The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1892-05-26


| they perfect themselves in any of the in.
dustrial arts for which they may show some
inclination. At the same time, classes are
formed for the purpose of giving each in-
mate such solid instruction as will fit him
to occupy, with satisfaction and perhaps
pride, the future station in life which is
destined. and In many cases obtained, for
him by the Management. Divisions innu-
merable are thus created. After the au-
thOrties have had time to notice the con
duct of the prisoner under restraint, a
further distinction is made and the inmates
are separated into three different grades, a
probationary, neutral, and grade for
men considered temporarily incOrrigible.
GRADE DISTINCTIONS.
Prisoners who have shown themselves
disposed to abide by the laws of the intra
mural community compose the first grade
They will, if above reprOach while in that
grade, leave the crime hospital and return
to the outer world as healthy and service
able members of society. Those who have
not shown any determining signs of i'm
prOvement remain in the neutral grade,
where they have been placed upon their ar
rival. while criminals showing unusual
carelesSness or indifference to order and
advancement compose the lowest cOntin
gent termed the ''cOnvict grade" None
of the members of these two last divisions
and they constitute 80 per cent of the
pOpulation-are permitted any association
whatever. The members of the first grade,
who are soon to be free from all restraint,
in the midst of the dangers of our large
cities, are permitted restricted association,
which necessarily constitutes a further pro
baton. previous to their departure. NO one
recognizes the
EVIL OF "DOUBLING UP" INMATES
more than the RefOrmatOry authorities, and
there is no official act of the General Super
intendent's undertaken with more care than
the supervision of the choice of prisoners
placed in the same cell. Criminal expert
ence, height. weight. physical condition.
employment. religion. record at the Re-
formatory. everything is investigated; and
considered are liable to suffer from associa
tion with the other. they are not allowed to
room together.
THE RESULTS OF THIS SYSTEM
are found in the statistics of the Reforma.
tory which tell the story of the reformation
of over 80 per cent. of it's inmates. 1t may
be asked then, IF your institution effects
the reformation of 80 per cent. of the Grim
inals. why does not crime decrease?" The
answer is obvious and may serve as lesson
to the American people. Reformatories
are yet in their youth, the oldest being in
existence less than seventeen years; they
are few in number. and as naught compared
to the phalanX of punitOry prisons. In the
years to come however, when RefOrmato-
ries will be recognized as necessary to the
cOuntry's good. nay, more necessary than
hospitals for the sick and asylums for the
poor, when in every one of the United
States, always first in reforms of every
kind an institution, after the pattern of the
Elmira Reformatory. will have been erect
ed, then will the people have right to ex.
pect decrease of crime in America; then
also will they look forward to an era of rel
ative freedom from the apprehensOns it
causes. and devote more of their time to
teaching the exiled, uncared for foreign
criminals the value of order, of law and duty.
lessons which the punitive methods of their
own land will have failed to inculcate.