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Show Solving Utah's Prison Problem THAT Utah has a prison problem has been 1 brought sharply to the attention of the public recently by a wave of escapes and one murder. State authorities are evidencing a determination de-termination to do something about it and in this and a previous editorial The Telegram Is discussing some of the problems that must be solved. Yesterday we discussed the prison's physical problems, caused by an antiquated prison and overcrowding, which Is the major trouble. In addition there are some personnel problems. prob-lems. For one thing, they haven't had enough guards. They have had about one for every 17 prisoners, whereas the standard in most prisons li one guard 'or everynve to10 ptisonertrrRe- cent authorization of hew guards will relieve this situation somewhat, but, on the other hand, establishment of the prison camp at the new it will inert e the need for guards. Another personnel problem Is that there are entirely too many old guards over a third of them ranging from 80 to 82 years of age. That la not the fault of present prison management but ef the short-sighted policy in past years of hiring guards anywhere from 40 to 80 years of age. The result is that they have not completed the 29 year of service required for retirement en pension when they reach an age at which they should be retired for the sake of prison efficiency. In recent years a policy of hiring younger men as guards has been inaugurated two new guards being 23 and' 28 years old which should in a few years solve the age problem prob-lem and step up correspondingly efficiency of orison personnel. We can't leave this discussion of Utah's prison problem without mentioning another obstacle to prison efficiency politics. It has been in the put responsible for grots mismanagement. It la at least partly responsible for the present over-age guard problem. It is certainly to blame for the inexcusable delay in selection of a new prison site. Had it not been for political squabbles over the site, Utah might now have a new prison either built or in process of building, build-ing, with P W A aid, and we would be well on the way to complete prison efficiency. As it la, we have to do the job the hard, slow way, with the state paying all the bill. But it can be dona, if politically sticky fingers can be kept out of the pie, and if prison authorities are given adequate financial support, with public, official and legislative cooperation. It's going to take some money, some energy and some nonpolitical efficiency. But it will be worth every bit of it if we can thereby keep vicious criminals IN the prison and help those who can be rehabilitated to come OUT better fitted to fill a useful place in society. |