The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1880-11-25

Warden Hopkins points out the fact
that during the past i've years the ratio
of increase Of criminals fs greater than
that Of population Ia Kansas, and
raises the inquiry a. to whether this
fact may not be partly attributable to
the imperfect methods Of dealing with
crime.
The duty of the State to society In re-
gard to this question may be defined
Is follows:
Fint-To prevent crime.
Second-TO afford those who have
committed crime, but who are not de-
PRAYED criminals, an opportunity to
regain the confidence and respect OF
society.
Third-To 60 deal with natural Grim
inals that society will be protected
from their unlawful acts.
1 am convinced that the institutions
necessary to . complete system are the
Reform School, State Industrial Re
formatory, and Penitentiary, and the
character and scope Of these institu-
tons may be understood from the fol-
lowing description Of their organiza-
ton and management:
REFORM SCHOOL.
First-A Reform School Is an insti-
tuition for the prevention Of crime, and
the distinctive feature Of its manage
ment il character building.
SecOnd-It belongs to the education
al rather than the penal department
of the State Government, and its work
il to receive discipline and educate
neglected, maynard and incorrigible
youths fitting them for return to pa
rents or friends, or to enter homes pro-
vided for them.
Third-The organization of q Re
form School should he modelled close
" on the family plan. Walls, cells,
bolts, bars and screens should not en-
ter into the plans for the construction
of buildings, as these degrade and
harden the pupil.
Fourth-The discipline Of . Reform
School should be that which appeals
to the nObler qualities Of the head and
heart; the law Of love should be its
guiding principle, and the developed
manhood Of the pupil its promise Of
success.
Fifth-Commitments to . Reform
School should be during the minority
of the pupil, unless sooner discharged
upon satisfactory evidence of refOrma-
ton and that suitable home Is pro-
vided. Public examinations should
be avoided unless demanded by &C
cused party or his parents or guardian,
and legal proceedings be subject to ar
rest upon the request Of the accused
and his consent to be committed.
Sixth-HOmes for destitute pupils
should be sought through suitable
agencies, and careful indenture sys-
tenn be incorporated into the law
which will comprise thorough super
vision over the welfare Of indentured
pupils.
Seventh-The maximum age to gov
ern admissions to q reform school
SHOULD be sixteen years, subject to
proper exceptions.
The foregoing outline the plan Of an
institution for the prevention Of crime,
an efficient agency in cutting off re-
cruits to the criminal classes. The
interesting methods and details Of dis
cipline and management cannot be
described here.
We next come to consider the treat
ment of the criminal population which
may be divided into two classes:
First-C0nfirmed criminals, those
destitute of moral character, who ig-
more all obligation to the laws of God
or man, and who are not amenable
to refOrmatory methods. The place
for this class is the penitentiary, and
the discipline Of this Institution should
be such thata clear demonstration can
be made to its inmates and the world
outside, that the habitual commission
of crime Is exceedingly Improbable In
every sense.
Second-Those who have committed
crime under mitigating circumstances,
or those who give promise Of refOrma-
ton. These should in the discretion
of the courts be sentenced to the State
Industrial Re fOrmatOry, which would
the same system of cells,
walls, shops. etc, rs incident to q PEN
with school room and libra
~, and which would embrace the fol-
lowing features:
First-COmmittals should be made
upon q maximum sentence, and the
power to pardon or release should be
during the first year.
SecOnd-DepOrtment grades should
be established, and the attainment to
o higher grade should entitle the pris-
oner to the reward Of better fare and
privileges.
Third-fime should be allotted for
such, and no illiterate prisoner should
be entitled to discharge until he ac-
quires the ability TO read and write.
FOurth-After the expiration Of
twelve months, and upon the attain
ment of the highest grade in deport-
ment, any prisoner should in the dis
cretiOn Of the Superintendent be enti-
tied to o conditional release upon the
of duplicate contract or
parole, conditioned that he depOrt
as good citizen, observe the
laws of the State and not remove there
from until discharged, and that the ne
port at stated periods in authentic
the observance Of his parole.
Fifth-After the expiration of one
year from the date Of his conditional
and upon proof Of his OBJ
,ervance of his agreements, any pris-
,ner should be entitled to final dis
charge, which should carry with it q
restoration to all the rights
IF citizenship.
Sixth-Any prisoner breaking the
Of his parole should be sub
ect to return to the institution for
further treatment, without recourse to
he courts, and the commission Of .
,econd felony should bar the doors of
he institution to him, and consign
lim upon conviction to the penitenti-
ary.
In such an institution each prison.
n would have an opportunity to recOv-
r lost ground in the battle Of life, and
win back a good portion Of the conf
ience and the esteem forfeited BY his
nisdeeds. The State would gain large
Y BY the reformation Of each prison.
r, and the sorting out Of hopeless
asses would be easy Of accomplish
nent Some method of interchange
,etween the Penitentiary and Refor-
natOry could be established.
Ihave complied with your request In
! hurried and unsatisfactory manner,
md trust that from these rough out
ines enough may be gathered to inter-
st Others in the discussion Of this inn
,ortant subject
Kansas needs State Industrial Re
We have the Penitentiary, and soon
will have the Reform School. A wise
'olicy suggestes speedy action to COM