Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-24

idhNi's una Intlks tue VI u nov
era In the treatment OF criminals IN ONO.
The fundamental purpose OF the new IN
siiiution will be reformatory rather than
penal. and il win he conducted with view
% n claiming az many rs possible OF th
lcss-bardcned criminals, and making gooi
cit'zens Of them rather than TO the creation
Of Permanent criminal class.
General Il. ID. BTnkerhOf, OF Mansfield,
member Of the state Board OF Public Chari-
tics and a leader IN prison reform, who
was in a great measure instrumental in Sc
curing the passage OF the law, was in the
city Yesterday. aud in conversation with a
representative OF tle Pain Dealer ex-
planned more fully the
SCOPE AND PURPOSE
Of the new institution, and, as these are not
very well understood by the people gen.
orally, some portions OF General Brinker-
hOfl's remarks may be OF interest.
\ "The institution" said General Brlnker-
Goff, sis called the intermediate peniten-
iiary, but the name is not proper one,
and does not convey the right idea a. to
the purpose Of the institution. II should
be called the State reiormatory, as the pri-
mary intention Is to reform such criminals
- are capable Of reformation rather than
10 punish them. 1t is based upon the same
idea as that upon which the New YORK
rciormatory at Elmira, y. Y, is founded.
That L., that a very large per cent. OF crimi-
nails are such not by nature as
from force OF crcum stances, barring As
sociaions or accident, and that these
can be and ought to be reclaimed TO society
and rendered good citizens by proper me-
thods. II is a fact that OF the criminals
sent to The Eimira reiormatory so per cent.
90 back to society morally restore and con-
yertcd into good citizens. In our own
State the prison statistics show that OF The
criminals sent TO the penitentiary 60 per
cent, after being discharged, return the
second time. Everybody who has paidany
attention TO the matter knows that many OF
The criminals sent TO orr penitentiary are
sent for their first offence committed under
extenuating circumstances. Their crime IL
not the result Of natural impulse 10 do wrong
bot Of bad associations, bad habits, and
various circumstances more or less acci-
dental. Under our system all criminals,
Without regard 10 the nItlre OF cireum-
stances a then offence. and without regard
| TO the character or condition Of the person,
are sert 10 the same place and subjected
TO the same treatment. The hardened
criminal and The young offender, who fell
into CrIOr or was led into II, are confined
| together, made TO bear the same stigma, and
are alike without Hope or inducement for
any other than life OF crime when they
| GET out again. The result i the creation OF
| permanent and eNCr-iucreasing climlhh
| class
GLOW does thcintcrmediate penitentlary
| propose to remedy thisI"
| at proposes TO take the younger class o.
| criminals. say those under thirty yeags OF
| ace and those who are guilty of their first
| offence, il OF no very grave nature aud 1t
| tended with such eXtenUating circum hnces
| a. The Judge may consider sufficient, and
| .ond Them to the rciormltory instead Of to
| the uenitentary. They are 10 be taken
there on the basis that crime with themis
A DISEASE THAT NAY BE CURED
| ard that the institution where they 20 il
| tolt OF moral hospital. OF course the
| idea Of punishment is not Lost sight Of.
| The prisoners VIII have reason 10 under
| stand that they are being punished for their
| crimes, but at the same time the stigma NJ
| the convict will not be upon them, and
| every influence and inducement possible
will be brought to bear to bring about the
| reform q the prisoner. 10 strengthen his
| moral purposes, eradicate his evil ten
| denotes, and restore him to so iety q good
| citizen and n moraliy-Cured man. Prison
| ers sent there Will be sent for no
| specified term. The judge will sion
| rly sentence them within The limits
| Of the law and the length o. time the
| prisoner will remain will depend upon his
| own conduct and behavior suppose a
| man j. found guilty OF burglary. lie l.
| voung and Il is his first offence. Under
| he Ohio low Dc may be sentenced to i'm
| pri,onment not les. than one nor more than
| len Years. The Judge sends hlm to the
intermediate penilentiary, but fixes no
| lcrgth of time. The prisoner understands
| that he may remain there Que year or two
| Years or ten wears, Just es his conduct and
| moral condition may cause the management
n the institution 10 think best. Iii, sem
| t,nce is not fixed. II is indetcrminate
| within the Limits II the law, and the
lprgth q il within the limits depends on
| LimStli.
"What methods wll be pur,ucd?"
| "Probahly something like those employ
I'd n the New York Iciormatory. There
when man enters the institution he i
placed in the second grade. There are
three gradcs-Onc higher and one lower.
The prisoner is subjected to no indigniiy.
Iii. head h not shaved. and be is not made
10 wear on unsight'y prison garb. lie d
nut to work, Of course. He i sent 10
chocl. His
| HEALTH AND MORALS ARE LOOKED AFTER.
Re Is given credit for all the good h. doe-
| md al the Advancement he makes. At the
| end Of q certain time, ii his record ius'iics
il, he is advanced TO the first grade, where
| be j. given more privileges and allowed
more comforts. II hc stil continues 10 adj
vance morally and in good reputation be Is
| discharged en- parole, and position found
for him outside the walls, where be can 20
to work at good wages. II he continues
Go behave himself he IS discharged mo-
| rally sound man and good citizen"
.'What il be falls back :"
ale IS put into the third grade. Hi
lead i shaved and lie l. made 10 wear the
.tlircs. He is confined TO hi, own ell and
Given regular prison fare. He il made "a
realize that lie is having tough time, and
Hat il Is hs own ilult. He loses every
Il ing except hope. That Is s'iil left him.
and hc may. If he will, still retrieve his er
rtrs and advance to the higher grades. II
De still makes no progress it is consld
cred that his case Is hopeless and he i
treated accordingly"
"W hat proportion Of such criminals
when discharged become and remain good
citiZtns?"
In New York 50 per cent
STATE INSTITUTIONS n GENERAL.
General Brinkerhon said that with the
Exception OF the penitentiary Ohio 'ia, th'
bCSt-managed benevolent aud refurmIIory
| institutions Of aUv state in the Union take
them as a whole. The penitentiary Is IL
Tad shape, he thinks, because It l. more
directly affected 10y politics than the Others
and is regarded as part Of the spoii' OF
victory. The public institutions that stane
tie highest arc those that are least az
lected by political changes. "Goy
eluoy Foster" said General Brinkerhou
Ibid bis best to make the admins
traton OF the benevolent institutions
Il the State non.parti.an. but bis hlnd'
were tied to some extent. Governor lloadly
never made change in any OF them Iol
political purposes. fhe Northern Ohio In
sane Asylum, under the care OF DR.. Jamlr
strong, is an admirably-man1gcd in'tlu
tion, one OF the best In the whole country
fl is unfortunately somewhat cranpsI FOL
room, as your city has grown until 1t la
begun to encroach upon L..
TIE CLEVELAND wOEKuouSE.
is also a magnificent institution, and 1t
management Is one that all friends OF pri
son reform must commend. There i no
an institution OF the same kind in The com
Try that stands higher. But the House o
Refuge is n disgrace, and the citizens o
Cleveland should see to 1t that II Is dlsasso
Il sN