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grading system is feasible in the ordinary penitentiary or prison, with modifications, however, from the plans followed in reformatories. For example, in reformatories having charge of youths and young men, the School of Letters is an important department in which it is comparatively easy to establish a system of grading. In prisons where no system of grading is carred on, the markings should be based upon moral conduct and industrial efficiency, or application. I am of the opinion, however, that. it would be possible to grade prisoners in a general prison on some line of self-improvement other than that of the regulation school course; say, for example, a course in reading completed under given conditions and within a certain period. I agree rather fully with Professor Henderson that a lack of proper reading has more to do with criminal conduct than the lack of conventional education or natural intelligence.

Second, our board of parole at the Ohio State Reformatory consists of six members; is non-partisan and non-political. I have found the board thus constituted very effective, but what is still more important than the question of "How constituted?" is the question of "Whom composed?"

We have gotten the best results from men in middle life, who are actively engaged in the affairs of the world. They bring ability, energy and common sense to bear upon their work. In taking this matter of the appointment of a Parole Board up with the Governor, I called his attention to the fact that the indeterminate sentence had taken away from the judges of eightyeight counties the time-honored power of determining the length of time felons should serve in prison, and lodged it in six men. These men are thus called upon to discharge the double duty of judges and the board of pardons. Only men capable of measuring up to a standard of conduct that would preclude small prejudices, easy indifference, and the pressure of all improper influences should be appointed on such a board.

Third, I would not look favorably upon the judiciary being represented on the parole board. I believe we have a better practice in Ohio. We call upon the prosecuting attorney and trial judge for information and whatever impressions they may have received during the trial, that may be helpful to the parole board. It may sound like heresy, but I believe the average judge

is unfitted by his habit of thought as an attorney to be a first class or ideal paroling officer.

Fourth, I see no objection to having a physician on the board of parole. This would depend somewhat on the jurisdiction of the board of parole. If the State has one board that would pass on all paroles from all institutions, it might be well to have a physician on the board; but if there is a board of parole for each prison, I would not think this necessary.

I would say in this connection that on business matters, I favor a central board of control, but when it comes to the matter of parole. I believe it is better to have a board for each institution. The knowledge necessary to wise action in parole is more intimate than can be gained by a general board of parole.

I would say in answer to your last question that I believe the members of the board of parole should be salaried. To do the work conscientiously, every case should be carefully reviewed by all the members of the board, and the application for parole given a personal hearing. This is the custom at the Ohio State Reformatory and it consumes a great deal of time, and men cannot well afford to give that time without some compensation. While we do not have things to our entire liking here in Ohio, I feel that the system of parole from the Ohio State Reformatory has much in it worthy of imitation.

Our board consists of six members appointed for six years, one retiring each year. It is non-partisan, non-political and is salaried.

I am glad to say that the board as constituted, conscientiously, intelligently, though probably not infallibly.-discharge their duties. The superintendent and chaplain jointly take the initiative in order that an inmate may get a hearing. While this I think is necessary to wise administration, the superintendent and chaplain should exercise this responsibility with great wisdom. Very truly yours,

J. H. LEONARD,

Superintendent.

PENNSYLVANIA INDUSTRIAL REFORMATORY.

Do you think a marking and grading system should be applied to prisons when men are committed under the indeterminate sentence?

Ans. Assuredly so.

2. Have you any suggestions to make as to the nature of such a marking and grading system?

Ans. This would be dependent on ages and crime of those committed as well as upon the character of the prison whether reformative or for punishment.

3. How do you think a board of parole should be constituted? Ans. Dependent as in previous answer. If the parole system is to apply to the State prisons and reformatories in the State, and there be but one parole board for the State, then to be constituted by the appointment of one person from each of the boards of directors or managers of such prisons who in connection with the attorney-general, superintendent of prisons, and perhaps one more State officer would act as a parole board. In this State the reformatory is the only institution in which the parole law is effective and our board of managers are charged with its enforcement.

