The number of arrests in the city of New York had increased from 54,751, in 1864, to 68,873 in 1865.

The number in the Sing Sing prison on the 30th September, 1864, was 683 males, and 158 females.

On the 14th November, 1865, (when we made our examination,) the number of males was 864, and of females 163, besides 29 females sent to other prisons during the year; showing an increase in this prison, during 13 months and a half, of 181 males, while during the previous 12 months, i. e., for the year ending 30th September, 1864, the number of males had decreased 257.

We had no opportunity of examining the records of the Auburn and Clinton prisons for 1865, so that in respect to them we learned nothing as to the increase since the peace. But during the war the diminution in those prisons was as follows:

During four years the total average number of males, in all the prisons, was as follows:

On the 30th September, 1864, the whole number was as low as 1,731. Prior to 1861, the number of prisoners in all the prisons had been gradually increasing. For four years they were as follows:

So that for four years prior to the war, the number of males increased from 1,952 to 2,477, and of females from 84 to 137; and for four years

during the war, the number of males decreased from 2,619 to 1,731, and the number of females increased from 143 to 147.

And so, too, it would seem, if we may take the commitments to the Sing Sing prison, and the arrests in New York as a criterion, that immediately on the closing of the late war the number of prisoners began to increase, and increased so rapidly that in six months the number of commitments was three times as great as the number had been during the same months in the previous year.

We have taken pains to inquire into the convictions in the city of New York, for State prison offenses, so as thereby to test the accuracy of our view. Those convictions were as follows:

These considerations are of importance, as showing the effect of a state of war upon the commission of crime, by those not in the service. But even the foregoing statements do not show the whole of the diminution of domestic criminals, because of the numbers who were sent by the General Government from the army and navy during the war and are included in the aggregate numbers.

Thus, on 30th September, 1864, there were 33 United States prisoners at Sing Sing, and at Clinton there were 16 United States prisoners, committed during the year. We did not inquire into this matter any further, for here was enough to show all that was necessary on this subject in order to illustrate the idea of a diminution during the war and an increase after it.

So, too, it was found that now, as well as after the Mexican war, the character of the crimes committed had changed. They have become more marked with violence. Full information on this topic was not within the reach of the committee. One fact, however, which they obtained, is significant. The convictions in the city of New York for crimes of violence were 624 in 1864, and 995 in 1865, showing an increase of 50 per cent.

city

II. NATIVITY OF THE PRISONERS, AND THE EFFECT OF COUNTRY OR CITY LIFE ON

CRIME.

SING SING.-Male Prison.

Of the 683 in the prison on 30th September, 1864, 372 were native born; 311 were of foreign birth.

Of the native born, 287 were born in the State of New York.

Of the foreign born, 130 were Irish, 80 German, 61 English, 10 British American.

Of the whole number 626 were white, 57 were negroes, or about one in 12.

Female Prison.

Of the whole number 158, 66 were natives, 92 were foreigners.
Of the native born, 53 were born in the State of New York.

Of the foreign born, 55 were Irish, 15 German, 14 British American, 5 English.

Of the whole number 148 were white, 10 were negroes, or about one in 16.

AUBURN PRISON.

Of the number in prison on the 30th September, 1864, to wit., 550, 370 were native born, 180 were of foreign birth.

Of the native born, 288 were born in the State of New York.

Of the foreign born, 81 were Irish, 29 British American, 27 English, 22 German.

Of the whole number 550, 511 were whites, 39 were negroes, or about one in 14.

CLINTON PRISON.

Of the whole number in prison 30th September, 1864, viz., 340, 219 were native born, 121 were of foreign birth.

Of the native born, 171 were born in the State of New York.

Of the foreign born, 61 were Irish, 19 British American, 7 English, 13 German.

Of the whole number 340, 307 were white, two were Indians, 31 were negroes, or about one in nine.

It must be recollected that the male prison at Sing Sing embraces those convicted in a limited district only, not extending beyond the counties of Columbia and Greene, while the female prison includes the convicts of the whole State. Each of the other prisons embraces also only certain portions of the State.

The places whence the female convicts come is significant. They come mostly from the large cities; few from the agricultural districts. Thus the city of New York sent..

do

do

do

do

Buffalo do
Brooklyn do
Albany do
Rochester do

49

Thus the village of Ogdensburgh sent
The residue, 53 counties of the State..

