The journal of prison discipline and philanthropy (New series, No. 57), March, 1918

In Short

This journal serves as a historical record of the Pennsylvania Prison Society’s activities in 1918. It documents the transition from archaic, punitive jail conditions to more progressive systems, including industrial farm labor, the implementation of parole, and the standardization of prison diets. By recording committee reports, conference minutes, and legislative updates, the volume captures a society in the midst of professionalizing its approach to human confinement. It remains a vital primary source for understanding the early advocacy efforts that shaped modern correctional philosophy and the persistent struggle for humane institutional standards.

The Story

The narrative arc of this volume tracks the evolution of the Pennsylvania prison system from a collection of isolated, often neglected county jails toward a more cohesive, state-regulated industrial model. At the beginning, the report establishes the Society’s foundational role as an official visitor, authorized by law to inspect, instruct, and alleviate the miseries of those behind bars. The central conflict is the inefficiency and brutality of the "old system," characterized by the fee system, lack of meaningful inmate occupation, and dismal sanitation.

As the text progresses, the focus shifts to the legislative and practical interventions designed to replace these conditions. The Society acts as a catalyst for change, advocating for the appointment of police matrons to protect vulnerable women and children and pushing for the abolition of degrading practices like striped uniforms. The narrative then moves to the "Wardens’ Meeting," a milestone conference where officials from across the state convene to share best practices. This gathering marks a departure from local, haphazard management toward a collaborative, statewide vision for penal administration.

The middle section delves into the practical implementation of new laws, specifically the Industrial Farm Act of 1917. The Society evaluates the progress of various counties, using a grading system to measure efficiency based on farm work, road labor, and parole usage. It presents evidence of the fiscal and social benefits of these programs, highlighting how productive labor can foster rehabilitation rather than simply punishing the offender. The tone becomes analytical as it explores the logistics of these farms, from food preparation to the complexities of bookkeeping.

Toward the end, the scope expands to include national and international comparisons, such as the Michigan State Prison’s "honor system" and the model penal colonies in the Philippines. These examples serve as targets for Pennsylvania to emulate. The concluding sections summarize the proceedings of the American Prison Association, where the debate over the "indeterminate sentence" takes center stage. The argument is made that incarceration should function like medical treatment: the prisoner remains under supervision until "cured" of their criminal tendencies. The volume closes with a resolute call to action, reinforcing the need for continued advocacy to ensure that society meets its responsibility to reform—not just confine—the delinquent.

How It Unfolds

The mandate of the visitor The text opens by citing the legal acts that grant the Society its authority to inspect penal institutions. This establishes the legitimacy of the reformers and their right to witness the conditions inside jails.

The shift to labor The report details the transition from idle confinement to productive work, specifically the movement toward establishing industrial farms. It explains how this change benefits both the state economy and the individual prisoner’s development.

The collaborative conference The narrative moves to the Glen Mills meeting, where wardens and inspectors gather to standardize their methods. This section emphasizes the importance of professionalization and peer-to-peer communication among those running the prisons.

The scientific approach The journal introduces the importance of scientific management, particularly in the realm of prison dietaries. It argues that thoughtful menu planning and skilled preparation reduce waste and improve inmate morale.

The national perspective The final beats move beyond Pennsylvania to examine broader American and international trends. The discussion culminates in the advocacy for the indeterminate sentence and a vision of the prison as a place of healing.

The People

The text features a cast of characters who represent the diverse stakeholders in the criminal justice system. A. H. Votaw, the Secretary, acts as the primary voice of the Society. He is the tireless observer, recording successes and failures with clinical detachment, and serves as the bridge between the reformers and the prison officials. He believes in the power of data and the necessity of persuading the public through hard evidence.

The wardens—such as E. H. Knee of Cambria County and Superintendent Nibecker of Glen Mills—are the practical implementers. They often stand between the old, entrenched customs and the new, progressive mandates. Their willingness to adopt farm programs or improve culinary standards determines the success of the Society’s goals.

The judges and legislators are the architects of the system. Their role is debated throughout the journal, particularly regarding their use of the indeterminate sentence. The reformers view them as crucial allies who must be convinced that "morally diseased" individuals require rehabilitation rather than arbitrary, fixed-time punishment.

Finally, the prisoners appear as the silent subjects of these grand experiments. They are categorized by their labor, their capacity for parole, and their response to the honor system. Though they remain at the periphery of the discussion, the goal of the reformers is to transform them into "valuable members of society."

In Its Own Voice

The Society describes the reality of their visits, which are often fleeting but intended to provide a necessary human connection.

That some hearts have been touched, that some men and women have been reclaimed, we do not doubt; the seed has been sown, and often it seems like casting seed upon the waters.

Regarding the state of prison management, the journal offers a critique of the archaic and inefficient habits that governed county jails.

The fee system is still in use, a practice generally more or less abused; the Commissioners should very seriously consider a proposition to appoint a warden who should purchase provisions by contract.

Reflecting on the deeper purpose of the institution, the journal captures the high-minded, if paternalistic, idealism of the era.

Criminals are not sent to prison for punishment, as many seem to believe, but prisons exist for the confinement of prisoners for the safety of society and for the reform of the man or woman there.

What It's Really About

This book is about the professionalization of charity and the moral imperative of state-led rehabilitation. It wrestles with the question of whether a prison can ever truly be an agent of change, or if it is merely a "visible sign of failure." The central argument is that the justice system must replace vengeance with science and industry. It explores the tension between the state's need for fiscal efficiency and its responsibility to the humanity of the confined. Ultimately, it grapples with the transition from a medieval understanding of crime as a moral failing to a modern, though still evolving, view of delinquency as a condition susceptible to treatment and correction.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of social work, criminal justice, and institutional reform will find this a fascinating, if sobering, document. The book feels like a meticulous, dry, and often repetitive archive of administrative progress; it does not offer the narrative drive of a novel, but rather the slow, steady accumulation of facts. It is valuable because it shows the "long road" of reform, reminding the reader that the struggles of today—such as sentencing reform, prison labor, and the quality of inmate care—have roots extending back over a century.

One must be prepared for the period-specific attitudes that permeate the writing. The language is formal and occasionally detached, and the reformers possess a paternalistic, mid-war confidence in their ability to "cure" societal ills through organization. It can be difficult to read when the text discusses human beings with the clinical tone one might use for accounting, yet this very coldness is a testament to the mindset of the era. What stays with the reader is the sense of an ongoing project; the reformers of 1918 were clearly aware that they were fighting against inertia, and their frustration with "the advocates of the status quo" resonates with modern efforts to reform the justice system.