The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-04
The Criminal.

which is in surprising contrast to the in
difference paid it few years ago. The
people have evidently come to the conclu-
sion that the adage. There is good side
to everything if we will but seek it," is ap-
plicable to the inmates of our prisons. Pun
ishment is still the main idea of the law as
enforced, but the more intelligent demand
that proper means be provided to correct
rather than punish the erring ones In this
connection it is naturally question of mo-
ment as to what means will best attain
this end. 1t is therefore necessary to have
an idea of the different grades of men in the
various prisons.
Taking this institution as an example, the
criminal class is divided into three distinct
species: The professional, circumstantial
and youthful. The first OF these is re divis-
able into the aspiring" and confirmed"
The aspiring professional is easily dis
covered. lie is always ready to exchange
condolences with ''crOOks;' delights in his
command Of slang phrases, and recuunts
with avldity past eScapades. He also fiat
tiers himself on being acquainted with shady
sports and men about town. If you show
him an illustrated sporting paper. he will
give you the history of criminals and sports
pictured therein. To make men out of this
class it is desirable that they should never
enter penitentiary.. The reformatory is
the only place for them. Intelligent treat
ment and the learning of some remunerative
craft. with little looking after when they
regain their liberty, will generally have the
desired effect.
The ''cOnfirmed professional is in many
respects the antpodes of the former. While
IN prison he makes many acquaintance,
few friends and no cOntidantS. He has
traits which denote his character, but they
are Ineligible only to those who have an
idea of his mode of living. He can act the
hypOcrte to perfection, and does so often to
make things pleasant as possible during his
incarceration. This class is really very
small. If they reform at all they do so to
start a saloon or gambling den. Otherwise
they die either in prison or as paupers.
Those whom | have named-nOt eupho-
uSly-circumstantial, are generally about
so per cent. of the entire criminal pOpua-
ton. Though convcts. they are not Grim
inals in the proper acceptatiOn of that term.
The offences for which they are confined
are various, and are often committed with
no clear idea of their enOrmity in the sight
OF law. great many of them were drunk
when they committed the crime, or did so
in order to obtain liquor. Others were ca
JOled into committing crime by seeing a
chance to make few dollars. which they
might have needed greatly at that time
There is no excuse for crime under any
circumstances, but offenders of this kind are
greatly to be pitied. as their very ignorance
of the ways of the criminal often gets them
much longer sentence than an old offender
large part of them feel keenly the moral
crime and consequent disgrace. There is
no necessity for any strenuous efforts to re-
form this class. All that is necessary is to
treat them like men; habit that is not very
common in prisons yet.
The last casS-the youthful offender
is the one which should receive the strict
est attention. They are found in nearly
every prison, and sometimes of very ten
der age, as the records of some Southern
prisons will show. They are generally led
into criminal life by reading yellow-cov-
cred literature. and like the aspiring profess
siOnal, delight in their slang vocabulary.
They will listen with great eagerness to
those who can tell the most infamous tales;
and are thus confirmed in their already bad
habits. A term in prison is to them like
the first victim of frontier thugs which they
so delight to read about. When they reach
the penitentiary they have made their mark
and are proud of it, as it will give them
higher standing among their associates when
they are released. These youthful GRIM
inals are the natural offspring of that BRAIN
less class which is totally absorbed in lion
izng noted criminals. The youths are not
really to blame for their condition. They
are ambitious like other mOrtals. By read
ing continually of the fame-or rather in.
famy-gained by the heroS of their favorite
novels they decide that some particular one
is fitting model for them to emulate They
mean we'll. but being rather young their
judgment is not of the best.
Every effect has cause; and just SO long
as shooting heroes and shifting herones
exist, may we expect to find criminal buds