5

43

158

The tale thus told is, so far at least as the women are concerned, that most of them are foreigners, who linger around the large cities.

Strike out of the prisons the foreign element, and the whole number of males at Sing Sing would have been 372 instead of 683; at Auburn 370 instead of 550, and at Clinton 219 instead of 340.

The number in the female prison would have been 62 instead of 158, and the whole number in all the prisons would have been 1,027 instead. of 1,731.

III. AGES OF PRISONERS.

So, too, it is an interesting inquiry-at what ages were the prisoners when convicted? As this will enable us to ascertain at what age of man temptation is the strongest with him, and how far habits of vice are so fixed and ineradicable as to weaken, if not destroy, hopes of reformation.

In the Auburn and Sing Sing prisons one-seventh are under 20, and at Clinton one-eighteenth.

In all the prisons more than one-half, indeed almost two-thirds, are under 30.

It is probable that in the Sing Sing and Auburn districts the proportion of the younger convicts is so much greater than in the Clinton district, because there are so many more large cities in the former than in the latter.

Of the female prisoners 29 were under 20, 12 were under 30, and 46 were over 30. Two were over 60, but none over 70. Of the males at Sing Sing, three were over 60 and two over 70. At Auburn there were five between 60 and 70, and five over 70. At Clinton there were 12 between 60 and 70, and five over 70.

Hence it would seem that districts of country, where there are large cities, are most prolific of youthful offenders, while in agricultural districts more of the mature and the aged indulge in crime.

The ages here given are those when the prisoners were convicted. Although in 1845 there were nine in the prison at Sing Sing committed for life, there are none in that prison now who were there 20 years ago, except one or two on second convictions.

IV. RECOMMITMENTS.

It is a very common error to suppose that the most of those who have been in prison sin again, and are again imprisoned. This idea was put

forth in the convention which framed our constitution in 1846, and was productive of much mischief, because it induced that body in great measure to overlook the reformatory character of our prisons and throw them into the political arena. This is a great mistake, and cannot but be

mischievous wherever it obtains.

Our third report contains a minute account of our examinations of all the prisons on this subject some 20 years ago, and it announces the result that at least seven-tenths of all the male convicts were not recommitted, and it was reasonable to suppose that they led honest lives after their discharge.

The mass of evidence that could be collected on this topic would swell this report beyond all due bounds. It must therefore now suffice to say, that an examination for the past year not only confirms the statement of twenty years ago, but shows an advance in that respect.

It appears from the annual report of the State Prison Inspectors, for 1864, that at Sing Sing one out of six of the males are recommitted, and one out of 16 of the females. At Auburn one out of six are recommitted. At Clinton one out of three are so.

So that, while the general idea in the public mind is that our prisons have very little reformatory effect, the fact is, that in our two largest prisons 86 out of every 100 males, and 94 out of every 100 females, are not again convicted and returned to prison.

But it is a fact still more gratifying that while 20 years ago the proportion of reformation was seven-tenths, it is now nearly nine-tenths. Such is the effect of an enlightened humanity; for greatly have our prisons in that time advanced in the character of their discipline.

Why the difference from this state of things should be so great in the Clinton prison, we have not had the opportunity to inquire. There, it would seem, that one-third are recommitted, or 33 out of every 100, more than twice as great a proportion as at the other prisons. Is it because the improvements which have been introduced in the other prisons have not all reached there? It may be so, for it seems that while 480 convicts on contracts at Auburn earn an 'overstent" of $16,991.12, at Clinton, 250 on contracts earn only $469.32.*

There is one prisoner who has been eight times in State prison.

V. OVERSTENT.

It has long been a subject of discussion among people who take an interest in prison discipline, whether the convicts should be allowed to earn anything for themselves? In the English system this is called "overstent."

On one side it is objected, 1. That it gives the officers a good deal of additional trouble in so supervising it, as to make it work beneficially. 2. That it gives the contractors and their clerks—and this is particularly

* The reformatory influences at Clinton are certainly not inferior to those at Auburn and Sing Sing. The difference as stated by the committee is very remarkable. Is it not possible that there may be some error in the figures? [COR. SEC.]