The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-31

mitted to penal institution. In like manner
society is protected by the reformation of the
criminal children in public reformatories.
1t is but recently that scientific refOrmatory
methods have been applied to adult criminals.
This work has not yet passed the experimental
stage in the United States, but the results at FL
mira, n. Y, and Concord and Sherburne, Mass,
encouraging that the states of Ohio. Penn.
sylvania. Minnesota, Kansas, and Kentucky have
been led to follow in the same line by the estab-
lishment of reformatory prisons for young men.
The protection of society is further sought by
the repression of confirmed and hardened crimi-
mails. Heretofore it has been the practice to
tence criminals for fixed terms and to release
them upon the expiration of their sentences
whether reclaimed not. Prison refOrmers have
long maintained that such course is absurd.
Insane persons whose condition is the result of
misfortune kept in confinement until they
are cured, a large portion being kept for life. By
an easy analogy we are lead to the conclusion
that hardened criminals should be treated in the
same way. The states of Ohio. Massachusetts, and
Illinois within the past three years have enacted
laws for the punishment of habtual criminals,
whereby crmn who has already served two
sentences for felony. upon being convicted of
third crime is sentenced an habitual criminal
In Ill nois for twenty-one years, in Massachusetts
for twenty five years. and in Ohio for life, unless
sooner discharged by the board of managers, on
satisfactory evidence that he is reformed and
will lead an honest life if released; but when re-
leased he is subject to re-arrest without
trial when he goes astray. Some thirty of the
prisons Of the United States have formed
association for the Identification of criminals by
the French system of NJ. Bertillon. BY bureau
of exchange the officers of each prison able to
ascertain positively with reference to each
Wet whether he has been in either of the other
prisons at any time since the system has been
inaugurated.
1t will seem, therefore, that with relation to
society the tendency of prison reform is toward
leniency and refOrmatOry methods with mex
perienced and reclaimable criminals, and toward
repression and severe methods with hardened and
confirmed criminals.
In its relation to prisons, prison reform works
for the reformation of prisons on the one hand
and the reform of prisoners on the other. In the
reformation of prisons great advan ces have been
made. The sanitary conditions of prisons have
been greatly improved in some cases. In the
new prison at Allegheny, Pa, it approaches per-
lection. The cruel punishments which prevailed
in general in prisons twenty years ago have been
largely abolished, humane methods having proved
more effcacious. Discipline is accomplished
largely by the Withholding of privileges from Of
tenders against the rules. In the Minnesota
state prison the prisoners have been largely con-
trOlled by the allowance of small compensation
for their labor. amounting to about ten cents per
day conditioned upon good behavior.
ReformatOry methods are being tardily intro
duced into the state prisons. These consist of
schools, systems of marking prisoners on conduct.
labor and study, systems of grading based upon
marks, aud systems whereby convcts may earn,
conditional and unconditional, release by their
record.
Most prison reformers recognize religion an
essential element in any successful effort for re-
forming prisoners. Its application is difficult,
owing to the great temptations of prisoners to
hypocrisy means of securing influence for a
pardon, etc. prison chaplain needs to be
man of warm sympathes. but one whose sympa
thies are held in check by wise judgment.
Much evil has been done by enc ouraging convicts
to outward professions, without proper evidence
OF their genuinenesS. great deal more evidence
is needed of christian CHI aracter in a convict than
in the case of free citize This difficulty has
LED in some cases to an differentiation of the
necessity of religion factor in reform. There
is great need of intelligent study OF this whole
question by christian people -Free Baptist.