New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-30

guardians saw that it was accomplishing
the object of punishment, the reformation
of the criminal When that end is at
tanned the prisoner is to be set at liberty
and returned to society, to be help, and
not, as he would be as criminal, him
derance to society. This is a very i'm
portant question of social science, well
worthy the consideration of all who have
the good of society at heart, and especially
the executive and legislative officers of
our State.
Mr.. Brockway proposes to give the
prisoners steady employment, and allow
labor, so that when they leave the prison
they may have some means on hand to
give them fresh start in the race of life.
Besides, their mental education should
not be neglected, but as much and as
thorough instruction should be given as
is compatible with their position and need
in life.
There can be no doubt whatever that
these suggestions of man of experience,
as Mr.. Brockway is, are worthy of the
serious attention of all who are interested
in improving the condition of prisoners
now occupying, or who may hereafter be
sent to our prisons.
1t was the opinion of this congress, at
which the principles of prison reform
were carefully considered discussed aud
declared, that:
The progressive classification of prison
ers, based on character, and worked on
some well adjusted mark system, should be
established in all prisons above the com
mon jail.
Rewards. more than punishments, are es-
sential to every good prison system.
Peremptory sentences ought to be re-
placed by those of indeterminate length,
Sentences limited only by satisfactory
proof of reformation should be substituted
for those measured by mere lapse of time.
Education is a matter of primary inpor-
lance in prisons, and should be carried to
the utmost extent consistent with the other
purposes of such institutions.
OF all refOnnatory agencies, religion is
first in importance.
The prisoners self-respect should be cul-
tivated to the utmost, and every effort mad
to give back to him his manhood.
We regard the contract system of prison
labor, as now commonly practiced in our
country, as preiudiCial alilSe to discipline
finance and the reformation of the pris-
Oner.
Prisons. as well as prisoners should be
classified or graded, so that there shall be
prisons for the untried, for the incorrigible
and for other degrees of depraved charac-
ter, as well as separate establish
.. f,r 4 e. m
younger class.
Repeated short sentences for minor Grim
inals are worse than Useless.
Pardons should issue for one or more of
the following reasons To release the limo
cent, to correct mistakes made in imposing
| the sentence, to relieve such suffering from
| i'll health as require release from imprisOn-
ment, and to facilitate or reward the real
reformationo of the prisoner.
1t ia our conviction that one of the most
effective agencies in the repression of
crime would be the enactment OF laws by
whirh hle education of all the children Of
the Snte should be made obligatory.
In the official administration of a thorough
prison system, and in the voluntary CO.
operation of citizens therein, the agency of
SOmen may he employed with excellent
effect.
Thus we have the whole system of
prison reform presented, which should be
brought into practical operation as far as
possible to the end that if found useful
and beneficial the State should adopt it,
and modify our laws accordingly.
In the International Congress- which is
to meet in London some time during the
next year, there will be more complete
and thorough elaboration of the princi-
pies the synopsis of which we have
already given, and as several of the other
States of the Union have already begun
to move in the appointment of delegates
to that Congress. no time should be lost
to select one or more from this State who
would represent us there in the interest of
this great cause. We must not be lag
CARDS in this, as well as every other
reformatory movement of the age which
tends to give us happiness, ''peace on
earth and good will to men"