New York City's Administrative Progress, 1914-1916; A Survey of Various Departments Under the Jurisdiction of the Mayor

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 Excerpt: ... DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION Modern Penological Methods Lacking in 1914 For a number of years prior to this administration, no department of the city government was as neglected as the department of correction. It was principally a department of jails. The buildings were of antiquated construction, and the department was administered with scarcely any regard for modern penological requirements and methods. One or two unsuccessful efforts were made by former commissioners to infuse a new spirit and modern ideas into correctional work but these efforts, except in the establishment of the reformatory, failed. Even as early as 1895, it was recognized that Blackwell's Island was an unsuitable place for the proper development of the institutions of this department. The legislature of that year enacted a law which prohibited further construction for the department of correction on Blackwell's Island. In 1905, a law was passed requiring the commissioner of correction to classify all criminals and misdemeanants under his charge, so that youthful and less hardened offenders should not be rendered more depraved by association with older and more hardened offenders, and designated the institution established at that time for youthful offenders on Hart's Island as the New York City Reformatory for Misdemeanants. This law also provided that, after January 1, 1905, any male person between the ages of 16 and 30, upon first conviction of any offense other than a felony, might be sentenced to the reformatory in the discretion of the magistrate or the court for an indefinite period not exceeding three years, the term of such imprisonment being determined by the board of parole. The establishment of the board of parole of the New York City Reformatory was authorized by the same a...