The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-04-17
Massachusetts ReformatOry.
Col. Gardiner Tufts, Superintendent

Lno RoIOTmaGOry. In MS annual report says:
Time and means are required for reform
atOry work. The lifting-up process is gen.
orally slow; the distance to be overcome is
often great. Simple or single statements of
truth are not likely to be sufficient: For
precept must be upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon
line; here "a little and there a little" and
everywhere much. Before persons who
are being called to higher and better living,
there must ever be bright steady, endur-
ing example. In no other calling is more
work required than III the reformatory
calling. In no other work is so much ex-
pected for so small an outlay of time and
means as in refOrmatory work. 1t often
seems as though the general expectation
was that retOrmatOry institution should
very speedily bring the individual, who is
afar off in ignorance and sin, up to knOwl-
edge and righteousness; that with a small
outlay, it should be able to make men right
who have been largely wrong. if not wholly
SO; make them wise, when they have long
been ignorant; make them Skiliful with
their hands, which were never taught; to
be diligent when idleneSS was fixed habit;
in a word, that the institution should
cheaply and quickly make men upright,
wise, skillful, Industrious prudent. and al
together acceptable to exact requirement
after they have been astray in all such
things, or perhaps have never come to
knowledge of them.
We most thoroughly believe in the re.
fOrmabilty of men; in the possibility of
remedyng their defects, of supplying their
deficiencies. and of rectifying their perver-
sites; Or perhaps, more correctly speak
ing, in the refOrmatOry plan, to help men
to reform themselves in all such particulars.
This institution has been established as
refOrmatOry. Its administration perceiveS
and cOntemplateS, to degree, at least,
the magnitude, the difficulties, and the
necessity of the work undertaken. In it's
work, it proceeds upon the belief that
what needs to be done for prisoners ref
OrmatiOn can be done although the under
taking is large, and the dScOuragementS
and hinderanceS are many. We realize
that present means are not wholly adequate,
and that the employment of the means
which we have may not be altogether wise,
nor at all times efficient. The possibilities
for the prisoners, and the largeness of the
work required in their behalf, grow upon
us; while we are also mindful of the
States integrity and economy in our man.
agement, and also OF the protection that
society expects it should receive by the
enforcement of law.
These pages may fall under eyes that
have not seen our former reports, which
explain with some fullness the plan and
methods of this institution. For the use
of such persons, we select few paragraphs
of explanation from former reports:
"This is graded institution. Its men,
bers may be and are found in three grades
first. second and third. The first is the
highest grade.
"A prisoner on arrival is placed in the
second Tor intermediary grade. By his
own conduct he rises or falls in grade.
privileges increase with rising in grade,
and cease with falling therein. The grades
are outwardly distinguished by clothing.
The first grade suit is dark blue; the
second grade is black; the third grade is
red. The suits are of ordinary business
cut.
IA prisoner cannot be released from the
refOrmatOry before the expiration of his
full sentence unless he is in the first grade.
and has remained therein with a perfect
record three months if misdemeanant, or
five months if felOn. under Massachu-
sets law, all cOnvicts are called felOnS who
are not misdemeanantS.) Persons are COM
mtted to the refOrmatOry upon indetermi-
nate sentepces-within the limit of two
years for misdemeanants. and the limit of
five years for all other offenders.
MEN are released upon permits granted
by the commissioners OF prisons. A mis-
demeanant can gain a permit in eight
months; any other offender, in eleven
months.
I'm marking and grading, cognizance is
taken of the general conduct of the man.
his industry in labor and diligence in study.
''Our system of grades and marks is. in
almost all cases. sufficient for discipline.
Solitary confinement is sometimes employed;
but in no instance is there corporal punish
ment, or hand cutting. or claiming. nor
have there ever been such things in the
refOrmatOry.
LAS a means to refOrmatOry end. the
men of this reformatory are furnished with