Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-30

CUuuuCLCu tI0 OS6b liCC
man, and the well-behaved convict goes
out to become the most vicious OF liberated
prisoners, Classification, he holds, must
proceed upon real diversity of character,
discsrned after close scrutiny and foil OPP
portunity to apply the tests of time upon
early environment, physical quality, men
tai capacity, culture or unoulture, moral
susceptibility. and sensitiveness or apathy
in view of crime and its consequences. We
csnnot follow him through this whole divi-
sion Of his essay on the subject. Its char
acter has been indicated, and includes sep.
sration into grades progressive toward
liberation.
Another needed reform Is the compulsory
eduoation OF prisoners. Il is farce, he
declares, to work prisoners merely for the
profits Of their labor. and to discharge
them after being preached to, unchanged.
There is no protection to society without
reformation. and there can be no reforma-
zion without education" This il the key.
note OF Mr.. Brookway's thesis, and that it
is sounded in accord with the best thought
and the broaiest experience, none, we
think, will undertake 20 deny. The
criminal who does not outgrow his Grim
inality and leave it all behind him in the
prison, is unfit to be cast upoa The
community. The prisoner must be turned
loose fitted for decent associations, with
Improved impulses, and some fair oppor-
tunisy to make an honest living; and if be
ia NOS SO fitted, he goes forth only with
augmented criminal impulses and powers
for evil. Cable, says our essayist, esti-
mates the ex-conyicss in the United States
at no leas than a quarter Of million the
country is overruu with released criminals
What Mr. Bcockway would have is the
sentencing Of criminals to be reformed or
restrained, 80 they shall elect wield the
love Of liberty, he says, for their educa-
tion, until better impulses preponderate
and strength OF mind sufficient is devel-
oped to resist evil. Those who cannot at
tain to this plane he would have so re-
strained as to protect society from them.
He would institute something Of e su-
peryision over discharged criminals, with u
view to aiding them to become settled in
their new habits. But to do this, Mr.
Brockway viii see that it Is necessary to
break up, root and branch, the infamy and
cruelty Of the present police systems, in SO
far as they are powerful engines to drive
the discharged criminal back to crime
again. Instead Of aiding the man to bet.
ter life, officers generally warn society
against him, brand him with publicity, dog
his steps, pick him up on trivial excuses,
and do all they can to force him to return
70 crime. Brookway would have the ex.
criminal actually instructed in suitable
permanent employment, and surrounded
by good Influences, that he may be pro.
tected from the temptations of idleness,
frieudless1ess and unrestrained liberty.
In the disciplinary government Of prison
ers, for individual treatment, he would
substitute the en- o1osss splan. The Grim
iuaI mast be oontradistinguished from the
msD, and one not be crushed out by the
other. THIS disciplinary management
should be remedial not punitive, in all
cases.
Concerning the demand for reform in the
industrial employment OF prisoners, Mr.
Brockway has the courage to pronounce it
demlgogic. Prisoners must be encouraged;
mechanical pursuits for them are necessary
If they are to be reclaimed, SO it matters
little if the employment is by the contract
system or on the public account plan, but
he fsvors the latter while admitting that
there is 10 difference as relates to labor
aud mercantile competition. The heart of
al retorn in prison industries is to prepare
the prisoners for success in business when
released.
He would reform the partisanship of
religious minislrations to prisoners; for
the religious influencing of prisoners he
looks upon as necessary part of unified
system OF their general treatment. On
shis subject Mr.. Broekway is less clear
and does not respond to the difficulties he
must foresee, when he speaks of the par
tisanship Of religion. To sum up-the ex.
tent of this sketch precluding present ex-
tended comment-he holds that three
classes of reform must be brought about
l-Separate confinement in jaila for all
prisoners; 2-Classifcation of prisoners,
their eduotion and their complete Eehabili-
tation when released; 3-Industriaf and
remedial treatment, with thorough pre-
paratory industrial and moral training !;
and some who read these lines, he AYERS,
will live to see such system generally
adopted, for experience has proven its
possibility,