CHAPTER XXIV.
Chain Gang—Prisoners.
Sec. 310. Establishment.
A prisoners working force to be known as a chain gang, shall
be established in this City and shall be under the direction and
control of the City Manager, subject to such rules as may be prescribed
by the Council. The City Manager shall direct such chain
gang or part thereof to be worked at such time and places as he
may designate or as necessity may require.
Sec. 311. Who liable thereto.
Any male person over the age of eighteen years convicted of
a misdemeanor, or any offense, and sentenced to confinement
in jail as a punishment, or part punishment, or who is imprisoned
for failure to pay any fine or penalty, imposed upon or assessed
against him upon such conviction, or for any violation of any ordinance
of this City which is punishable by fine and imprisonment
or for failure to give a bond required of him, shall be required
to work in such gang, unless excused for cause by the
City Manager.
Sec. 312. Manager—assistant.
The City Manager shall appoint a competent and efficient person
as manager of said chain gang and when necessary shall appoint
another as assistant manager.
Sec. 313. Their duties and authorities.
The manager, and assistant manager, of the chain gang, are
hereby vested with all the powers and responsibilities of policemen,
and shall be under the control of the City Manager and may
be suspended or removed from office peremptorily by the City
Manager or Council, without formal proceedings, for any cause
deemed sufficient by him or them.
Sec. 314. Rules and regulations.
The following rules shall govern the City Manager and other
officers in the discharge of their duties relating to the chain gang:
1. The manager of the chain gang shall take out such prisoners
as may from time to time be delivered to him by the City Jailor
and shall require them to perform such labor as may previously
have been designated by the City Manager. The manager shall
treat such prisoners humanely, using at the same time, however,
all such measures as may be necessary to secure diligent service
on the part of the prisoners and to prevent their escape.
2. The assistant manager of the chain gang shall assist the
manager in such manner as may be designated by him.
3. Each prisoner who is assigned to said chain gang shall obey
each and every proper order of the manager or assistant manager;
he shall perform such work as required of him by the officers
in charge of said force; and shall work each day the force
is out unless excused by sickness or by the City Manager.
4. The manager shall not punish an offending prisoner on any
street or other public place, but shall return him to the City jail,
there to be dealt with as provided by rule 6; and the manager
may call upon the City Sergeant or Jailer for such assistance as
he may require in dealing with an obstreperous prisoner.
5. When a prisoner claims to be sick the Jailer shall promptly
notify the physician of the jail, who shall visit such prisoner during
the day in which he is so notified; if in his opinion the prisoner
is unfit for work, he shall so certify to the City Manager,
and shall continue to visit the prisoner daily so long as he may require
medical attention.
6. Should any prisoner or person assigned to work on said
chain gang disobey any proper order of the officers in charge of
said chain gang or any rules and regulations of the Council, he
shall be punished by said officers in charge so that the same be
not less than fifteen nor more than thirty-nine stripes or lashes
in any one day. Such punishment to take place at the jail, or in
lieu thereof, or in addition thereto such disobedience may be reported
to the Civil and Police Justice who may add such additional
punishment as he may deem proper.
Sec. 315. Prisoners—credit for good conduct—additional
allowance.
Prisoners shall be allowed a credit upon their term of imprisonment
at the rate of four days per month for good conduct, and
in addition thereto shall be allowed a credit of 50c per day for
each day of confinement whether the same be on account of sentence
imposed or for failure to pay fine or costs, but nothing
herein contained shall prevent the City from collecting said fine
and costs or any part thereof by Civil Proceedings.
Sec. 316. Prisoners—limitation of confinement for failure
to pay fine and costs.
If any person is confined in jail until his fine and costs, or
costs where there is no fine, are paid, such confinement shall not
exceed ten days when the fine and costs, or costs where there is
no fine, are less than $5.00; when less than $10.00 it shall not exceed
twenty days; when less than $25.00 it shall not exceed one
month; when less than $50.00 it shall not exceed two months,
and in no case shall the confinement exceed three months.
Sec. 317. Commitment and release of prisoners.
No person shall be committed into the custody of the County
Jailor except upon written order of the Civil and Police Justice
or Chief of Police showing an indorsement thereon by the City
Collector stating that a true copy of the original order has been
delivered to him nor shall any person be released from the custody
of the County Jailor except upon a like order and indorsement.
