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Description and Holding Information
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Joint Comm. on the State Prison. Report, 1828
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SEE ALSO 51803, 51821, 51823, 51825, 51881 Senate No. 17 Report of the Joint Committee of the Legislature of Massachusetts on the State Prison with
a bill Boston : Dutton & Wentworth, 1828. 1,000 copies printed. The Committee looked into a large discrepancy in the budget numbers between
1825/26 and 1826/27. The overseer of the stone works accused the warden of failing to properly manage the contracts. The investigators didn't think that
was correct. Poor bookkeeping was part of the answer, but the bottom had dropped out of the building boom and thus the stone market. The overseer of
the stone works was allowed much too much money for his services and was generally disruptive; the group recommended his termination. The Commissary
was badly run. Prisoners were allowed to earn money for overtime work which was held in trust, but those monies had been tampered with. Therefore:
An Act providing for the government and regulation of the State Prison, 1828. The staff was to be three outside inspectors, the warden, deputy
warden, chaplain, physician, stone works manager, eight overseers and six watchmen. The Governor appointed the lead officers and the warden appointed the
rest. The warden was the CEO and CFO of the prison and had to give a $20,000 performance bond. He made all contracts, kept the records, and reported
to the Governor twice a year. The chaplain was full time. The doctor was to come once a day and keep track of all patients and supplies. The
inspectors were to come at least once a month and the Governor and Council were to visit once a year. The warden and deputy warden were to live on the
grounds of the prison. The bill listed the pay of all personnel. When completed, the prison had to accept all the state convicts presently housed
elsewhere. The bill called for one person, one cell, listed the clothing and food, including only bread and water in solitary confinement, and said those
leaving were entitled to a suit of clothes and $5. Exemplary prisoners could get a letter of recommendation. Corporal punishment could be no more than
ten stripes. If any employee aided an escape, the penalties were listed. (Digitized from a microfilm copy of title originally held by the
Massachusetts State Library).
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Title:
Report of the Joint Committee of the legislature of Massachusetts on the state prison : with a bill.
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OCLC Number:
123465440
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Available Volumes
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| Name | Fiche Count | Online | Paper Backup |
| Vol. 1 | | Yes | No |
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