4. Would you think it wise to have the judiciary represented in some way on the board of parole?

Ans. No sir. For the reason that they have no means for keeping in touch with the prison life of the prisoner. They are empowered to use their judgment in imposing sentence based on evidence presented at that time, and with a knowledge of the fact that the prisoner may under certain prescribed regulations become eligible to release on parole, and they would necessarily have to be governed by the recommendation of the member of the parole board from the respective institutions as to the advisability of granting a parole.

5. Would you think it wise to have a competent physician on the board?

Ans. Not necessarily. Any necessity for the services of a physician would be required in the individual prison, before the name of the prisoner would be presented to the parole board, if on account of ill health. A competent physician on the board might be an aid in confirming the report of the prison physician. 6. Should any members of the board be salaried? Ans. Assuredly so. If organized as a State board, which would require their meeting at one central point at stated periods. T. B. PATTON, Superintendent.

PRISON CONSTRUCTION.

UNITED STATES PRISON AT LEAVENWORTH.

During the last year, as a member of the State Prison Improvement Commission appointed by Governor Higgins, the Correspond. ing Secretary, Mr. S. J. Barrows, has visited a number of the most important prisons in the United States in which structural changes have recently been made or are under way. He also visited various European prisons and secured plans of some of them.

Of the American prisons, the United States prison at Leavenworth is most interesting because of certain peculiarities of structure and also because of the great extent to which prison labor has been utilized in building it. The architect, Mr. W. S. Eames of St. Louis, has furnished data from which a brief description of the plans has been made. We present also a series of illustrations, which will give some idea of the magnitude and general structure of the prison.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRISON.

The original plan of the building was designed after an inspection of the principal prisons of Europe and of the larger State institutions in the United States. It has a rated capacity of twelve hundred prisoners and consists of four cell wings radiated from a central rotunda which controls the oversight of the cell wings with the least number of guards and watches. The cell wings are of different dimensions; two smaller wings contain 210 cells each and the two larger front wings 390 cells each; the object of the division of the cells of the four wings being to facilitate the management and also permitting a classification of the prisoners on the basis of discipline, and also permitting the separation of the habitual criminal from those of minor, or first offense.

The cells in these four wings are partly of masonry and partly of steel construction, the doors of the cells being sliding doors

operated by the most approved device. The cell blocks are five stories in height and stand in the middle of the cell wings facing the open corridors about sixteen feet from the exterior walls of the cell wings and there is a space of eight or ten feet above the cell blocks between the top cells and the ceiling of the cell building. The cell wings are heated by a blast system of hot air keeping the fresh air at a temperature of about 75 degrees, which maintains an average temperature in each cell wing of about 70 degrees controlled by thermostats. Separate exhaust pipes connect with each cell carrying the vitiated air in individual pipes to the basement where they are collected into a large duct and exhausted by electric fans through towers to the atmosphere. These ventilating ducts, as well as all plumbing pipes, valves, fittings, etc., are located in a utility corridor between the banks of cells, and are all inaccessible to the prisoners.

Each cell contains an extra heavy all vitrified water-closet operated by a push-button and in each cell there is an electric light and a sanitary wash-basin. Provision is also made for a cabinet for the reception of books, drinking cup, clothes closet and a looking glass; this cabinet being uniform throughout the institution.

The prison in general is built in the form of a rectangle enclosing about thirteen acres in extent surrounded by a wall on three sides and by two main cell buildings, which form the enclosure on the fourth side. The wall is built of an average height of thirty feet above the grade of the enclosure and is provided with guard towers for supervision, but the unusual height of the wall obviates the necessity of controlling the top of the wall with additional guards, as it is impossible to scale a wall thirty feet in height.

The principal peculiarity of a prison of this design, is that it has various departments which are so planned and arranged that the entire functions of the institution can be conducted under one roof and without taking the prisoners out of the building. That is to say, a detail of prisoners can be taken from their cells to any part of the building, to the dining-room, chapel, hospital, school rooms, work shops, kitchen, bakery, refrigerating department, and other places, at night as well as in the daytime. There is an unusual and ample provision for school rooms and a library. The dining-room is served directly from the kitchen

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