The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-25

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the Penitentiary, have claim to special
distinction. T fist class is called the
Punishment D vsoE" he secondt the
Probation Dlvision;h the third, "kgc'
'impense Division" The prisoners OF the
Punishment Division are subject to the
most painful labors, and suff'r various
privations. especially that Of visits from
and correspondence, with the outside.
The passage from one division into an'
other is determined by the AdministTa5
tive Commission, on the proposal ofthe
Prison Directors. TO this end the re-
cords Of conduct and punishment are
consulted.
In Bavaria the system of classification
exists to some extent only. The gov
errors of the prisons must keep prison
ers Of average good conduct FROM those
who show little disposition toward ir-
provement, and whose example would
exert a hurtful Dfuence on others.
In Prussia classification ia carried lit
tie beyond a separate of the older from
the younger criminals; but even this, 1t
is held, is productive Of good results and,
in reformatoTy point Of view, is decid-
edly preferable to Que own, which sim.
ply brings OF Congregates together a
miscellaneous admix ure Of all classes
an grades of criminals.
Classification of prisoners in Italy is
made according to the crime committed.
There are four divisions, and each Of
these four divisions is subdivided into
three Categories, distinguished by marks
on their dress, according to heir term
of sentence.
Classification of prisoners in N NOrway
has received considerable attention at
the hands of the Government. In dis.
tributing the prisoners in work shops
and dormitories great care is exercised
to keep the less corrupt from the mor1
hardened and depraYed criminals. In
the Penitentiary there exists system of
progressive classification, based on the
zeal and merits of the prisoners.
Classification of prisoners in England
differs somewhat from that of other
countries. The penal servitude is di
vided into three stages. Toe filet stage
ia passed at Pntonville or Millbank, and
lasts nine months in all cases. During
that period the prisoner passes his whole
time, except the period allotted TO
prayer and exercise, alone in his eel,
working at some employment of an
industrial or remuneratiVe character.
The second stage is PASSED in prison in
which he sleeps and has his meals in
separate cell, but works in association,
under close supervision. The third
stage is that during which he is releas
ed conditionally, from prison, when he
is kept under supervision Of the police,
and made liable for any infraCtion Of the
condition of his release. ..s us.a
The "Crofton Convict Prison System"
as 1t is commonly known, is, in the opin.
ion Of your Committee, preferable to that
Of any other system yet devised. 1t
combines both penalty and reformation.
The system consists of four stages. The
first stage is that Of cellular imprison-
ment. Its duration varies according to
the conduct of the prisoner, generally
from eight TO nine months. During this
period Of imprisonment, the prisoner
passes through stage OF intense penal
lervitude. The work required Of him is
rude and uninteresting, and his food is
very limited and coarse. During this
initial stage the prisoner ia made thor
Oughly acquainted with the whole sys-
tenn. and the advantages that will accrue
to him in his progress 70 ward liberty, If
he takes kindly to it, and is uniformly
we'll behaved, and is prompt and atten-
tive to all his duties. M
The second stage is passed in con.
gregated prison, where the prisoners are
associated during the hours of labor with
prisoners Of their class, and at night are
separated. D ring this stage of his con
fnement the prisoner receives much |
milder treatment, and be himself can
improve his condition more or less rap,
idly, accor ling 10 his conduct. AS a re
ward for good behavior he receives each |
month certain number Of marks, which |
determine his advancement from one
class to another. The essential princi.
pie Of tuis stage is that Of progressive |
classification, based on good conduct and |
merit. There are four classes; each class |
marks change in the situation Of the |
prisoner, and mitigates his punishment. |
After passing through the first three |
classes, Q is no longer required to veal
the prison garb; he is employed on spe.
cial work; he is permitted tn enjoy many
privileges, and 1T may be said that he
approaches closely 10 state of liberty. |
This stage is go arranged and adjusted as
to be an effective trial Of the prisoner |
and test to the genuineness of his ref
ormation. II he adheres to his good les.
oluti0n, and maintains his good conduct, |
he graduates from one class to another,
and if he holds o1t to the end, he re.
Ceives ticket of license and becomes
conditionslly free. Ga the other hand, if |
he fails to conduct himself in a v ell be.
haved manner, he is remanded to the
stage, which in the opinion Of the man
ayers, his conduct deserves, where he is
again compelled to work his way up by
the same careful and painstakihg pro-
cess as before. 1t will be observed, how
ever, that the beneficial results obtained
under this system cen not be obtained
under the system employed in our Peni-
tentiary, that of selling the labor of
selling the labor of prisoners to contrac
tors and it is further evidence that our
pres mt system can not be abandoned
too soon.
QUALIFICATION CT OFFICERS.
In order to conduct our peral inslf u.
tions successfully, reform is absolutely
indispensable in the appointment of our
prison managers. Your Co nmittee knows
of no country in the world where prison
managers, and prison officers generally,
are appointed for past party services, or
where the appointment of prison off.
Cials is regarded as party patronage.
In Belgium, the manager Of a prison
must be thoroughly acquainted with ev-
erything pertaining to moral, disciplin-
ary, economic and industrial administra.
ton. Training SCHOOLS for pri'on off.
GERS are in operation there. This has
heen found vAlv hans hcial notably On