II.A.IV.1. Punishment Registers and Indexes, 1896-1931 and 1940-1946.

Containers:

Volumes 108-113.

Scope and content:

There are 6 volumes of Punishment Registers and Indexes from 1896 to 1931 and 1940 to 1946. An 1896 Act of the Virginia General Assembly required the Superintendent to keep a separate punishment register. These volumes list the types of infractions and punishment administered to prisoners for violating prison rules. Types of offense include: not working/poor work, insubordination, use of foul language, sodomy/homosexual activity, fighting, attacking other prisoners and/or guards, possession of weapons and stealing. These records are privacy protected and are closed for 75 years from the date the record was created.

The Record of Punishment from 1896 to 1905 is arranged by date and is further divided within each year by area of prison where offense occurred (Finishing Room, Ward, Farm, etc.) The register includes date, name of prisoner, inmate number, offense, punishment, name of person reporting offense and name of person administering punishment. A separate volume indexes this record.

The Punishment Register covering 1 October 1905 to 8 January 1931 is arranged by date of punishment and includes name of prisoner, inmate number, offense, date of offense, punishment, name of person ordering punishment, name of person administering punishment and signature of officer present. This volume includes the Penitentiary, State Farm, State Lime Plant and Convict Road Crew.

There are two Punishment Registers covering 1907 to 1917. Each is arranged by inmate number and includes name of prisoner, date of offense, type of offense and number of stripes. The 1940-1946 register is arranged by date and includes: location (penitentiary, state farm, or road camp), inmate number, name of prisoner, number of stripes, signature of officer administering punishment, signature of officer reporting punishment, detailed description of offense and description of medical condition before and after administration of punishment.

Access and use

Contents