Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-10

the contest upon such conditions they have
none to blame but themselves for the con
sequences which may follow. Judging
from the recent victory of the PrussIans
there is no possible escape for Paris from
capture. if hostilities are continued.
|
PLATFORM OF TIE PRISON AND
REFORMAT TORY CONGRESS.
The following declaration of principles was
adopted by the National Congress on Peni-
tertiary and Reformatory Discipline at the
session in Cincinnati Ohio, in October last.
1. Crime is an intentional violation of duties i'll.
posed by law, which infllcts an injury upon others
| Criminals are persons convicted of CRIME Dy com
peteut courts. Punishment is su1erings lnnlcted
on the criminal for the wrong done by him, win
special view to secure his reformation
H. The treatment of criminals by society Is iol
the protection OF society But since such treatment
is directed to the criminal, rather than to the crime
its great object should be his moral regeneration
Hence the supreme aim of prison discipline Is tne
reformation of criminals not the in1ction OF VIII
iii The progressive classification of prisoners
| based on character, and worked on some well-au
| justed mark system. should be established IN ali
| prisons above the common jail.
". Since hope is a more potent agent than rear
| it should be made an ever present iorce IN .ilt
minds of prisoners by awell-deyised and skiiuliy'
applied systems of rewards for GOOD CONDUCT, IN
dustry and attention TO learning. heWarus, MOT
than luishments essential to every GOOD prison
| system. ,,,,, 800.
urably, in his own hands lie must be put into cir
cumstances where he will be able, through BIS own
exertions, to continually better his own condition
A regulated selfinterest must he brought INTO pay
and made constantly operative
VI. The two master forces opposed 10 the REFORM
the prison systems of our several states are po
litical appointments, and consequent lnsta9iiity
of administration. Until both are eliminated, the
| needed reforms are impossible. ,-.
VII High qualities and special training are re-
ouired to make good prison or reformatory oihcer
Then only will the administration OF public punish
ment become scientific, uniform ana suGce7s an
men are specially trained for it, as they are Tor oth
pursuits. on,orv sen,ences ought to be replaced
by those of indeterminate length. Sentences nm
tied only by satisfactory proof OF reformation should
be substituted for those measured by mere lapse OIL
| TX OF all reformatory agencies religion is first
| in Importance, because most potent III It's ACTON
upon the human heart and life
| Y. Education is u vital force IN the reformation
offallen and women. Its tendency IS to quickeh
the intellect, inspire sefrespect excite to higher
| vicious amusements. Education is, therefore,
matter of primary Importance in prisons ana should
be carried to the utmost extent consistent Will 'he
other purposes of such institutions.
| XI In order to the reformation of imprisoned
| criminals there must be not only sincere desire
and intention to that end but serious CONVECTION
in the minds of the prison officers, that they are
| capable of being reformed, since no man can heart
| lily maintain discipline at war with his inward be
| liefs no man earnestly strive TO accomplish
| what in his heart he despairs OF accomplishing.
| MI 4 system of prison discipline, to be truly
reiormatory must gain the WI Gi ane i, he
mind in state of hostility! No system can nope
to succeed, which does not secure this harmony OF
wills, that the prisoner shall choose Tor himself
what his officer chooses for him. But to this end the
officer must really choose the good OF the prisoner
and the prisoner must remain in his choice long
u.yb tor ri tn hasO 81 consent
of wills is an essential Condition OF reformation.
KILL The interest of society and the interest of
the convicted criminal really Identical, and they
should be made practically SO. At present there Is
a combat between CRIME and laws. Each sets the
other at defiance, and as rule, there 10 little KIND.
ly feeling, and few friendly acts on either side IL
would be otherwise if criminals, on conviction, IN
stead of being east off, were rat male the objects
of "a generous parental care; that is if they were
trained to viue. and not merely sentenced 10 sui
| XIV The prisoners self.respect should be cult
back to him his manhood There is no greater mis-
take in the whole compass of penal discipline than
its studied imposition ofdegradaton as part OF pun
ishment. Such imposition destroys every better
impulse and aspiration 1t brushes the weak irrl-
tates the strong and indisposes all to submission
and reform. 1t is trampng where We ought to
raise, and is therefore unchristian in principle
as it is unwise in policy.
XIV. In prison administration, moral forces
should lie relied nponr with as little admixture of
physical force as possible, and organized persua-
sion be made take the place of coercve restraint,
reemen rather than orderly and obedient prisoners.
Brute force may make good prisoners; moral train
ing alone will make good citizens. To the latter of
these ends, the living souls must be won; to the
former only the inert and obedient body.
7 WI. Industrial training should have both a
higher development and greater breadth than has
heretofore been, Is now commonly gwen To II IN
our prisons. Work is no less an auxiliary to viz
tue, than it is means of support Steady, active,
honorable labor is the basis of all reformatory dis
cipine. 1t not only aids reformation, but is essen
tial to il. 1t was a maxim with Howard, make
men dilgent, and they will be honest'-a maxim
which this Congress regards as eminently sound
XVII. While industrial labor in prisons is Of the
highest importance and utility to the convict and
by injurious to the laborer outside we re-
gard the contract system of prison labor, as now
commonly praetised in our country, as prejudicial
alike to discipline finance and the reformation OF the
prisoner and sometimes injurious to the interest OF
the free laborer
XVIII. The most valuable parts of the Irish
prison system-the more strictl, penal stage OF
separate imprisonment, the rcformatory stage OF
progressive classification, and the probationary
stage OF moral Imprisonment and natural training
are believed TO be applicable to one country az
another-t0 the United States as to Ireland.
XIX. Prisons, as well as prisoners, should be
classified graded, that there shall be phi ons
for the un,re, for the lnc0rrigible and for other
degrees Of deprared character as well as separate
establishments for women, and Tor criminals OF the
XXX 1t is the judgment of this Congress. that re
peated short sentences tor minor criminals arr
worse than useessihat, in fact, they rather etimu
late than repress transgrebsion. Reformation Is
work of time, and benevolent regard 10 the gooe
Of the criminal himself a. well 10 the protection
Of society, requires tina. this sentence be Iona
enough for refUrmatOry processes 10 take effect.
I XXI. Preventive institutions such a. truan
r homes industrial schools, Sc, for the reception
and treatment of children not yet criminal, but IL
danger Of becoming 80, constitute the true field o
promise, in which To labor for the repression o
crime.
XXI. More systematic and COMPREHENSIVE,
V methods should be adopted 70 save diseharg prie
, oDers, by providing them with work and eDeourag
ing them TO redeem their character and regain tbe
q lost position in society. The state has not dis
charged its whole duty 10 the criminal when IL hA
C punished him, nor even when il has reformed him
. Having raised him up, 1t has the further duty 4
Il aid in holding him up. And TO this end 1t Is desir
q able that state societies be formed, which shall co
= operate with each other in this work.
q MIL The successful prosecution Of crime re
qures the combined action Of capital and labor
/ Just other erafts do. There two well-defne'
, classes engaged in criminal operations, who ma,
> be called the capitalists and the operatiyes IL i