1932
INMATE POPULATION DECEMBER 31, 1932: 3,210
The State Prison at Raiford's population reaches 2,000 male and female inmates, with the remaining 1,210 inmates working at road prisons, work camps and other facilities. There are 85 employees on payroll.
BRADFORD COUNTY TELEGRAPH
13 JANUARY 1932
J. S. BLITCH, superintendent of the state prison farm at Raiford, who recently underwent a major operation in St. Luke's Hospital, will return to his home at the farm today, attachés at the hospital said. Mr. BLITCH, for a while, was in critical condition but steadily gained strength until at the present time is well on the road to recovery, it was said.
BRADFORD COUNTY TELEGRAPH
15 JANUARY 1932
BLITCH is able to return to his home. Jacksonville.
The Board of Commissioners elects Chapman to become Superintendent of the Florida State Prison Farm after Blitch dies and sends the above Western Union telegram (dated June 20th, 1932, sent at 4:29 p.m. by Doyle E. Carlton, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners State Institutions, Tallahassee, to Leonard F. Chapman in Raiford).
Leonard Chapman is appointed the new warden at the State Prison Farm at Raiford in 1932 after Blitch's death. He remains there for 25 years while he implements his strong ideas about better health services, education, working habits, as well as contact with the community. He forbids the word "convict" and encourages "inmate." He introduces staff uniforms and grade school. He adds courses such as carpentry, millwork, and plumbing. Chain-link fences replace solid barriers, so inmates could see the world. At the end of the 1930s, horizontally striped inmate uniforms are discontinued.
Superintendent Leonard Chapman (Photo courtesy of FPC.)
Leonard Chapman, appointed warden at State Prison Farm at Raiford in 1932. He served for 25 years and had a strong philosophy about good health, education, work habits and contact with the community.
1937 photo of Leonard Chapman conducting a radio broadcast from his office.
Leonard Chapman introduced staff uniforms
Chapman began training programs in automobile mechanics.
Inmates in the yard at Raiford.
Chapman also got the community involved.
STATE OF FLORIDA
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
TALLAHASSEE
DOYLE E. CARLTON
GOVERNOR
August 10, 1932
Mr. L. F. Chapman
Superintendent
Florida State Farm
Raiford
Florida
Dear Mr. Chapman:
I thank you for yours of the Fourth with reference to the death of Jesse Roberts.
This was unfortunate, of course, but I do not see how the guard could be expected to allow the prisoner to run away.
Very truly yours,
Doyle E. Carlton
Governor
DEC:ab
