OF THE BOARD OF INSPECTORS OF THE STATE PRISON, WITH THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS FOR THE YEAR 1858. PROVIDENCE: KNOWLES, ANTHONY & CO., STATE PRINTERS. INSPECTORS' REPORT. THE Inspectors of the Rhode Island State Prison and County Jail, present to the Honorable the General Assembly, their Report for the year ending December 31, 1858. On the 1st of January, 1858, the number of convicts The average number of prisoners, during the year, has been 66128 365 The number of persons confined in Jail, on the 1st Leaving in Jail on the 31st of December, 1858, 85 year, is 102103 365 It may possibly surprise the General Assembly to know, that of the persons committed to the County Jail, nearly one-half have been debtors. On the 1st of January, 1858, the number of debtors There have been discharged during the year, 5 574 579 576 3 The Inspectors respectfully submit to the General Assembly the question, "Do not the laws affecting this class of our unfortunate fellow citizens require revision and amendment?" The General Assembly will find in the Report of the Warden, which is herewith submitted, a statement, in detail, of all the affairs of the Prison, together with a series of tables, presenting the most important facts in its history for the year 1858. The financial condition of the Prison and County Jail. The financial embarrassments of the year 1858, have affected the State Prison in the same manner as all other manufacturing establishments. The contractors could make no sales for their products, and, in consequence, were unable to employ the pris oners. Under these circumstances, the Inspectors have used every means in their power to save the State from loss. They are confirmed in the hope previously expressed, that, in times of ordinary financial prosperity, the Prison and Jail will, together, become self-supporting institutions. On the 1st of January, 1858, the property of the was $6,051 72 On the 31st of December, as appraised by the same officer, it was 7,314 94 Making an increase of the property of the State, of 1,263 22 It is proper to remark that this increase of the property is de rived from the price of a cabinet-shop, which the Inspectors have received, in payment of a debt from one of the contractors. The whole expense of the Prison and Jail, for the The expenses of the Prison and Jail, and the income of each Less excess of income over State Prison expenses, 243 30 1,244 33 The accounts of the year have all been examined and audited by Daniel Wilkinson, Esq,, who has for several years performed this duty, as a committee of the Board. The reasons why the Prison has not supported itself, for the past year, will be evident from the following facts: The cabinetshop, which has generally found employment for as many as 60 convicts, was, during the past year, able to employ no more than 20. The machine shop, which employed 20 of the convicts and Jail prisoners, was, in April last, relinquished by the contractors. Thus a large number of the prisoners were unemployed, and their support became a burden upon the State. The Warden has resorted to all the means in his power, to alleviate this burden. He undertook, on account of the Prison, such work as could be obtained for the machine shop, and thus found. remunerative employment for a part of the prisoners. In June last, he commenced the work of shoemaking, and thus found labor for 40 men. From this source $774 98 have been realized, and |