The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-24
THE DISCHARGED CONVICTS. i.
How Shall We Aid and Encourage
Them.

occurs to me: What is to become of the
discharged convict, the men who are daily
turned out Of the pententiary. many of
them to prey upon society, others with the
determination to be honorable and upright
citizens, to do all in their power to regain
theil lost character? This is question of
interest to peace officers. How to dlscrimi-
nate between the honest and the dishonest,
between those intending to do right and
those discharged but to continue their evil
ways. What will society do with or for
them? Many man is discharged from
these refOrmatOry institutions with inten-
tiOnS to lead an upright life, and yet,
what encouragement can or do they receive?
The hand of every man is against them as
soon as it is known that they have been in
the penitentiary, in many instances no en-
plOyment can be had, and they are dis
trusted by all. Instances have come under
my observation where XcOnvicts have sur
mounted all these difficulties and are to-
day good, reputable citizens, an honor to the
community but these are very few, great
majority receiving no sympathy or assist
ance from the world become discouraged and
soon find themselves back behind the walls.
What then is to be done for the relief of
any who may be disposed to become good
citizens? Every peace officer well knows
he looks with suspicion upon the eX- convict.
That as soon as the fact is known to them,
the first duty is to place the convict under
surveillance. This is considered necessary
for the public safety, and yet, is this any
encouragement? Does this assist them to
to find honorable employment if they desire
to reform? Yet it is for the public safety.
necessary that all these people should be
Iyotobod nd fbnjV Ivharao houtS tO
the police officer. The Prison Reform So
cety all organization of which EXPresi-
dent Hayes is the head, has the worthy OBJ
ject in view of the solution OF this prob
lem. This society is composed of leading
men OF our country, and will undoubtedly
do much good. Something should be done
for the relief of the eX-cOnvict. In my
opinion. it is matter VIII ch should be con-
sidered by the state and national govern
mentS. AS our population increases a
greater number of criminals abound. this
being true, every year adds to the number
of eX-cOnvcts. This is question for
study by the christian and philanthrOpiSt.
Many man can be saved further commits
sion of crime. and become respected citi-
zen, were he but to receive a little encOul-
agement, assisted to find honorable work.
Is it worth the while then to try to redeem
these men? Is it worthy. Of the
thought of christian men and women?
l believe it is. We have in nearly every
city branch of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, a society composed of
christian men whose object is. as | under
stand it, to assist young men. Would not
be well for this society to establish mis-
sion at the different penitentiaries to render
any aid possible to these people? Would
this not be worthy object? Here is
work for this society in which much good
can be done by them. and l believe this
would be step in the right direction; it
certainly would be worthy charity. Then
to render them some assistance in finding
them steady employment, in fact, to be to
these people what the Howard nurse is to
the feverstricken people of the South.
Society demands that something be done.
These men and women turned out upon the
world. many of them without friends or
money; will, in many instances. if not aid
ed, soon become reckless, drown their good
intentions. and become outlaws. when with.
little help they would have been saved to,
sOciety.-Phil. H. Francis in Detective
Cedar Rapids, Iowa.