Page images
PDF
EPUB

An Act Relative to Convicts Sentenced to Solitary Imprisonment in the State Prison for Life.

[Approved April 2, 1819. Laws of 1849, p. 316.]

House of Convicts sen convicts tary confinement

tenced to soli

(6230.) SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and Representatives of the State of Michigan, That the which have been, or may be sentenced to "solitary confinement in the State prison, at hard labor for life," may be released from solitary confinement and employed as other convicts are, whenever, and for such times as the inspectors may, by resolution, direct, until such time as proper cells are prepared to enable such sentence to be fully enforced.

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

to be employed as other convicts,

etc.

An Act Relative to State Prison.

[Approved February 12, 1857. Took effect May 18, 1857. Laws of 1857, p. 211]

kept.

(6231.) SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, Record to b♦ That the agent of the State prison shall cause to be kept a record of each and all infractions of the rules of discipline by convicts, with the names of the convict or convicts offending, and the date and character of each offence, which record shall be placed before the inspectors at each regular meeting of the board, and every convict who shall have been sentenced for a term of years, whose name does not appear upon such record Deduction from of reports, shall be entitled to a deduction of one day per for good behamonth from his sentence for each month he shall continue to obey all the rules of the prison, for the period of one year from the passage of this act.

time of sentence

vior.

good behavior in

(6232.) SEC. 2. All such convicts who shall have been enti-Deduction for tled to a deduction of one day per month, according to the second year. provisions of the above section, shall for a like faithful observance of all the rules for the second year, be entitled to a deduction of two days per month; and if any convict shall continue his good deportment for the remainder of the time

remaining time.

of his sentence, after the expiration of two years, he shall be Deduction for entitled to a deduction of four days per month until his time shall expire.

deprived of de

duction for vio

(6233.) SEC. 3. If any convict shall be guilty of a willful Convicts may be violation of the rules of the prison, after he shall have become entitled to a diminution of service to which he has been

lation of rules.

sentenced, the inspectors shall have the power to deprive such convict of a portion or all of the deductions from the term of his sentence, to which he had previously become entitled by virtue of the provisions of this act, and it shall be the duty of the inspectors to direct the discharge of such convict when he shall have served out his sentence, less the time which shall be deducted therefrom by virtue of the provisions of this act.

[blocks in formation]

House of Correction established.

An Act to Establish a House of Correction for Juvenile Offenders.

[Approved February 10, 1855. Laws of 1855, p. 145.]

(6234.) SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That there shall be establishad in this State, an institution under the name and style of the "House of Correction for Juvenile Offenders," and that the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated from the general fund, for preparing the grounds, for the erection of suitable buildings and fixtures therefor: Provided however, That it shall not be lawful for the board of control hereinafter created,

to draw upon the sum hereby appropriated, an amount exceeding twenty-five thousand dollars in any one year.

office.

(6235.) SEC. 2. The general supervision and government of Board of Control said House of Correction, shall be vested in a board of control, to consist of three members, who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, the members of which board shall hold their offices for the respective terms of two, four and six years from the first of Their terms of March, eighteen hundred and fifty-seven, and until their successors shall be appointed and qualified, said respective terms of office to be designated in their several appointments; and thereafter there shall be one of said board appointed every two years, whose term of office shall continue for six years, or until his successor is appointed and qualified. The members of said board of control shall constitute a body corporate, under the name and style of the "Board of Control of the Board a body corHouse of Correction for Juvenile Offenders," with the right of suing and being sued, of making and using a common seal, and of altering it at pleasure. (a)

porate.

to establish site,

(6236.) SEC. 3. The said board are hereby empowered to Board of Control select and establish with all convenient dispatch, a site for the etc. House of Correction, and for that purpose they are also hereby authorized to receive proposals for the donation of lands, money, or of building materials, for the location and erection of such House of Correction, in behalf of the State, and for the benefit of said institution: Provided, That good and sufficient titles to any lands thus granted, and securities for the payment of the money and delivery of the materials thus donated, shall be obtained by said board before any such site shall be fully established.

tablished, to de

conveyance, etc.

(6237.) SEC. 4. The said board having established a site for When site is essaid institution, shall immediately deposit a certificate of their posit certificate, determination, together with all conveyances of lands granted, and securities for moneys or materials donated, in the office of the Auditor General. They shall also prepare and adopt a plan for the grounds, buildings and fixtures necessary for such To prepare plan institution, of such form, dimensions, style and finish, as when completed, to come within the cost and limit of the sum hereinbefore appropriated.

