The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-04-13
The Elmira Reformatory.

Elmira is facetiously called, comes it's
seventeenth year book and annual re-
port, a most interesting volume, full
of entertaining and instructive, and
often surprising information as to the
workings of an institution based upon
a theory of crime which has not yet
passed the stage of mere theory to be
accepted universally as fact. An eX-
animation of this book, which cannot
fail to interest every one who is inter
ested in crime, cannot be begun better
than calling attention to the fact that
it's well-bound and well-printed and
well-illustrated pages are mechanically
entirely the work of inmates of the in
stitutiOn, trained in it's workshops and
trade schools.
1t may be well to recall few things
about the founding Of this institution
which may have passed from the mem
DRY of those not directly interested in
it. In 1876 an act of the Legislature
authorized it, and in July of that year
the first prisoners were sent there. 1t
is founded upon the theory that crime
is disease which it is the business of
the State to strive to cure: that the
sanctions of criminal law are not prim-
arlly punitive, but curative.
The refOrmatOry receives males be-
tween Is and 3d. sent for the most part
upon the indeterminate sentence pIan
That is, they are committed for pc
Rod not less than the least sentence of
the law for each particular crime. and
not greater than the maximum SEN
tence.
The parole system is worked in this
manner, to quote the annual:
The individual under parole is mere
ly prisoner of the highest probation
airy grade. If he abuses his privileges,
if he proves himself incapable of enjoy
ing honestly and moderately the liberty
conceded to him, he is deemed unre-
formed and is returned to confinement.
The convict when first committed is
strictly denied all indulgence. Little by
little, as by his conduct and applica-
ton he shows himself worthy, minor
privileges are given him. If after a
reasonable lapse of time he proves de-
serving of the confidence reposed in
him, greater latitude is accorded, and
the convalescent is allowed to mingle
with the free and healthy. provided
that at stated intervals he reports his
condition to those in charge of his case
When after fairly long trial the con-
duct and circumstances of the parOled
man recommend his unrestricted free
dom, an absolute warrant is awarded.
releasing him from all further surveil-
lance and restraint
The results Of the system are shown
in the paroles. The whole number pa
rolled out of these $3.50, whose statistics
we have been giving, was 3,2S9. The
average of detention before parole was
y months. Two thousand one hundred
and fifty-Seven of these are now absO-
lutely released, and SIS are still on pa
role. Four hundred and thirty-three
had to be discharged by the expiration
OF their sentences. The authorities of
the institution estimate that of the pa
rolled but 1853 per cent have returned
to criminal practices.
"The investigations the past year.
Says General superintendent Il. Il.
Brockway in his preface, 'have strength
ened the opinion that physical degener-
acy is common subjective cause of
criminal conduct; that mental powers
enfeebled, unframed, uniformed, char
acterize the mass of criminals, condi-
ton evidencing physical degeneration
as it's source; that such persons are not
serviceable in the emplOyments of free
society, and so get soon discharged from
situations, and cannot readily provide
legitimately for their own subsistence.
They are at the same time possessed of
wants not always refined but usually
imperiOus and expensive, the means to
crafty which they impulsively and un-
scrupulOusly obtain
The whole aim of the treatment at
this "hospital" is to correct the physic-
al, mental, and moral weaknesses; to
make the body and the brain strong,
and to fit them with the tools whereby
they may enable the young men to fight
the battle of life successfully and hon
estly. The institution takes the young
man, without trade or an education,
gives him both, teaches him to know
right from wrong and to prefer right,
and then sends him out.