Early prison efforts focused on educating the incarcerated
San Quentin rehabilitation efforts in the 1870s were very different than they are today, as one report demonstrates.
In 1874, the Joint Commission of the Senate and Assembly reported on the condition of the State Prison at San Quentin. One section focused on the Moral Instructor, the school and volunteer chaplains. The commissioners recommended the state appoint an official chaplain and expand the educational offerings. At the time, the school, chapel and library were all in the same room.
As part of CDCR’s Time Capsule series, this has been edited for length and clarity. Otherwise, it is published as it was written. (Learn more about the prison chaplains or explore more state prison history.)
San Quentin chapel, school room and library
Afterward, we visited the chapel, school room, and library, which is in a room in the fourth story of the four-and-a-half story brick building, measuring 60 by 40 feet. It is well furnished with benches, a pulpit, tables, organ, instructive and domestic charts and pictures displayed from the walls.
There is a library of over 3,000 volumes. Great care and neatness is displayed by the prisoners (in how they treat) the books borrowed by them.
About 2,500 books are taken out monthly. There are accommodations capable of seating about 500.
Religious exercises
Services are conducted in this building every Sunday morning, which are entirely voluntary. Three Sundays in the month, the California Prison Commission sends a clergyman to officiate, and the other Sunday is occupied by the Roman Catholic clergyman. The majority of the prisoners confined are Roman Catholics. In our visit on Sunday morning we were present at a sermon delivered by the Rev. Albert Williams, and we never yet have, at any time or in any place, seen a more devout and reverent class of worshipers.
The services were opened and closed by singing, which was led by a choir, joined in by the convicts, and accompanied by an organ, all of which would reflect credit on any ordinary assembly of people religiously disposed.
Rehabilitation through school
After (closing) religious services, the school was convened under the direct supervision of Miguel Smith, Moral Instructor. He has a hard and onerous task shaping out or mending up of shattered principles (and) minds. (His) work, which, in the interest of humanity and the reform of convicts, (is often) overlooked.
Smith, during his term, has made great advances in educating and teaching good morals to the prisoners. In the school room, old and young men sit side by side, learning and being willing to learn. While some are studying the classics, others are learning to read the alphabet and the primary grades of the beginner.
(School lessons include) reading, writing, grammar, geography, arithmetic, bookkeeping, navigation, trigonometry, Spanish, German, Latin, and French, among others. These studies are taught in classes of six to 15, presided over by a monitor selected by the Moral Instructor.
Among the scholars are men of all grades, colors, and nationalities, sitting side by side and studying each other’s languages. Voluntary attendance at the church and school is very large, averaging from 300 to 500.
Number of prisoners who can:
- read 691
- write 628
- read and write 628
- neither read nor write 240.
These figures compare most favorably with the proportion of prisoners in European prisons.
By inquiry from statistics, we find that, of the whole number committed and in confinement, those who can read or write total:
- 43% France
- 51% Belgium
- 62% Netherlands
- 40% Switzerland
- 50% Italy
- 40% Great Britain.
Literary club
After school is dismissed, the teachers are organized into a literary club. (They) compile essays, debate (life’s) questions, and cultivate intelligence. Among these teachers are some very fine intellects, and the meetings are extraordinarily interesting. Music on the organ, and singing (are) also indulged in.
Reformation of prisoners
In the moral department of a prison lays the future reform of the convict. In the furtherance of this, hope and encouragement are held out for all to cultivate feelings of self respect, to seek improvement and reformation.
With a few exceptions, these convicts are not essentially different from rest of mankind. (They are) subject to the same influences, moved by the same passions, desires, affections, hopes, and fears. The responsibility of his repentance and a better life rests on himself.
Education and labor essential
The healthy occupation of mind and body is powerful in the good work of criminal reformation. By labor and education, the convict is reminded:
- the way of the transgressor is hard
- a dishonest life is a failure
- to be happy and respected, one must be honest and upright.
Shut out from the world, and deprived of the ordinary privileges of life, convicts remember every little kindness. We believe (they) are more easily and better governed (with compassion) than by the use of harsher means.
It is nothing unusual to see discharged convicts, about to go from the prison, recount little kindnesses extended to them. With tears of gratitude in their eyes, (they) thank the officers for the interest they had manifested in their welfare.
Further education necessary
And with the present system of education, a reform should be further instituted, looking to the developing of the education of convicts. As the system at present works, only two hours on Sunday are given to teaching. This cause could be further advanced by giving the convicts one hour’s schooling each day, after supper.
The illiterate should be taught not alone a trade or occupation, but taught a common education, a desire to perfect which cannot but be experienced by the intelligent judgment of every humane citizen who has the welfare and interest of the State at heart.
Over 80% of these men will soon be abroad in society again. Without education, you force upon the community hardened criminals — graduated by the prison surroundings — and not reformed convicts. Therefore, we advise one hour’s schooling each evening after supper during the Summer months. In this department, we would add that the moral instructor seems to meet the required ends in the matter of education. By all means keep the moral and religious instructors separate.
Rehabilitation of discharged convicts
But, with all this interest taken in the reform and development of the convict, a great mistake has been (happening). The most perfect system of reform in prisons amounts to little if the convict is dropped by the State when he is discharged. If ever (someone) struggling against temptations, requires assistance and friends, it is then.
If there is a period in a convict’s life when he needs to be kept from evil influences and encouraged to industry, it is when he leaves the prison. As the law now stands, a discharged convict receives the sum of $3 and a second-hand suit of clothes. We think this is inadequate and fails to meet the actual wants of the man discharged.
(Those) returning to the State Prison have fallen from grace for want of money, work, and food. With no one to help them, they commit a crime. We advise $20 be given to each discharged convict, as well as a good new suit of clothes valued at $15. They (should) get away from large cities (and) take to the country. (Here they can) try and get some work whereby to earn an honest living. We are satisfied once he gets a start, the result will be beneficial to the community and his own course in life.
Prison rehabilitation resources
- Division of Rehabilitative Programs
- Watch DRP’s YouTube video
By Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications