The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-12-16
Prison Reform.

criminals. When the world was
younger, torture, mutilation, and
death were the principal penal infic-
tons; Imprisonment was almost un-
known. Greece and Rome in their
palmiest days used the dagger so
much that they had little use for
prisons; but, as civilization dawned,
cruelty was lessened, ana now i'm
prisonmeAt is the general rule Of pun
ishment, and death the exception.
But, while we prefer the prison sys
tenn Of the present to the killing sys-
tenn of the past, we deeply lament the
bad condition of prisons, and the
Infamous treatment of prisoners.
There is not a nation upon the earth,
either Christian or Pagan, that can
justly, in this particular, escape the
scorn of good people; and there is
no nation that. upon reflection, will not
feel that the present prison system is a
burning disgrace. 1t is ne wonder
hal heartless Spain and despotic
Russia should make their prisons
akin to the abodes of the damned,
but that America, with her boosted
sympathy and Christianity, should
permit such a fostering sore as the
present prison system, is a matter of
astonishmenJ, and should be Of regret,
to every citizen.
That we may not seem to groan
over imagined evils, we will take a
peep into a Jail. The first complaint
we make is hat the house is not only
uncomfortable, but miserable. Il is a
matter Of establishment that men can
live at all in them, the air is so damp. so
cold, so impure; in fact, the inmates
Of many OF our jails are little better
than Il band of half-frozen, half
starved wretches. The Tuilian prison
of history, famous for cruelty, has as
much claim to respect as many in our
land. How many poor victims to the
filth of prison dens have been taken
from the Jail to the graveyard, and an
ignorant world took no notice! Not
outstanding the unhealthy construc-
ton OF our prisons, they could be
made more comfortable if the keep
ers had less brute and more humanity
in their composition. There are hon
orable- exceptions to the rule that jail
keepers are mean men, but as d class
they are harsh and ill-natured, and
seem to rejoice in seeingin how wretch
ed a condition they can sink their
convicts.
In suggesting a reform we would
begin by constructing buildings upon
a healthy plan, with an abundance Of
pure air. We would have proper
men placed in charge of them, and a
committee Of investigation appointed,
if necessary, to see that the laws of
humanity were not violated. We
would not build a palace and have
music and dancing as the only en-
ployment of prisoners, but allow
them a comfortable room, warm bed
and wholesome diet, and compel kind
treatment upon the part of keepers.
Society has a right to shut up a mar
from the world, but no right to starve
him, or add insult to his disgrace.
Give prisoners 90 understand that
society Is their enemy, and what en-
enlargement is there for reform when
they are released. They leave the pris-
on feeling that they have been dealt
with harshly, and it is not natural for
them to feel kindly towards society.
But if their cup of Imprisonment were
made less bitter. many void feel
under obligation to pay to society the
debt OF reform. Another objection
is, that the deplorable condition of
our prisons prevents officers of the
law from administering strict justice
upon criminals. Often is the human
ity of judge and jury 50 shocked at
the condition of dungeons, that they
allow to go free many WHO are guilty.
Very often, under our own obserYa-
ton, accused, but innocent, persons
are detained in Jail for trial for
months, and are subject to the same
bad treatment as others manifest
injustice which demands a reform.
A most grievous defect in the dis
cipline of many prisons is that, ia
stead of being institutions of reform,
they are made schools of vice. The
character most deeply dyed in crime,