The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-06-17
CAREER FOR DISCHARGED PRIS-
ONERS.
IN. Y. WORLDLY

IN Y. Worldly
The Revised Statutes state that every convict
discharged fire. IN the State prison is to reeei re
Whatsoever property or money belonging to
him came into the hands of the Warden during
his term of imprisonment, and from twelve to
eighteen dollars worth of clothing, according
to the season of the year, and the tun of five
dollars in cash, with allowance of four
cents per mile for travelling expenses to his
home, or to the place of his conviction If he
have no home. At Clinton Prison five cents
| miliage is given. A convict is thus turned
out iuto the community with very scanty
wardrobe, q very small supply of money and 8
very bad reputation. The cyuic will suggest
that be has been great scoundrel, and it is
but wise and just that the way of the trans,
Sressor should not be made too easy. The
honest aud industrious people of the world do
not fnd their way strewn with roses and
lilies; why should the thorns be taken out of
the path of the liberated thieves, burglars
and forgersi The philanthropist, on the
other hand, is moved by the following con-
| siderations: The disch arged convict has expi-
ated his crime and steps out in to freedom with
the chance of beginning new career, and
perhaps with the disposition to begin il. He
goes forth a stranger, SO poorly provided that
he must 6ud work within few days resort
to crime to get d living, or he returns to his
former home to submit himself to suspicon
for wherever his old record follows him he
may be sure of bad treatment. 1t there be any
reasonable hope for the reformation of suoh
men, and if it be of vital Importance to
society that they should reform, then should
there not be SOME sort of guardianship estRb.
lIshed over them, SO that they may be assisted
to lead honest and industrious lives, and not
kicked from the threshold of the penitentiary
into temptaticnf Statistics prove that men
who have served enc term in State prison are
commonly convicted and sentenced q second
and third time, and all detectives know that
when q crime has been committed in any
neigh orhood where a returned convict has
made his appearance, it is perfectly safe to
arrest that person at once on general prinoi-
pies. Now, the point to be settled is whether
this depravity on tue part of discharged
prisoners is due wholly to the natural defects
of their characters and the evil training
temptations and trlals to which they find
themselves exposed after liberation. The
Superintendent of Prisons seems to hold the
latter view, and is unwilling to accept the Sc
we're old proverb, Give dog bad name and
hang him" He therefore asked the LeRiSla-
ture TO pass a bill providing for the appoint
ment of a State agent for the guidance and
employment of discharged cOnVicts. The
measure was passed promptly and has been
signed by The Governor. L. empowers The
Superin tendent of Prisons Go appoint such
an agent, at salary of $500 per an
mum and for a term dependent upon the
goodwill of his superior. 1t will be tie
duty of this official to visit the various penal
institutions aud refOrmatoTies of the State
calling at each of the State prisons at
least once month to confer with lets |
whose term of imprisoD meat is soon to expire, |
" for the purpose of inducing them to pIo2eed
i'm med lately from the place of tEeir c0nine |
ment TO suitable homes and places where em |
ployment will be secured to them AS a
consea neuce of this duty it will be The busi- |
ness OF the agent to get access to employers
and persuade them to accept discharged |
prisoners as workmen on his recommended
ton. To each convict, upon his Liberation,
the agent may furnish proper clothing, tools,
food and transportation to place of employ
ment; and the expenses thus incurred, together
with the agents expenditure in travelling and
are TO be paid out of the allow
ances already granted by law for the equip
ment of discharged prisoners, with the pro-
vision that the sum expended may he $1,000
in excess of the amount in any year. The
agent is required to keep q record of his work
and it's results We pot at all sRnguine
about this scheme, as it cffsrs many oppoItu-
mites for petty dishonesty; but in good hands
the plan may have great eff9cts, and we shall |.
be glad to see 1t fairly tested. We always
watch with tender interest every new process
for the manufacture OF silk purses out of 60 W.
ears.