in both the trades-chool and the school of letters, and the excellence of his monthly examinations in these departments has much to do in determining the date of his prospective release. An inmate, by his progress in his trade and school work, and by conducting himself in such a manner as to give the management confidence that he has a firm resolution to reform, may earn his release from the reformatory in a little more than one year; in fact the time when he shall be released depends largely upon his own efforts.

Inmates are credited by the day for their work, and are charged for everything they receive, with the exception of the articles of clothing, etc., which constitute their first outfit. If for any reason an inmate suffers a fine this is charged against his expense account and is taken from his credits. These fines are imposed for disobedience of the institutional rules, and also for failing to pass examinations in the school and trade work.

In accordance with their individual records while in the reformatory, the inmates are separated into three divisions or, as they are termed here, grades. In the middle, or what is institutionally known as the lower first grade, all inmates are placed upon their arrival at the reformatory and from this grade, by good conduct and proper advancement in school and trade work, they may be promoted to the highest or upper first grade; or by misconduct, and failure in school and trade work, may be reduced to the second, or lowest grade. It is necessary that an inmate shall have attained and remained in the upper first grade for a period of at least six months, before he can be released from the reformatory. Promotion from the lower first to the upper first grade may be earned by making at least six months' perfect record in the lower first grade. Upon receiving

during one month, fines amounting to three dollars, or more, or by making, for two months in succession, an imperfect record, although the fines should not amount to three dollars in each of such months, an inmate in the upper first grade, is subject to be reduced to the lower first grade; or if in the lower first is subject to reduction to the second grade. If reduced to the second grade, in order to be restored to the lower first, it will be necessary for him to make a perfect record for one month, and also to have earned sufficient credit so that the books will show that he has, after his fines are deducted, a credit balance.

A letter is allowed to be written and a letter received by each inmate in the upper first grade, once a month; the lower first grade men are allowed this privilege once in two months, and the second grade, twice a year. Writing day for the upper first grade, occurs on the first Sunday of each month; for the lower first grade, upon the first Sunday before the fifteenth of each of the following months: February, April, June, August, October, and December; for the second grade, on the first of May and the first of November of each year.

Inmates of the upper first grade or the lower first grade may receive, once in three months, a visit from their relatives; but this privilege is denied to those in the second grade, who are allowed to receive no visits.

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As has been previously mentioned in this letter, it is our rule to impose fines for misconduct, and for failure to pass satisfactory examinations in school and trade work; our method of doing this is as follows: Each of our officers carries with him printed slips of paper on which are left blank spaces which may be filled in with the inmate's name, number, offense for which he is fined, amount of fine imposed, name of reporting officer,

and date of the issuing of the fine. There is also left a space in which the reporting officer may write an explanation in regard to same. These slips are divided into three classes, and are called respectively, first, second and third class reports. When issued against an inmate, a first class report means a fine of one dollar, or more; a second class, twenty-five cents, and a third class, ten cents. A failure in school of letters or trades school examination calls for a fine which varies with the percentage attained in the examination, a standing of at least seventy-five per cent. being required in order to pass the examination. Should an inmate's percentage be under seventy-five per cent., but at least fifty per cent., or more, hè is subject to a fine of one dollar; if less than fifty per cent., but at least twentyfive per cent., or more, two dollars; if less than twenty-five per cent., a three dollar fine is imposed. An inmate who during any one month receives less than one dollar's worth of reports for misconduct and who during that period of time, successfully passes his school examination, is said to have made a perfect month, or, as it is called here, a "nine." After reading the foregoing, you will observe that the making of a "nine" or perfect month, depends upon the inmate's conduct, trades-school work and his progress in his studies. This makes it for the inmate's interest to not only watch carefully his daily conduct, but also to study faithfully in school, thus avoiding fines which, if incurred, will serve as an obstacle to his early release from the institution. After an inmate has made at least six perfect months in the lower first grade, has been promoted to the upper first grade, and has made in this grade also, at least six perfect months, he may, if the management has confidence that he has a firm resolution to reform, become eligible for release, under

certain conditions, some of which are here enumerated: First, he must have an offer of employment (preferably at the trade learned here), and this offer of employment must be investigated and pronounced satisfactory by some authorized agent of the managers of the institution. Second, he must for a period of at least six months after parole, send us monthly a written report, telling us how he is getting along, how much money he has saved, etc., and each of these reports, before being sent to us, must be examined and approved by the authorized agent of the institution, in the town in which the inmate is working, or by the person designated in the parole paper. After six of these reports have been approved and sent to us, the inmate may ask the officer to whom he makes his reports to recommend to the Board of Managers of this reformatory that he be absolutely released, and this request, if the management shall deem advisable, may be granted him.

It must be distinctly understood that inmates are not allowed to receive money from any person, as this constitutes a violation of our institutional rules, and relatives of inmates are particularly cautioned when writing to persons confined in this institution, to inclose no money in their letters; nor are they to pay or send any money to any persons representing themselves to be connected with the institution, or claiming to have the power to secure benefits or favors to, or release of any inmate in the institution.

A commodious and well appointed hospital is maintained in the institution; all necessary medicines are dispensed by our pharmacist, and the health of the inmates is carefully looked after by a competent staff of physicians.

General Superintendent's Report.

NEW YORK STATE REFORMATORY AT ELMIRA.

ELMIRA, N. Y., September 30, 1902.

To the Board of Managers:

The reformation of the unfortunates committed to this institution has been vigorously prosecuted during the past year. A marked improvement in the method of caring for the bodies. and minds of these men has resulted in a much lower death rate, and has operated to decrease the number of breakdowns in the mentally deficient, or defective classes, and, by improving the physical condition of the mass, has rendered them more susceptible to reformative measures. We believe that to attain the best results it is essential that the inmate should be placed in good physical condition. The general opinion of the public appears to be that the inmates received in penal institutions are as vigorous, both physically and mentally, as are normal individuals in free life. It is our opinion, however, based upon a careful examination of a large number of men received here, that this is not the case; and, bearing in mind the fact that these men come principally from the lowest strata of society, it should not surprise us to find that, after examination, they do not measure up to the normal standard of the average individual outside prison walls, and this fact accounts to a considerable extent for the higher mortality over the figures given in free life in our penal institutions, and partially explains the rea