A detailed look at a 19th‑century state prison, including finances, operations, and reform efforts.
This historical document presents the 1886 annual report of the Michigan State Prison, with sections from the inspectors, warden, chaplain, and physician. It covers convict numbers, state contracts, and notes on improvements like electric lighting and boiler repairs. The report also outlines requested appropriations, sanitary conditions, school programs, and policy ideas related to prison management and reform.
Readers will gain a snapshot of prison life, governance, and the challenges of expanding facilities and services for a growing population. The report highlights how management balanced finances, work on state accounts, and efforts to modernize infrastructure while preserving humane treatment and discipline.
- Details on prisoner counts, contracts, and the move toward state‑funded work and repairs
- Descriptions of facilities upgrades, including lighting, power, and new cell blocks
- Insights into prison education, the school program, and library usage
- Committee recommendations on appropriation needs and administrative reforms
Ideal for readers of historical crime and corrections, Michigan history, and 19th‑century public administration.