REPORTS OF COUNTY JAILS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Reading edition
Apparently very few counties in the State of Pennsylvania issue published reports.
In response to a request from the Society, we have received reports from 9 County Jails, from which we present the following items:
Luzerne County—Wilkes-Barre.
Number of prisoners received during the year 1911 1788
Number on hand Dec. 31st, 1911 104
Average number per day 132½
Cost per day for boarding prisoners 12 3-5 cents
Number employed out of their cells 42
Those employed at this jail make and repair shoes, weave stockings and make mattresses. The prison conducts a regular system of daily school instruction.
Daily attendance at the school 21.
They are instructed in spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic and history.
“There was no serious breach of the rules and no punishment inflicted, or no attempt made to escape during the year.”
“The stern hand of the law must control a man by force, but the law above finds a tender spot in the heart. Appeals to the reason constrains him to choose the path of righteousness.”
Cambria County—Ebensburg.
Report covers the time from March 7th, 1911, to Jan. 1st, 1912.
In that time they had received 547. Number in prison Jan. 1st, 1912, 112.
A number of improvements were made in the prison during the year, but many more improvements are needed in order to secure proper ventilation and sanitation.
Lehigh County—Allentown.
Number committed in 1911 1123
Number in prison Dec. 31st, 1911 122
Cost of board for each prisoner per day 10.83 cents
The main industry appears to be the manufacture of carpets and striped clothing.
Gospel services are conducted weekly.
Dauphin County—Harrisburg.
No report received for 1911.
In 1910, the number committed was 6,373
The number Dec. 31st, 1910, was 215
With the exception of some domestic services, no industries appear to be maintained at this institution.
Allegheny County—Pittsburg.
Number received during 1911 14,302
Number in prison Dec. 31st, 1911 380
Average number of prisoners each day 412
Average cost per day for food for each prisoner 6.22 cents
Allegheny County Workhouse—Hoboken.
Number of prisoners received during the year 1911 4,171
Number in prison at end of year 827
Average daily cost per inmate 41.91 cents
Average cost, after deducting earnings 19.01 cents
Average inmates employed per day 535
Average inmates unemployed per day 301
The sources of revenue are from the manufacture of brooms, brushes, carpets, and from the sale of farm produce, and also from boarding prisoners received from counties outside of Allegheny County.
Of the 4,171 received during the year, 2,237 were committed for the first time. There were six who had been committed each fifty times or more.
The shortest sentence was 10 days; the longest, 7 years.
2,366 were sentenced for 30 days, a very common sentence.
A night school is conducted for the benefit of illiterates, of whom 552 were received last year.
The chaplain in his report suggests that reformation would be much aided if there should be organized at Pittsburg some society with object to have the care of released prisoners.
Montgomery County—Norristown.
Report for 1910—Total committed during 1911 1156
Number in prison at close of the year 147
Cost of food per day for each prisoner 9½ cents
“The night school conducted by the Society of Friends has taught many inmates to read and write.”
Delaware County—Media.
A very brief report received.
Average number of prisoners per day 98
Average cost per day for board for each prisoner 12 cents
They receive from articles manufactured $4,243.41
Expense of material for these articles 2,516.81
Leaving profit on manufactured articles of $1,726.60
Amount of money paid to prisoners for overwork $338.00
Amount spent for tobacco for the prisoners $369.00
Montour County—Danville.
Number committed during the year 54
Number in jail at close of the year ending Sept. 30th, 1911 2
Lancaster County—Lancaster.
Number of prisoners received during 1911 1,324
Number on hand at the end of the year 94
Cost per day for boarding prisoners 14.7 cents
Industries appear to be carpet weaving and caning chairs.
Number yards of carpet 9,966
Number of chairs caned 379