as punishment for infractions of the rules. Three grades of uniforms have been substituted. Every man on entering is placed in the second grade and given a checked suit If his conduct warrants promotion he is given the blue suit worn by men of the first grade. If he proves incorrigible, he is reduced to the third grade and placed in stripes. In the first grade there are 734 men, in the second 84, in the third, 2. The men of the various grades are separated in the diningroom and made to feel the discredit that comes with failure to observe discipline. Under the new regime the whitewash has been scraped from the walls of the cells and paint substituted, with excellent effect. A system of ventilation has been installed which makes sleeping in the cells far more comfortable and sanitary than under the old conditions. Appliances for the removal of dust in the shops where convict labor is employed have been installed until they are to be classified with model factories from a sanitary standpoint. The library has been greatly improved, streets, cement floors, walks and sewers constructed, a modern steam plant installed, and the kitchen doubled in size. In fact, almost a complete transformation has been brought about in the past seven years in the state prison. In the hospital quarters are now being fitted up for the criminal insane, where they will be treated as patients by a surgeon who was formerly connected with the state insane hospital near Logansport. Warden Reid, by fitting up the basement of the hospital, is making the quarters for patients more commodious. He is also planning to construct a large porch where consumptive patients may have the benefit of abundant light and air.