The morning call., 1893-07-31
PRISON REFORM.
Observations of One of
Its Advocates.
Some Remedial Measures Adapted to
the Restoration of Criminals to
Good Citizenship.

~
the Restoration of Criminals to
Good Citizenship.
The Rev. A. brahms. chaplain Of the
State Prison at San Quentin, delivered an
address before gOod-sized audience in
the main hall of the Young Mems
Christian Association Building yesterday
afternoon upon the subject. 1.-THE Recall
citrant Young Man, the Reformarory and
the State Prison"
The general tenor of Chaplain brahms
remarks was in the nature OF plea for
the application OF reformatory influences
in our penal institutions.
After giving some statistical informa-
ton showing that about 80 per cent OF the
inmates OF tho prisons in this State are
under the age of 40 years, and reviewing
the different classes Of criminal, and the
in a reformatory sense, through existing
channels. he said:
"The great trouble with the mixed
prison system to effect reform lies in the
fact that 1t begins at the wrong end and
methods. The channel of crime, properly
speaking, can be effectually cut off at but
two points in the individual career-hrst,
when the character is already hardened
and passed into the stage of the durable
the problem can only be partially and i'm
perfectly solved by the process Of the
indeterminate system OF sentence which
consigns the habtual offender to 4 prac-
tical life of detention. and which. while it
does no injury. but actual benefit, to tho
subject under proper prison system, pro-
tccls society and cuts off the limo OF
criminal propagation at that end.
Second, as already stated. at the be-
ginning OF the individual career. with the
youth, when tho plant and unframed
powers and facilities are taken IN hand
by strong molding and Transforming In
fluences. by wise and judlcious remedial
agencies directed into proper chaElels TO
effect cure or mitigation, and thus disin-
feet the stream of incipient criminal life
by curing it at its fountain head. Thus
are cut off the sources OF criminal life 1T
both It's Inlet and outlet"
The reformatory and industrial school.
he claimed, had taken its place in the
foremost rank. OF effective measures for
the practical solution OF the problem Of
crime at lis inception. as far as human in
strum entalities can 60.
The basic idea underlying them, he
said. is reformation. In the case Of the
youthful offender this comprises early
moral and religious training. coupled with
educational and industrial features.
The industrial and training school proper
comprehends as its fundamental idea the
instruction Of the more advanced youth
in mechanical and Industrial trades and
vocations, with the moral ana educational
features as edjuncts, all converRlng upon
the central idea to so train and equip the
subject as to prepare him to occupy
place in society as self-respectinE. law
abiding citizen.
mira On. " Reformatory, that at Ian
caster. Ohio. and several other like insti-
tutions which have acquired nation al rep
utations in their special field of work. In
their general scope the management and
plan OF these institutions are very similar.
and all seek the advancement and better
ment, morally and intellectually. Of the
prisoner as the means by which his rescue
from life of crims may be attained.
Chaplain brahms attributed two.thirds
OF the crime Of the world to idleness and
lack Of legitimate self-employment. He
cited the fact that among the inmates OF
our own State prison less than on fourth
lishment of trade schools would develop a
spirit OF sterling independence and self
respect that would DIT man for tho full en-
joyment of his liberties, and the same State,
he affirmed, that provides so literally
for the training Of her better classes can
certainly afford to extend helping hand
to the less fortunate wards without the
hope of further re wards than that i'm piled
10 restored citizenship and rehabiIitated
manhood. The same legislative and num-
cipsl liberality that provides for the
licensing of .oul-destroying and man-dr-
basing institutions can assurediy afford to
exercise equal liberalty in building up
what she has torn down. 1t Is at least
only an equal Offset"
In tho treatment Of boys tho speaker
quoted the experience OF the authorities OF
tho Connecticut State Reform School.
Says the Superintendent: Our expert
ence has taught us that out-oi-doOr labor
upon the farm and garden. the care Of
stock. tho gathering and storing of products
are better adapted to meet Tho desires Of
boy life than any kind OF shop labor. Is
has been our purpose to give rs many boys
As was possible a knowledge OF outdoor
industries with the hope that tastes for
country homes would be cultivated. The
plan has worked admirably"
The educational, moral, religious and
recreative features of these institutions
were also exclusively discussed and the
speaker closed with words of praise for
the enlightened popular Government which
sustalns these advanced ideas Of criminal
reform.