The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-02-08
The State RefOrnatOry at st. Cloud.

coded to be tie most successful institution
of it's kind in existence. The ''Qualitica-
tions'' of the candidate for admission to the
reformatOry are that he shall he between
the ages of 16 and 80, and that he shall not
have been in state prison before. The
commissioners may. however. with the adj
vice and consent of the warden of the state
prison, cause any prisoner confined in the
state prison who is serving his first term,
to be transferred to the reformatory. Our
own reformatory is to be conducted as near
ly as possible on the plan of the Elmira in
stitutiOn, and as numerous inquiries have
been made of us respecting the former, we
can give no clearer idea of what it will be
than by quoting from pamphlet giving the
laws and rules prevailing at Elmira:
In his discretion, any judge in the state may
send a convict of this description to Elmira. He
is sentenced to the ReformatOry subject to the
rules of that institution, not for definite term;
but he cannot be detained there longer than the
maximum for which he might have been SEN
fenced under the law. For instance. if for burg
larry he might have been sentenced to state prison
for ten years; he may, in the discretion of the
board of managers, who appointed by the gov
ernor, be discharged in one year. The institution
is practically managed by the superintende ut.
The discharges made only by the board, who
consider the mans record in the prison, and the
probabilities, from all the evidence concerning
him. that he will behave if set at liberty. He
must have perfect record before the board
slider his. case; and besides this, the board must
have confidence in his will and ability to live up
to it.
Let us follow man in this institutional life.
Upon his reception he is subjected to bath, clad
in the plain suit that is worn by the intermediate
grade, and locked up in cell for day or two, to
give time for reflection. He is then taken before
the superintendent. who makes thorough
animation of him. complete diagnosis of his
physical, mental and moral condition. His ante
cedents are ascertained, the habits and occupa-
ton of his parents land grandparents, il possible)
whether they were temperate. lived clearly and
honestly or otherwise what the mans home life
was if he had any. at what age he turned loose
upon the world. and what his habits and associa-
tions were up to the time of the crime for which
he was sentenced. The result of this examination
is put on record and the convict is instructed in
the rules of the institution and what is expected
of him and what he must do to get out.
The management have adopted three grades.
The newcomer gets into the second or intermedi-
ate grade. and it depends upon himself whether
he goes up to the first or down to the third. He
havior that he must attend to; he is assigned to
the class in school fitted to his capacity and
quirements, and he is put into the workshop that
10 hos cd tod 70 hiS haa1f nj 10 ia
informed of the maximum time for which he can
be detained, and that he can, by perfect conduct
in these lines of effort win his release in year.
To effect this he must gain certain number of
credit marks; and these credit marks con-
stantly liable to be cancelled by negligence i'll
behavior. He is tested at every step by this
mark system. In the shop he is marked accord
ing to his diligence, his sharp attention to his
work. his voluntariness at his labor. If he is list
less, sligts his work, and does not give his mind
and energy to it, he not only misses credit marks,
but will get discredt marks. There is no escape
for him; he must work with a will. In behavior
he must be perfect in obedience to the many and
minute rules laid down, Of which he is furnished
with printed copy. In school he is required to
study according to his capacity and the marking
is much the same in a well regulated high
school. But while he must be perfect in work
and behavior, he will pass in school if he gains
IS in the scale of 100 AS soon he enters upon
this course of discipline and study an account is
opened with him in a ledger.
The process of his release is this: If he is
ported perfect in three things-labor, school and
conductor each of which three marks are re-
CURED each month making nine in all, for six
months. he is advanced to the first grade.
If he remains perfect in the first grade for six
months more. gaining nine good marks each
month, he may then, at the discretion of the man.
ayers. be sent out on his parole On his parole
he must report his conduct and condition every
month to the superintendent. and this report