The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-25
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mon sense.
Moral and physical intrmities &C
together to great extent, and il
order to assist in the curing of mora
disease, the services of physician ar,
required to remedy the physical all
ments. He should be present all the
time and seek to become acquainted
with the physical organization o.
every convict under his charge, anC
fully cooperate with the prison man
ager in the work Of genuine reform
alton.
After all of this is done, there is a
stronger probability of greater good
resulting from the labors of the chap
Lain.
Our present system of out
side labor is great drawback
in carrying on any work of re,
formation because of the constant
change of prison population. The
remedy for this will be to find outside
work which will be permanent in its
nature, and then make such provisions
looking toward the reformation OF
criminals, as ought to be had at the
prison proper.
1t is fact very generally admitted
in these days of prison reform, that
not much can be hoped for in the re-
formation of criminals, under a sys-
tenn which mixes all grades OF often
@aEs ,iisc"ously in the prisons,
from the youth committing his first
crime being associated with the Oldest
and most hardened offender.
| There are many convicts who are
incorrigible, and whose reformation
cannot be expected, but there are
many who can be reformed if proper
provision be made, SO that they can
ue separated from old ana hardened
offenders This should by all means
be done, even at the expense of a
third pep:tontiary or reformatory, TO
which hopeful cases may be sent, es-
pecially for the purpose OF reforming
them.
LABOR is NECESSARY.
In adopting definite prison policy,
provision should be made for convicts
TO labor while in prison, for labor is
necessary in the work of reformation,
and it should be useful and remuner
alive la por. Useful in order to train
the convict to habits of labor, and to
give him the inclination and ab
to earn an honest livelihood when he
again enters the world, and remuner-
alive because he should he made to
support himself while in prison, and
not be burden and tax upon society,
whose laws ne has violated. There
may be labor without reformation,
but not much reformation without
useful remunerative labor.
In the organization of penitentiary
system important matters for consid-
Grafton would be the question whether
sentences for crime should be for a
special term of years or indetermiuate
or indefinite. The latter system Is
being tried with good results. The
details Of the system differ, but the
plan with which l am most favor
ably Impressed is the one for definite
minimum sentence, tire prisoner not
to be discharged before that time, but
ut auy time aiterward when there is
sufficient evidence of reformation to
Justify it.
As part of the indefinite sentence
system, there is sometimes a parole
system under which convicts who
prove worthy may be permitted to get
employment outside the walls in any
part of the state, but still to be under
the supervision OF the prison officials
until they deem him worthy of final
discharge.
These systems have strong support
ers amongst the most experienced
prison men in the country.
There is also the question of more
complete MITIGATION of criminals,
so that when a convict ia DISCHARGED
and returned to crime life he NAV he
easily identified as an old offender
The Wardens' association OF the
United States has presented
and recommended for adoption
by the different states what
is known as the BertillOn system, for
:" - -'-~A:~-- cr1 iIo~t;foatin, or
criminals, by which it is claimed that
If adnpted bv every prison in the
ronrtrv it would he the means Of
identifying old offenders, furnishing
them as they deserve and doing much
toward locating the source of crime
and checking it's growth.
] have not time or space to dwell
upon these innovations that are being
tried, and it is claimed with success,
but mention them to call
tuenI - TIC attention OF those
in establishing the best |
prison system possible in Texas.
Progress is being made everywhere in
prison reform, and it is hoped that
Texas will not be in the rear in the
procession. / had the honor, und er
onpointment from the govencr, to at
tend a recent session of the Nation al
Prison Association Of America held a |
o., and I am sure that I
was much benefited by listening to
the discussions, aud especially by an
Of ideas with practical
prison managers. !