NCJ Number
166357
Journal
American Jails Volume: 10 Issue: 6 Dated: (January-February 1997) Pages: 47-49,51-53
Date Published
1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Six jails of the American frontier in the 19th century are described with respect to their floor plans and the history of the town in which they were located.
Abstract
The jails demonstrate that no typical jails existed on the western frontier. However, all the jails were small. The wooden jail in the World Museum of Mining and Hell Roarin' Gulch is located near the mining town of Butte, Montana. It is not the original jail but was built later as an example of a frontier jail. The jail of the mining town of Madrid, New Mexico was probably used mostly for drunks and fighters. The jail of Plains, Montana is 15 feet, 5 inches wide and 19 feet, 6 inches long. A steel cell stands by itself within the structure. The jail of Saltese, Montana is 17 feet wide and 20 feet long. The jail of San Simon, Arizona is constructed of concrete and has doors at each end and windows on each side. This jail was probably used more as a holding facility instead of a place where people served time. Other frontier jails are located in Silver Plume, Colorado, Superior, Montana, and Worley, Idaho. Figures, notes, and 12 references