STATE OF MAINE.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 17, 1848.

ORDERED, That 350 copies of the foregoing Report and accompanying Resolve, be printed for the use of the Legislature.

SAMUEL BELCHER, Clerk.

The Inspectors of the Maine State Prison respectfully submit the following

ANNUAL REPORT:

At the date of the last annual report, April 30, 1847, there were confined in the prison sixty-nine males and one female. During the past year twenty-two have been received, twenty-one lischarged on expiration of sentence, two pardoned, and two renoved to the Insane Hospital-leaving sixty-seven, the present number. They are situated and employed as follows:

It will be seen by the list of punishments annexed, that solitary confinement has been principally depended upon during the year to preserve order and maintain the discipline of the prison; but it has been found necessary, in a few instances, to resort to the more degrading punishment of stripes, and the chain and clog. How ever much a resort to these means to preserve order may be regret ted, the inspectors are forced to acknowledge that in the manage ment of convicts personal chastisement of some kind is not only indispensable for the preservation of order by its subjects, but that the influence of such an example upon the willful and refractory is often salutary and efficient.

It is undoubtedly true, that the great "law of kindness" should be the governing principle in our intercourse with the world, but more particularly so while watching over and directing the actions of those victims of vice who are shut out from the world as a punishment for their crimes. While in our intercourse with the criminal, it should ever be remembered that however different our situation, we are still members of the same great family, and treat them with kindness; yet we should not be so far under the infuence of a "morbid sympathy" for the sufferings of the prisoner 23 entirely to lose sight of, and almost make him forget, the crime for which he is confined. We should not fear to speak in his presence of crime and its punishment, or to remind him of his offense,— should not by our intercourse and conversation lead him to entirely overlook his guilt and only to think of imprisonment as a misfortune, but should point out to him, with kindness, his true situation; convince him of the importance of a thorough self-examnation, and reformation; persuade him to submit to the rules c discipline, and during the time of his confinement to commence the practice of industry and application, that, continued after his dis charge, will be sure to establish for him a good character, and reder him a useful and respected citizen.

It is said that severe coercive measures compel, but seldo reform. This is undoubtedly true-and most convicts have t same feelings and susceptibilities as other men, and can readily b

operated upon and influenced by the same motives-and these facts should never be lost sight of in their treatment.

While most of those who have been confined in prision, having satisfied themselves that the way of the transgressor is hard, have abandoned their former course of crime upon their return into society, have formed new associates and applied themselves to some useful employment, yet the siatistics of every prison show frequent recommitments of those who, not having commenced a course of I reform while in prison, are again soon arrested in their acts of violence and guilt.

When the character of this latter class is taken into consideration; F. when it is remembered that with many of them the principles of kindness and morality were never cultivated in their youth; that their whole life till the time of their confinement had been spent under the complete influence of passion, it will readily be seen that their imprisonment only tends to sour them towards the whole world, but more particularly towards those who are directly the means of keeping them in confinement. While such is the case, can it for a moment be supposed that prison discipline can be maintained without occasionally resorting to severe punishment of some kind? Observation plainly shows that there are some in every prison who can only be properly subdued by physical suffering—some who cannot be reformed, but must be compelled.

During his whole continuance at the prison the warden has endeavored, and with a good degree of success, to sustain the rules and regulations of the prison by his forbearance, the mildness of his punishments, and various acts of kindness; nor has he ever resorted to any other punishment than a few days solitary confinement, till he was satisfied that the convict deserved it, and that the safety of the officers, and other prisoners, rendered it necessary.

In July last, it was found necessary by the warden to take C. Richardson (sentenced for life) from the shoe shop and place him in separate confinement, where he still remains. This course was adopted after having frequently confined him for a short time, and compelled him to wear a clog and chain, and having frequently urged him to