The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-09-01
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iehmS: Six Months so Cents.
Crime In Old Age.

Crime In Old Age.
An analysis made by DIR. William
Duffield Robinson of the cases of $1,000
men committed within the last sixty
years to the Eastern Penitentiary of
Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, seems to
show that there is much larger num-
ber of criminals than generally sup
posed with whom the habit of crime
doing has been stopped. DR.. Robinson,
who has been physician to the East
ern Penitentiary for ten years past and
has made thorough examination of
the records of the institution since it's
foundation, mentions that, whereas in
any general community Is per cent of
the individuals over Is years of age are
from 20 to 25 years DID, this class fur
nishes 1882 per cent of all penitentiary
grade cOnvicts. Applying this show
ing to individuals" says the distin-
guished physician, 1--WE learn that men
at the age of 60 are about eight times
as trustworthy as at % years of age.
Putting it in another way, of eight peO-
pie who are criminals of the peniten-
tiary grade at 20 to % years of age
when they shall have become SO to IS
years old, seven will have reformed and
only one remain criminal. The result
is not caused by death, the potency of
that factor having been fully estimated
and adjusted so as to eliminate it's in
fiuence from destroying the equilibrium
of the convict and nOn-cOnvict pOpula-
tion at each period of life
These conclusions, however, will
probably not be fully accepted by pen
OlogistS without questioning. 1t seems
hardly credible that of eight ordinary
criminals of from 20 to % living to the
age of sixty, seven should reform. On
the other hand DR.. Robinson says that
in an assemblage of persons between 60
and IS years of age the chances of be-
ing robbed are One-eighth of what they
would be were the assemblage COM
posed of men from 20 to 25 years. This
might appear inconsistent with the
statement that the potency of the death
factor among the criminal class was full
ly considered. 1t is known fact that
longevity is, comparatively, a rare quail
ity among criminals. In proportion
there is consequently, as natural re-
suit, much less criminality among the
after consideration of the potency of
out of eight men, criminals in their
early years, are reformed at the age of
sixty, it would appear that in a general
assemblage of men of sixty, the chances
of being robbed could not be anything
near as much as One-eighth of such
chances, were all the men of ages from
20 to 25, as the proportion of formerly
honest men, in this aSSemblage, to
former criminals would be Overwhelm-
ingly greater than the proportion of
honest to criminal were the gathering
composed of young men.
DR.. Robinson's tables, however, are
an excellent work, well worthy of pro-
tracted study by those interested in
criminOlogy Ifsimilar assistance were
rendered by prison people throug ghout
the country, students in prison science
would be enabled by comparison to give
to the world some important cOnclu-
siOns in regard to the crime question.
We reserve other important infOrma-
ton conveyed by DIR. RObinsOn'S tables
for future cOmment.-The Summary.