Prison Population Explodes
Walla Walla's state penitentiary faces record overcrowding as prisoner count surges to 673.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The state board of control, which has just received a visitation of state institutions, reports the increase of convicts at the state penitentiary has broken the previous record in the state. There are now 673 prisoners at Walla Walla, an increase of seventy since the first of April. This is the largest number on record in the state and the most rapid increase ever recorded. There will be an increase of at least forty-four before the first of August and possibly more, while only thirty-three will be discharged during that time. The board of control in its report to the last legislature estimated the needs of the institution on a basis of 675. The board does not attempt to account for this condition, but suggests it may possibly be that the prosecuting attorneys are getting more vigilant, or what is more likely with the increase of the state's population, its criminals are also increasing. Five years ago there were less than 300 prisoners in the state penitentiary and four years ago there were less than 400 there.
“The board does not attempt to account for this unprecedented condition.”
Rapid surges in carceral populations have historically been framed as a sign of 'vigilant' law enforcement or inevitable demographic growth. Today, Washington continues to debate the ethics of overcrowding and the revolving door of the justice system in a manner that mirrors this 1903 report.
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