New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-26
PRISON REFORM CONGRESS OF ST LOUIS.
n. m, Pdyfor Of the Tribune.

PRISON REFORM CONGRESS OF ST LOUIS.
TO the RditOr Of the Tribune.
SIR: The third annual Prison Congress OF
the United States, summoned by the National Prison
Association will convene IN the City OF st. Louis on the
18th OF May next and viii continue Its session Tor one
week The names of the Association and the Congress
fail to give full idea OF tho work In hand In terms,
thi, seems TO be confined 10 those who have
brought themselves under the penalties OF the
law; but in reality, It embraces within its scope
all efforts directed tho prevention and repression
OF crime, By whatever ageucies these objects may DC
sought The Association has six standing committees,
viz criminal law, police prison discipline discharged
conyicts and preventive work related TO children
and youths aud juvenile refOrmatories Exhaustive
reports on all these topics will be submitted TO the Con
gross by the conmtee' while the Secretary viii offer
in his animal report comprehensive review OF the
progress and condition OF penenhary and reormatory
discipline OF the several States and Territories OF our
Union, and in such foreign countries as may
supply the necessary data for this purpose
from many OF which the desired information
has been promised by gentlemen thoroughly competent
TO the task AS is intended IN the approaching Con-
ress TO give Wide range 10 riud discussion, few
u any papers Will be read beyond the reports Indicated
above Nevertheless papers will be gladly received Oh
any and all questions legitimately belonging TO the
studies and work Of the Congress- with the understand
ing that, while they may not and probably VIII NOV NC
read before the body such use will be made OF them as
NAV he indeed expedient in the printed transactions
II may be proper and desirable 10 indicate some OF
the points that WILL in all probability, be suggested by
tho rcpor Of the Secretary and committees and which
consequently will be before the Congress for discussion
and adjudication. Such publication In advance OF the
questions % be considered Will afford 70 tho general
publc food for reflection and 10 those who propose to
take part the abos Of the Congress opportunity for
intelligent preparation
l. Criminal Law Reform. Actual imperfectons IN
exlstnc penal codes and criminal legislation; necessity
for reform; how reforms TO be Effected; greater
promptncss IN the detection and proof OF crmei acce
Grated speed in criminal procedure; nomenclature Oh
crimes; pecunary penalties; question or Indemnity 10
persons Imprisoned and afterward, on examination or
trial adluIged not guilty OF the crimes laid to their
charge terms OF sentence substitution OF reformation
sentences for time policy of repeated short
sentences cumulative sentences abbreyiati0n OF SEN
fences for good conduet participation OF prisoners In
earnings; provisional liberation; ucketofleaVe;
Whether prroers should be required to plead to their
guilt or Innocence; false testimony capital punish
ment crime captalsts-hOv 10 he dealt with; identi-
dcatIon prisoners previously convcted-most eeetai
IT. Poiics~Sature OF police power; It's proper sphere
and limitations police OF large cities CONCENTRATION as
regards the police 81 stem /. Ought all the kinds OF
officers called the police, 20 be united together IKE u
military FORGET q Ought the entire police force 10 De
nlaeed Under the control chief with graduation OF
subordinate oficors 3. Is there need OF an organic
townshi or had they better separate and distinct
Mode OF appointing the police partisan politics "a an
element this question; amount ot Discretionary power
To b. lodged the pOicest in the officers; 3D. in the
priyates aud subalterns responsibility OF the police
preventive police; detective police police surveillance
estimation In which the members OF The police force are
held the police most useful and necessary class OF
officials how they be raised III the regard i society
Ill Preventive Agencies IA regards Cnlldren and
uths.--Obsaces Ia the wayi neglected children !;
their number and character lnduttrlal Schools now
TO be organized and worked may private initiative and
public aid be useiuy combined ~ themt Appropriate
spheres, respectively OF voIunsary anu legs,aye
action now best to secure the enclency OF voluntary
moral mean. far, IL at all, Is the work or proven
ton effectively done in any of the states Bases aud
characteristics of efficient general system which sial
gather up all neglected childhood, ana enforce Doh ee-
mentary ard industrial enducation; State visiting
agencies childrens aid societies, new5ooyS MONIES,
&c. &c. .,.. r,o .,,u.s ,,aor .ni.
for statement by the actual workers In TINS
" Prison Discipline Mr.. F. b. sanborn has prepared
the report for the committee on this subject HIS own
systems OF prison discipline prevalent throughout the
civilized world with particular reference to the Irish or
Orofton system, the best To replace our American
want of system q The applicability Of the best system
10 all grades of prisons, from the guardhouse or lock-
up 10 the prison FOR cOnycts sentenced for e lnclud
ing consideration OF county js and houses or correc
ton or warehouses;. g. The details OF discipline In each
class Of prisons including religious ana secular nstruc
ton labor diet hospital treatment, the mark system
,cket-of-eave, etc. l. The actual aud the possible
society," Other points that will doubt come up for
system for each state obstacles and how overcome
them the element. a system and the machinery
required working II how To secure the best admin
istration-l TnrOugn criminal law reform 2 Through
the education OF public opinion refOrnation-the ex-
act meaning OF this term applied to crimlnas OBJ
ectiye and subjective processes through which may
assured; substitution of moral forces Tor physlcal ia
prison treatments progressive classification OF prisoners
comparative value Of hope and fear, rewards and pun
ishments a system OF prison management; whether
prison officers should receive special education Tor
their the true place OF work. education, ana re-
gi0n prison discipline proper slLo OF prisons FOR
effective reformatory work
VI Care Of Discharged Prsoners.-The duty winch
society owes 10 them; agencies through which TINS
duty NAV be best discharged has the State stake in
saving them II society has interest in reforming
criminals interest less in shielding them FROM
RELAPSE Whether the should leave this work To
The above Is not put forth an exhaustive view OF
the points will before the Congress Tor MS
consideration and Judgment, but simply as showing
thing OF the breadth and importance OF the WORK
in which those engaged who are seeking, hrst TO
prevent crne aud second - lit prison discipline To
higner mural plane than II occupies to-day
The persons invited To participate In the proceedings
OF the Congress Governors of states and Terri
tories Judges OF criminal courts commissioners ana
superintendents OF police wardens supernteudents,
chapians and me deal officers Oi prisons aud refOrul-
atorIes; members Of tho managing boards of such
establ secretaries and members of boards 90
prison societies. state charities and social science isso-
Citations. and other persons specially vorscd III poni-
cutlary science and Interested III PRISON Reform
T. c. WINES, Soy National Prison Association.
No $40 Rroddvay, Ne,o-fOrk, Marcn 70, 1874.
" b. Editors throughout the country are respectfully
requested aid this movement, II they approve IL. b.
ia their papers. l.. e. ".