(a) As Amended by "An Act to Amend certain Sections of an Act entitled An Act to Establish a House of Correction for Juvenile Offenders, approved February tenth, eighteen hundred and fiftyfive." Approved February 10, 1857. Laws of 1857, p. 203. This Act also makes certain appropriations for the institution.

for buildings.

To advertise for

proposals for

tracts.

make con

(6238.) SEC. 5. The board of control having secured a site, building, etc., and adopted a plan for the grounds and buildings, which shall contain at least twenty acres, shall forthwith proceed to advertise for proposals for the erection and furnishing of such parts of the buildings in accordance with their plan, as may be necessary to put the said institution in readiness, at an early period, for the reception, confinement and discipline of youthful offenders; and upon the reception of such proposals, they may in their discretion, make contracts with such bidders as shall make proposals best conducive to the interests of the State, taking into consideration the price, time of performance, and the responsibility of the contractor, with such sureties as he may offer; which contracts, when duly executed, shall also be deposited in the office of the Auditor General.

Secretary of
State.

To make report to (6239.) SEC. 6. Said board shall make out and deliver to the Secretary of State, on or before the first day of January in each year hereafter, a detailed statement of their operations, and of all expenditures made by them in behalf of said instiActual expenses tution. The traveling and other actual expenses necessarily incurred by the members of said board, as such, and in the discharge of their duties, may be retained by them out of appropriations for said institution, subject to the determination of the board of State Auditors, settling the proper amount upon an account stated.

to be allowed,

etc.

Duties of Board.

Board of Control;

tions to be made

by.

(6240.) SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the members of the board of control to meet annually at the House of Correction. on the third Wednesday in November of each year, and at said annual meeting they shall elect of their own body, a chairman, treasurer, and clerk, who shall hold their offices for one year, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. (b)

Meetings of (6241.) SEC. 8. It shall be the duty of the board of control, Rules and regula to meet once in every three months, on their own adjournments, and oftener if they shall deem it advisable, at which meetings they shall prepare and carefully digest and mature a system of government for said House of Correction for juvenile offenders, embracing all such rules, regulations, and general laws, as may be deemed necessary for preserving order, for enforcing discipline, for imparting instruction, for preserving health, and generally for the proper physical, intellectual and moral training of the offenders. (c)

(b) (c) As Amended. See note (a)

T

to visit similar

(6242.) SEC. 9. For the purpose of maturing said system of one of the Board government and discipline, it shall be competent for said Institutions. board to authorize one of their number to visit some similar institution, now in operation, and of the best repute, and by a personal inspection and investigation, to acquire an insight into the principles and practical working of the model system thus selected, for the information and benefit of said board; the expenses actually and necessarily incurred in any such Expense to be visit and investigation, to be charged against the appropriation appropriation. herein before made.

charged against

to be sentenced

years of age

(6243.) SEC. 10. From and after the time that said institu- Certain offenders tion shall be prepared for the reception of offenders, every till twenty-ons person under the age of sixteen years, who shall be convicted of a prison offence, except in the case of offences punishable by law, by imprisonment for life, shall be sentenced to the House of Correction for juvenile offenders, until they shall be twenty-one years of age; and it shall be the duty of all Courts and magistrates, sentencing offenders to said House of Correction, to certify to the keeper of said House of Correction, the age of the person so committed, as nearly Age of offender to as can be ascertained by testimony, taken under oath, before be certified. such Court or magistrate, or in such other manner as the Court or magistrate shall direct; and no person shall be detained in custody, in said institution, after they shall have become twenty-one years of age. (d)

ed with State

(6244.) SEC. 11. The House of Correction hereby estab- To be disconnectlished for the instruction and reform of juvenile offenders, Prison. shall be entirely disconnected with the State penitentiary at Jackson.

tence to House

(6245.) SEC. 12. Whenever said institution shall be so far Courts may sencompleted as to allow of the reception and proper discipline of of Correction. juvenile offenders, it shall be lawful for all Courts of Record having criminal jurisdiction, and for all Police Courts, and Justices' Courts, in the exercise of their proper criminal jurisdiction, and said Courts are hereby severally authorized, to sentence any offender of the respective classes contemplated by this act, to the said House of Correction: Provided, Judgments rendered in all Police or Justices' Courts shall, upon the reviewal of the papers and testimony taken by the Justice on said trial, before a Circuit or Probate Judge, be

(d) As Amended. See note (a)

« PreviousContinue »