Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1867-09-25
Our Prison System.

A reoent volume printed in New
York, by State authority, give the re.
suits Of the Investigations made by
commissioners appointed BY that State,
70 report on the prisons of the United
States. In this volume, while there is
much to encourage. there is moro to
call forth renewed exertion. More en-
lightened ideas, q better system than
any yet to be found in this country are
imperatiVely needed. We are in a
transition state from the cruel, the re-
pressiVe, the deterrent, 10 the humane,
the hope-inspiring, the reformatory.-
Six Northern States only still employ
the lash as a retaining agency-Con-
nectlcut, Kentucky, Indiana, Michi-
gan, Missouri, sometimes Vermont
Canada lags behind in this; her war.
dens ssill believe in the cat. OF the
solitary system in force in this State, it
seems fronthe report that it is nowhere
else a recognized principle. New Jer-
sey tried it etfectually twenty years
ago. DR.. Coleman, the prison physi-
clan at Trenton, reported that it "is
most etfectual 10 drive the convict mad
or reduce him to imbecility," and the
legislature abolished it. The expert
ence of Rhode Island was similar. DR..
Cleaveland, warden of her State prison,
describes the system as "a slow, zorro
ding process, carrying its subjects to
the arrangement or destruction both
OF body and mind" and he AYERS that
'tof the forty prisoners committed while
the strictly solitary system was in oper-
ntion, ten, or Onetourh Of tie vkok mum
Der, manifested symptoms of derange-
ment." IL was speedily Abandoned
We have heard that the tendency to
insanity has been especially noticed in
the Western Pe~nitentiary as one of the
results Of solitary confinement.
In nine States of the Union, mclu-
ding New York, the Communication sys-
tenn has been introduced; the prisoners
being allowed 70 earn, by their good
conduct, diminution of their term of
service-usually about one-sixth but
In New York, IN some cases, as high as
one-fourth. In come States, also, the
convict has comparatively short days
work, and is credited for extra labor
in the Ohio State Prison to the amount
Of one-ifth of his earnings when he
does a full days work. Again, as it is
found by experience that four-ffths or
more of all convicts, when committed,
are without trades, it is gradually be-
coming the practice to teach these
In the Wisconsin State Prison, every
having as much as two years
and a-half to serve is taught a full
1l
But, according to the report made to
the New York Legislature, Ireland is
now the pioneer in the matter of pris-
on reform. Il has recently had estab-
-ished for the government of such of
It's conVicts as were senten ced for five
Tears or more, g system of prison dis
unmatched in the world. In
he year 1854 a certain Sir Walter
C%rofton, a man of Christian temper,
perseverance, and rare admin
stratiYe ability, was appointed chair
nan of the directors of prison disci-
oline in Ireland. He found the pris-
ms Of that country in q deplorable
condition the prisoners morally and
physically PROSTATE; no hope, no edu-t
alton, no indictments TO good conduct.
n thirteen years he has effected among
convicts an industrial and social
evolution which is one of the most
events of our time. He
tarted with the great principle that a
Prison should be q place, not Of requit-
al for sin, but of reformation. He
ought not to deter, to repress by ter
or; but 70 invite, to encourage by
lope of reward and of liberation. He
.ppealed to the higher and nobler, in
tead of the baser and more cowardly
dement's in human nature, and emil
lently successful was the enlightened
ppeal. He carried out, to an extent
lever before attempted, the principle
Z classification and he arranged q
ystem of tests whereby to measure
he moral amendment of the prison
1t is n Of the greatest defects
f our prison management that this
sst has bee / overlooked.
He has three distinct stages, or
hAnges Of prison, each demanding its
eparate locality, buildings, arrange
nents. In the first the solitary system
} adopted, in modified form and for a
United time /; the idea being that, for
time, at first the discipline should
strict, even rigid, but that the con-
let, by good conduct, should earn
radual alienation. The term of this
onfnement to separate cells Is eight
Months, but exemplary department re-
uces it to six The prisoners eat and +,
Tork alone; bus they attend public
twice a day, and school forone /,
our each day, and take exercise daily, I.
Il in association, though conversation
{ this stsge Is not permitted. The
rat thing taught in school is a lesson
n the Irish Convict System" IL is :
Explained to the convict that the fu- :
IRE is, in q measure, in his own hands; i
nat in half ! year he may pass TO an :
Ill .