Recidivism a Crime of Necessity
Recidivism in the 1800's Vocabulary
In today's age we hear the word recidivism widely accepted and used. However according to Merriam-Webster the first known use of the word recidivism was not until 1884. The prison association used an alternate term "Recommitment" this term was used for released prisoners who were driven back to the life of crime and re-sentanced to out of necessity. The goal of the prison association was to help those who were released stay off the path of recommitment and were very successful.
Recommitment according to PANY
The problem The Prison Association of New York found was that after a crime has been committed in the many counties of New York the offenders would be sent to Sing Sing to serve their sentence. However, without the help of the association some of these incarnated people upon release would resort to crime once again out of necessity. The association realized in their first annual report that these inmates would all be released in New York after they served their time. This created a problem the Association was determined to fix.
Crimes of Neccesity
To starve or steal, is often the only alternative offered to them.
In the first annual report of the Prison Association of New York the members discuss why people might commit crimes. In this they recognize the misfortune of those who become incarcerated. In 1852 some of the members attribute crime to misfortune of birth. They claim orphaned children living in a life of poverty and hardship could find their way into a life of crime. They state
Amidst what an atmosphere of curses, ribaldry, deceit, fraud, drunkeness and sloth did these little ones first stumble into life! By what blows and burdens were they crushed! By what multiplied obscurations was the light of reason and conscience dimmed!
Examples of Recommitment
Israel Boles
Israel Boles, an African American man, was born in Middletown New Jersey in 1813. At the age of 18 he moved to New York City in search of work. It was at this time that Israel Boles was arrested for grand larceny and sentenced to Sing Sing prison in New York for 3 years. In 1834 he was released for the first time and was a free man for about 9 months. During these 9 months he was convicted of larceny again and was sent to Sing Sing for 2 years and 3 months. Again, Israel Boles served his time and was set free. However, 15 days after his release he was arrested for burglary in 1840. This offense earned Israel his longest sentence of 7 years. For the third time Israel served his time in his old cell and was released in 1847. After being released from his 7 year prison time he was informed that his wife and two children had passed away in New Haven. He was released from prison and found a job with Henry Gardner working as a cooper. However, in 1848, again he was arrested for suspicion of an attempt to commit burglary. He was sent to the Tombs for several days yet was sent free when no further evidence was found.
Israel is one of many people mentioned in the diary to have been recommitted to prison many times. His case helps support the members of the Prison association justify the claim that these recommitted prisoners act out of necessity. It is not until Israel is able to gain employment with the help of PANY that he is able to break his long struggle with crime out of necessity.
"Heres three dollars... Make it last"
In many cases reformed convicts were given a small amount of three dollars upon release they were expected to make this money last until they could procure employment. However according to the first annual report this amount was not enough to make it home and "In no case, probably, enough to support them until they could procure employment"
The Thousand Paths That Slope the way to Crime
This Quote from the first annual report highlights the slope back to crime for some of the reformed inmates. Without being able to obtain gainful employment many of these reformed convicts were forced back to the life of crime due to their tainted reputation from their first conviction.
A Young man was released from prison by pardon, and sensible of the futility of attempting to find employment in the city, where he was known, he shipped as a sailor on board a merchant vessel, under an assumed name. But his real name was soon discovered, and he was summarily dismissed. A second and third engagement, of the same kind, was attended with the same result. In vain, he was pointed out as an old convict; and all his efforts to find employment were defeated. He determined to try another direction, and went to Albany, with the design of going farther west. HE paid his fare on the canal, but, was recognized, was ordered to leave the boat. He returned to the city with wounded and exasperated feelings. “Atleast,” said he, “they will let me fight.” But here, too, he failed. His application for enrolment in the California regiment was promptly rejected. “What am I to do?” he exclaimed. “Must I starve? Wherever I go there is nothing but persecution. I am driven almost to despair. I can with difficulty resist the disposition to commit some desperate act of revenge for such treatment”