The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-06-13

does not obtain as clear and intelligent
ideas as from one daXsspsat within prison
walls making a NefsSiial study of prison
life and prisoas convIn,s: 1.-THE following
as the gssM q an MSsspgatio Sa' Of the
p psst We. Ys'S ~ass So day during the
First, as tONthe observations. The state
has been too parsimOniOus in its apprOpria-
lions TOR the institution, especially as to
providing the essential equipments for a
first. class -prison; and it is TO be hoped that
more liberal policy will be pursued in the
future. The warden is keeping the prison
in the best order that it is possible to do with
his available resources, and lsC maintaining
exceptionally good discipline. There is an
air OF cleanliness throughout the Institution
which is as grateful as it is refreshing, and
evidently nothing is. omitted that will con-
tribute TO the good health of the inmates.
The only drawback iii the latter respect is
the location OF the prison building itself,
which is set under hill instead of having
been put on an eminence. as it should have
been. and as a result OF this bJunder more
or less dampness is perceptible i'm the lower
apartments An unrestrained talk with a
number of the cOnvictS elected no complaint
as to the manner of their treatment. Their
fare is plain, but it is wholesome and in
Portable. the prison discipline is cOmmin-
Cling of tirmness and kindness. and there are
no instances of harsh treatment except
where it is provoked by the bad behavior of
the cOnvictS themselves. This. in brief. is.
fair statement of the condition of the
Saltwater prison.
Now. as to the conclusions deduced from
"a days investigation of prison management
and study of the conditions of prison life,
and especially as to the possibilities of
making their prison experience the means
of lettering the moral condition OF the con-
victs. and to return them to society better
men and more useful citizens. The same
mistake is made in prison management that
is often made IN the conduct of our public
schOols-that of applying the same system
OF treatment to all alike. without taking
into account the difference in the cOnstitt-
ton OF human beings. The great fact in
nature that we seldom find two human be-
ingS SO constituted that like treatment will
produce like results is apt to be diSregarded,
and an unyielding. iron clad set of rules
for the government and discipline OF the
cOnvictS is adopted. If. as is true in most
cases, the criminal is caused by Il lack OF
proper mental and moral culture in youth
how much more important then. does it be-
come that in an effort to reform his charac-
discrimination in applying a treatment
adapted to his peculiar characteristics. In
addition to being the pOssessor; IF executive
abillty.s a prison warden. like a school
teacher, should be a person of. humane nin-
stincts. have keen sense of justice. and a
discriminating Judgment. go aaa c.4 tanl
When criminal is sent to state prison
the usual sentence is that he shall be con-
fined there given length of time at hard
labor 1t has been suggested by some one
and the more the suggestion is studied
the more one is impressed with its force
that instead of sdebating the restriction or
removal OF labor from prisons. our legsla
lures could make more progressin the work
of correcting the law breakersin law-keep-
1erS II they would make prison labor truly
refOrmatOry by endOwing it with a worthy
purpose. and thus regulate it for character
building. Labor i'm itself has no refOrma-
tory influence. unless there is motive behind
the labor to give if moral power. The
trouble with our present labor system Ii
that there is no sense of responsibility
coupled with it. The prisoner if forced to
work SO many hours day for so many
years and it makes no difference to hin
whether the work is we'll or poorly done.
There is no iliducenent to him to do well.
except to escape possible punishment. He
is not educated to that sense of responsible
ity which is the foundation of manhood.
The system adopted at Saltwater, and IN
some other state prisons, of giving conYict$
credit for so many. days out of each month
on their term Of imprisonment as a reward
for good behavior. is in the direction we
have indicated: butit does not 90 far enough.
Ii the penal sentence were changed so that.
instead OF being sentenced to Imprisonment
and hard labor for a definite time, the con-
Wet should be sentenced to accomplish SO
many average days work. each good days
work to be counted in his favor and bring
ing the end nearer. and each bad days
work counted against him and putting the
end farther off them instead of tOlinc