The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-10
INDBTRRMINATE SENTENCES.

INDBTERMINATB SENTENCES.
The question of punishment for crime by
incarceration and restraint is very properly
assuming more and more prominence. I'm
questionably unfair discrimination is made in
the infction of punishment for various grades
of offenses. Owing to our peculiar mode of
trying offenders and the latitude of laws that
prescribe penalties, it is not infrequent that
palpable absurdities are brought into juxtapo
sition. Only recently Kentucky sheriff was
conducting two prisoners to the penitentiary,
one for the theft of a melon and the other for
killing man. The sentence on the thief was
three years, on the murderer but two. 1t is
practically impossible to avoid this paradox of
justice under existing methods. tits marvel
that some feasible plan has not been adopted
to remedy this. Governor Foster, in his
annual message to the Ohio Legislature, points
out way that seems so reasonable that
it ought to be put to the test. His plan-and
the same has been proposed in Wisconsin-is
to sentence offenders unfortunately. The
court that passes judgment transmits to the
prison authorities an outline of the offense and
these data those in charge of the penal insti
tutions can form an intelligent estimate of the
character Of the man, the likelihood of ref
ormation, and the best method of dealing with
him. If it is his first offense, every opportu-
nifty is to be afforded him to work out an hon
orable reformation, and with this end in view
he is to be given to understand that honorable
conduct on his part will not only materially
hasten the date of his discharge but will also
earn for him every consideration possible while
still in prison Such aeourse, it is thought, will
urge all, or nearly ALL to attempt to regain
place in their own self-respect and in the
esteem and confidence of their fellow-men 1t
would certainly appear that if spark of man
hood and honor remained it would be kindled
to generous glow under such conditions. If
theft or burns house, and is sent to prison
for the crime, he is not made to feel that all
honorable effort is at an end, and that nothing
but endless disgrace remains. He is to be
encouraged to regain his high estate, and his
every effort in that direction, even while in
duress, is to be met with evidences that it is
fully appreciated.
In conformity with this idea all sentences
except those for life, shall be indeterminate
If the convicted shall evince no desire for
reformation, but shall continue wicked and
vicious, let the restraint continue. Society
can well afford to keep such out of harms
way. But, on the other hand, if under
these incentives the criminal should
show disposition to do right
he should be-. met by the prison
officials with every needed help. A system of
promotion may be adopted. AT certain de-
gree of promotion the convict should be en-
titled TO wear citizens clothes, and certain
degree of further promotion should entitle
him to his freedom, to go out of the prison
with the right to his earnings, he to be a CON
vict still, bearing certificate from the prison
managers to that effect. Continued good con
duct should obtain his full release, with res
toration of all his rights and privileges. In
this way it is hoped to remove the incubus of
conviction from those who are not constitu-
tionally bad. The idea is to save every man
possible to society and to his family, and
to protect society from the abso-
lutely depraved and vicious. 1t is
thought that penalties may be tempered by
mercy, in the interest of probable reformation.
There is enough in the proposed plan to war
rant test of its benefits, and unless gratitude
be dead in the hearts of unfortunate men, it
is safe to say that the results will not disap-
Doint its friends and promoters