Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-10-18
From the Vermont Chronicle
Communication Laws.

These are Cnac:mtn;s which allow COZ
victs TO earn q certain dimiuuJiOn Of their
terms Of sentence, by their industry, ODE
dience and good behaviour. They exist IN
nine states, VIZ Connecticut, Illinois, In
diana. Maine. Al--ac L-ctts. Michigan,
New York, Ohio and Wisconsin. We sin
ceraly wish We nigh, a1i Vermont, as a
tenth, 10 tie list, iJr tie reason that we BE-
hcve the principle Of these laws Is founded
IN justice, and that the policy established
by them is wise and beulfcant
By these acts, couvicts. by unborn good
conduct, may earn d diminu,i1n OF the Pc
MOI OF confinement OF some FIVE DAYS uer
month. mJr, OF less, In different States In
New York. ir-n til fourth 70 the tenth
year Of impusol-0nt tfry can earn seven
and bali days Per month, end thenceiOr-
ward ten days; so that one sentenced for
ten years can shorten his time two years and
one month"; fraction over 0ne-ffth OF the
Who'll. -1l. and one sentenced for twenty
years en- diminish it I've years and five
mouths-a little more than Jue-ou-th Of
the entire term.
IL the acts OF Illinois and Wisconsin.
there Is included provision for restoration
20 citizenship. In Illinois, every one VINO
passes the whole time OF his sentence with
clean record of good conduct NAV. upon the
presentation Of @ certificate of that fact.
from the warden % the Governor. receive
from Inn full rest ration 20 AL civil rights
The lsw Of Wisconsin varies from this
only 10 regard o. the mode OBJ. cart.friu. the
fact Of restoration.
TO ali these laws. except those %. Maine,
The ,me earned by good conduct may be
forfeited, partially OF wholly, hy Subsequent
bad behaviour. To some % them tLls iIr-
fixture rests with the S1pcrinteuilut DO
others. with the directors 0c lu-uce-.rs.-
These officers may determine the .lct and
che extent oi the forfeiture. u Name
however. time once earned is never lost.
IL al these prisons. 10 is customary %
explain the law % the prisoner, a- be en-
tlrs. and ~ some. O. ~ Chlr.ls51wu Mls-a-
causeti-.) g. furnish him with az almanac.
70 which be may carefully note the dly-
earned by good behaviour. ana those Il=. rs
bad conduct.
These laws axe Taught with some import
ant advantages. and they constitute a de-
cie1 improvement 10 Legislation relative %
the treatment Of c1uvIc.-.
j. They help 90 prevent frequent p-r-9ls.
such Q-rd1us are exceedingly Injurious.
They partially uul.iy tie certainty Of pun
isamcut, increase the hops u. pardon with
out regard % thorough information, and -e-
rllls.y impede al moral ana religious IN
llgucls i-1 the 81 c-C-l amCu-mcat Of lie.
Communication laws preclude these evils.
Ilcy place the desired end ID carly release
siuye4y within thc prisoner own reach.
5l THAT be may begin bis Confinement. with
nope of gaining what Will not depend upou
outside influences and executive ciemeucv.
1ut upon DDS 0JrE sgrE.Sf .ad.gt1v IN BIZ
Imprisonment. This inspires s,lfrespect.
good resolution, prevents llspouieucy, rcck-
le-suess and revenge, promotes ciecrfulue-s
and ready obedience 10 the authorities. and
tends emlncutly 60 tie internal restoration
u the fallen man. Communication laws.
moreover. have an aspect Of iupl-tisIirv
and justice 10 the treatment Of prisoners.
which commands tie respect Of even the
worst Of men, ~ that all feel at the outset
that they have an equal chance Of early re-
lease by good behaviour, even though they
have DO influential friends to aid them out
side Of the walls. Release therefore by good
conduct and becoming practically a better
man, comes TO be the end sought and nOtz
pardon By incessant opportunity to the Gov
ernOr.
By these laws, the Ircrogltive Of the TX
ccutIve Is not inirInCed upon. in any case. |
Clcmency IL still reserved for al proper sub
jecis, while 1t Is saved from that frequency
which makes it an instrument Of evil 20 the
convict himself, and source Of danger 10
the state.