oners. That is neither sanitary nor conducive to a high standard of self-respect and decency. It is urged that all bedding be removed immediately upon the discharge of individual prisoners, and that clean bedding be supplied to each individual as he is admitted. In other respects, considerable care seems to have been bestowed on the general appearance and cleanliness of the jail. Parts of the iron. work and equipment of the cells have been painted by the jailer. The room used for civil prisoners or witnesses was in good condition. Sheets and pillow cases were said to be changed weekly. There has been no attempt to replace the wooden stairway now giving the only access to the different tiers of the jail by fireproof stairs, despite repeated recommendations. The supply of bedding, towels and toilet paper was good. The water pressure in the flush boxes of the toilets was very poor on the two upper floors of the jail. On the second or middle tier, there was only one prisoner. Some of the seats in the toilets on this tier were found rust-eaten. The niches are supplied with sliding doors. It has been found advantageous in other jails to remove these sliding doors. On the first tier, the only one at all used to any extent, much of the iron work is in need of paint. The water pressure on this tier was good. The general condition of the basement, tramp room and store rooms was good. The rough brick and cement finish in the basement and in some parts of the upper floors has not been covered with a smooth sanitary surface or painted, despite frequent recommendations in previous inspection reports. Tramps housed at the jail are brought before the justice of the peace the following morning. The free lodging of transient tramps, practiced in some counties, is not in vogue here. Of the six prisoners constituting the jail population on the day of inspection, one was working at the sheriff's residence. All of the remaining five were interviewed and all of them complained about the food. This is one of the counties where the sheriff is given a per capita per week allowance for the sustenance of prisoners. The evils of this system have been frequently pointed out by the Prison Association. At this particular jail, under the previous administration, no complaints had ever been offered by prisoners in regard to the food. At this time complaints were unanimous; especially the amount of bread and meat served and the monotony of having beans with bread and tea for supper on successive evenings were criticised. Inspection of two meals on this date corroborated the complaint of the insufficiency of bread served. The quality of the food was good. The matter was fully discussed with the matron and she stated that she would be willing to supply more bread, but that a general increase of amount and quantity was out of the question, at the rate paid by the county, namely $2.80 per capita per week. accounting is kept of the exact cost of sustenance, so that the actual cost of feeding cannot be ascertained. On the basis of experience at other institutions it would seem that 40 cents per day ought to be ample. The above situation again emphasizes the inadvisability of the system now in vogue. It would be very much wiser if the sheriff were allowed to expend whatever is necessary for the feeding of prisoners and presented the bills to the Board of Supervisors for payment, so that there might be no question of profit or loss on the part of the sheriff. This is the method obtaining in over fifty counties in the State. There is a jail yard in connection with the building, but it is never used for giving outdoor exercise to any of the prisoners. The principal reason given is the impossibility of supervision with only one jailer on 24-hour duty. This explanation seems reasonable. There should be an assistant jailer employed, and daily outdoor exercise should be allowed. Other complaints on the part of the prisoners related to the short time allowed for visitors to the prisoners, and to the fact that the sheriff opened the mail addressed to prisoners. It was pointed out to the sheriff that this procedure is in violation of the law, and he stated that he would discontinue it. The general cleanliness and order of the jail were good. The institution is also used as town lock-up, but not very frequently. It would be well to equip part of the basement of the jail as a dining room for the prisoners. This has been found to work well in other jails. The supply of hot water is insufficient, and a larger water heater should be supplied. Also better laundry equipment is needed for the regular laundering of bedding and blankets. HERKIMER COUNTY JAIL, HERKIMER INSPECTED MAY 19, 1916, BY E. R. CASS Sheriff, James W. Moon since January 1, 1916 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. A porcelain toilet bowl should be installed in each cell. The bucket system is now antiquated in our county jails because in most jails each cell is equipped with a separate toilet bowl. Similar arrangements should prevail in this jail so that the cells can be locked at night, thus preventing possible immorality among prisoners, especially the younger ones, who are forced sometimes to be together with the older prisoners. 2. The retention of a larger number of sentenced prisoners in the county jail is advisable instead of sending them to the Onondaga County Penitentiary, also the employment of the same on a county jail farm. The account of the activities of St. Lawrence county, with its jail farm, demonstrates what can be done. Therefore Herkimer County should fall in line with many other counties that are employing their sentenced prisoners. 