Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-10-30

One of the most interesting questions
under discussion at the recent meeting of
the National Prison Reform association
at Detroit was with reference to the re-
formation of convicts during their term
of Imprisonment. a number of valuable
papers bearing upon this subject were
contributed, among them being one by
Mr.. John G. Taylor, secretary of the Con
necticut Prison association, which is of
peculiar suggesCivenesS and value.
Mr.. Taylor recognizes, as every philan-
thropst must the fundamental difference
between the professional " class of
criminals and those who are undergoing
sentence for Il first offence. He finds that
by far the greater number of convicts
coming under his observation belong to
the latter class. In the Connecticut State
prison at a recent date were confined two
hundred and seventy-eight prisoners.
among these, says Mr. Taylor, Il do
not believe twenty-five professional crimi-
mails can be found The majority of pris-
oners who come into the Connecticut
State prison are young men, who, if sub
jected to reformatory influences during
their imprisonment, may, with a fair pros
pect of reformation, be discreetly assisted
to obtain honest employment when they
are discharged from prison"
\ further distinction, affecting the
probability of reform, not made by Nh
Taylor, might be made in this connection
Among the non. professional class of Grim.
inals, are always some who have been sur
rounded by good moral influence in youth
Their fall has been due to sudden and
strong temptation, perhaps, or to the bad
influence of others. In time, perhaps il
the solitude of his cell, in the case of such
conscience asserts itself, old and
pure associations rise in memory
the remorse of Il heart not vet
hardened in crime prevails, and the con
Wet is open to reformatory influences
This class of criminals is, of course, much
more easily reached than those who have
been brought up amid criminal assOcia
lions and STEPPED in vice till the mora
sense is almost lost. But both classes are
undoubtedly, within the reach of philan
thropic effort. The success of Mr. Tay
lors work in the Connecticut State prison
proves this fact
But what shall be done with disch arget
convicts, who, having been well behaved
in prison, and taught that the way of tn,
transgressor is hard go out from the ston,
walls bearing the disgrace of the prison
Stunned by men, and excluded from hon
est employment. One of the methods
used by the Connecticut Prison associa
ton is thus described
Each month the warden of the Stat
} prison furnishes Il list of prisoners who arr
to be discharged during the next month
The chaplain adds Il brief outline of eacl
: prisoners past life, so far us he has beer
| able to ascertain it. The association has
standing committee on visitation Eacl
month this committee, accompanied by th
agent of the association meets in the war
den's Office and has Il personal interview
; with each prisoner who is to be discharged
I during the next month. When the da,
} comes for his discharge he is met in tn
e warden's Office by the agent, ant
accompanied to the Office of tn
{ association in Hartford. If the pris
, oner has friends who desire him t
= come home, he is furnished with
! ticket to his destination ana the agen
I sees him aboard the train and notifies hi
5 friends when he may be expected. If tn
c prisoners family are in the aims house
Q the agent enlists the charity of some goo
I people, who contribute articles of furn
!, ture or household utensils; IA respectabl
e tenement is secured, and the wife an
II children are brought from the alms-hous
/ to their new home befor the da
J set for the discharge of the prisoner
L When released, the man often expresses
wish to visit his family ere he goes on