The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-05-07
PRISONS.

In the past the question has often
been mooted whether or not re-
form school should be regarded as
kind of prison. But the best thought
of the present age has decided that
every prison ought to he kind of
reform school. The cid, barbarous
idea of exercising vengeance upon
those incarcerated in prisons has no
room in modern civilization. In
this respect great changes have
taken place in the management of
prisons in Europe and America
during the present century. In
many of the Southern States of
America great changes of sentiment
on this subject have been manifested
during the last two years. The
spirit of this country dictates that
society punish those who violate its
laws, just so far and in just such Il
way, as will most efectually prevent
the repetition of crime by the indi-
viduals or by others. That the
prison system of the Hawaiian
Islands falls far short Of the ideal
must be evident upon even cursory
examination. Prisons accomplish
their end-the prevention of crime,
through the segregation of crimi-
mails. thus checking their evil inhu-
ence upon the innocent, through the
reform Of criminals themselves, and
through the salutary influence of
example of crimes punished. In all
three of these particulars our penal
system stands open to criticism. In
the first place, offenders of all
grades, from the school boy for
petty larceny to the brutal wretch
who assaults unprotected women or
attempts to take the life of his fel-
low man, all are sent, or may be
sent according to law, to the same
prison. There is no likelihood that
the school boys influence will re-
form his degraded companion. But,
on the other hand, there is every
likelihood that such companionship,
enforced by law, will result in meal
culable harm to the boy. These are
extreme cases. but there is a great
difference in the classes of offenders
shut up in one another's society in
our prisons. Placing all classes of
evildoers in one prison is not the
segregation which will result in the
greatest possible diminution of
crime. And another defect, just rs
glaring, is the failure to separate
prisoners from the rest of society.
1t is painful and unhappily COM
mon thing to see children playing
about, and even conversing with
prisoners at their work. How can
this fail to result in evil:
What effort is put forth to reform
those whom the state has deprived
of their liberty because of theil
having fallen into crime? lie who
undertakes to answer this question
so far as the state is concerned
assumes no heavy task. To tel
what conscientious work is done il
this line by individuals, and witt
what degree of skill and success, il
different matter. But such worl
in public institutions is always un
satisfactory unless carried on unde
the authority of the management
1t is bad economy for the state t.
shirk this responsibility.
When prisoners work side by sid
with unoffending laborers, and o.
practically equal terms, the eXampl
of their punishment loses much O
its salutary influence. Too grea
familiarity with criminals nearl
always results in harm.
All desirable reforms cannot b
made at once. Yet it is time fC
something to he done if Hawaii is
keep up with the most advance
nations. The Legislature cannc
do better thing than to appoint
committee or arrange for commi
sion to investigate thoroughly an
report what changes are desirable
and what can be done in that lir
at present. Then action should !
taken upon the matter at once.
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