3. The towns of Herkimer and Mohawk should have lockups of their own. PROGRESS MADE 1. The condition of cleanliness in the jail was much superior to that found at the time of our inspection of December 17, 1915. 2. Shades have been provided for the windows on the side of the lower floor, facing the street. This need was pointed out in the recommendations of our previous reports. GENERAL REPORT The jail staff consists of E. Keller as jailer, and Mrs. Keller as matron. Population II: 1 minor male for the Grand Jury. 8 adult males for the Grand Jury. 2 adult males serving sentence. A satisfactory condition of cleanliness prevailed in all parts of the jail. The prisoners had no complaint to offer relative to the food, or to the treatment accorded them by the sheriff and his staff. The jail is used principally for the detention of prisoners serving sentences of 15 or 20 days. The majority of the prisoners in the county, committed for crimes other than a felony, are sent to the Onondaga County Penitentiary. This entails considerable expense for the transportation of prisoners and guards, and also reduces the jail population, so that there is usually an insufficient number of prisoners serving sentence, to justify a jail farm or work on the highways. If more prisoners were kept in the county jail, work on the highways or on a county farm could be undoubtedly established to the advantage of the county. This has been proved in other counties of the State. The jail is still used as a town lockup for the towns of Mohawk and Herkimer. Since the first of January of this year, 26 prisoners from the town of Mohawk have been received at the jail on temporary commitments, to be held prior to their appearance before a police court Justice. From the town of Herkimer, 121 prisoners under similar conditions. These prisoners are usually brought in at night, making it necessary for the sheriff or his assistants to get up at all hours to admit them. The prisoners are in most cases extremely intoxicated, unclean and disorderly. These conditions do much to increase the task of keeping the jail free from dirt and vermin, and also interfere with good discipline. Most jails throughout the State are used solely for the detention of Grand Jury prisoners and prisoners serving sentence; and not as police lockups. It is deplorable that the town of Mohawk, with a population of nearly 8,000, has no police lockup available. A town the size and character of Herkimer is likewise to be criticised. Throughout the State many towns much smaller than Herkimer or Mohawk have police lockups, and do not impose an unfair and improper burden upon the sheriff and his staff. JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL, WATERTOWN Sheriff, Charles S. Hosmer. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The employment of prisoners should be further developed, so that the labor of a larger number of prisoners can be utilized. 2. Heavy wire screens should be placed on the windows in the basement of the jail, to prevent the passing of contraband goods into the jail. 3. Permanent arrangements should be made to prevent easy access from the second to the third floor. Keys to the female section should be in posession of the sheriff and matron only. 4. There should be installed in some part of the basement or third floor a fumigating apparatus, so that the clothes of new prisoners can be thoroughly cleaned and stored in the numerous lockers which are now available on the third floor. Without a fumigating apparatus these lockers should not be used, because they are of wood, and will easily become filled with vermin. The fumigating apparatus need not be an expensive affair. For example, a large-size packing case can be lined with tin, and a door placed on it. Formaldehyde torches can be set into the case as the fumigating agent. Sulphur should not be used, as it is detrimental to the clothing. Prisoners should be supplied with uniforms (not striped). Brown or blue overalis and jumpers are sufficient. With an arrangement of this kind, the task of keeping the jail free from dirt and vermin will be greatly facilitated. 5. Opportunity for exercise should be given to prisoners awaiting the Grand Jury and also to those serving sentence who are not employed outside of the jail. If such opportunity cannot be conveniently arranged for in the jail yard, there should at least be some chance given for exercise in the outside corridors of the jail. Close confinement without sufficient exercise is bound to impair one's health, and even in the case of prisoners this should not be overlooked. PROGRESS MADE 1. The result of the increased activities on the part of the sheriff in connection with the employment of the sentenced prisoners, indicates that our recommendations and activities for the establishment of employment for the prisoners have not been in vain. While a start was made in this work last year, the activity this year completely eclipses all others in this county. 2. An electric rotary washing machine has been provided. This recommendation has been made repeatedly in our previous A high standard of cleanliness was found to exist throughout the jail. The sheriff and his staff are to be commended for their efforts in this direction. Jefferson County is now putting into practice the employment of jail prisoners serving sentence. It is evident that the sheriff is conscientiously endeavoring to obtain the best results. The county authorities have authorized the use of approximately 6 or 7 acres of the county tuberculosis hospital site, as a jail farm. On an average, from 3 to 8 men have been employed daily in the cultivation and general improvement of the land. A large crop of potatoes is |