The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-03-26
REFORMATION THAT WORKS.
METHODS At 7HE NEW ORE STATE
REEORu.fTORF at ELNIRI,

w nENcE FNNtu suu -" HtNN uuu " ~
cnier stm 90 D~o-Nurtur1ng tho Sound
SG,ua u. the sound Body, with Fate Play
tor the Criminal and for the Pubiic.
From the college on the HILL" ms the
New York State Teformatory at Elmira
10 facctiously called. comos its seven-
teenth year book and annual report.
q most Interesting volume. full Of en-
Pertaining and Instructive. and often surpris-
ing information rs TO tho workings OF an insti.
tuition based upon q theory OF crime which has
not yet passed the stare Of mere theory to be
accented universally ms a fact. An examine
ton OF this book. which cannot fall to interest
every one who is interested In crime. cnnno
bo begun better than calling attention TO the
fact that It's well-bound and we'll printed and
well.illustrated pagns arc mechanically en-
tirely the work OF inmates OF the institution.
trained in It's workshops and trade schools.
1t may be we'll to recall a few things about
the founding Of this institution which may
have passed from the memory OF those not
directly Interested In It In 1870 an act OF the
Legislature authorized II. and in July Of that
year the first prisoners were sent there. 1t lie
founded upon the theory that crime is n dis
ease which IL IL the business OF the State to
strive to cure: that the sanctions OF criminal
law are not primarily punitive. but curative.
The Reformatory receives males between
10 and 80. sent for the most part upon
the indeterminate sentence plan. That Is.
they are committed for a period not less than
tho least sentence OF the law for each %particu-
lar crime. and not greater than tho maximum
sentence. They are grouped and graded by
the authorities of the institution. and are
paroled upon good behavior. IL the authorities
deem them to be "convalescent" or entirely
cured OF their moral. physical. and mental
disorder. The motto OF the institution is this
quotation: NO man. whatever his offence.
ought over to be discharged from restraint ex-
cept upon reasonable evidence thnt he is
morally. intellectually. and physically capable
Of earning q livelihood"
or course. the law does not permit the carry
ing out OF this theory to its extreme. But the
authorities OF the institution claim SO much
for the practical workings of their system that
most OF their prisoners are 1T to go out upon
parole long before their sentences expire. or
the $500 prisoners who have been committed
to thoir care since July. 1870, 1850 have been
released upon parole. and only forty-six have
broken their paroles. The parole system is
worked in this manner. to quote the annual:
The individual under parole is merely a
prisoner OF the highest probationary grade. II
he abuse his privileges. II he prove himself in
capable OF ENJOYING honestly and moderately
the liberty conceded to him.. he Is deemed
unreformcd and Is returned to confinement.
The convict when first committed is strictly
denied all Indulgence. Little by little. as by
his conduct and application he shows himself
worthy. minor privileges are given him.. II
after a reasonable lapse Of time he proves do.
serving OF the confidence reposed in him..
greater latitude is accorded. and tho con-
valescent is allowed to minCle with the free
and healthy. provided that at stated intervals
he reports his condition to those in charge OF
his case. When after a fairly long trial the
conduct and ircum distances ofthe paroled man
recommend his unrestricted freedom. an alb
solute warrant is awarded. releasing him from
all further surveillance and restraint"
First In order comes tho question. what sort
OF persons are these young mon The aver
age at this institution Is twenty-one years.
"A large proportion Of tho reformntory popu-
lation." says the report. us composed
OF young mon who. to all outside ap-
pearances. compare quito favorably with
the classes Of young mon at large. from which
they are recruited. They are not generally
adopts In crime. Many are first offenders.
mainly the victims Of their natural selfshness
and love Of pleasure. Whatever bad habits
they may have acquired have not yet left in
deliblo marks upon them. In many cases q
few months OF reflection. and calm. orderly
living sufice to bring their good qualities and
feeliogs into action"
In most States this class. even to a great ex-
tent In this State. through tho incredulity OF
some o; the magistrates. is condemned to the
society Of hardened criminals In the %penlten-
tiaries. where reformation Is never thought OF.
except. possibly. for a few hours on Sunday.
In several States this class is condemned to
the hideous life OF the convict camps. which
breed vices as cesspools breed disease.
Now let us examine for q moment the
atofiutt,a ~ thaco K 900 vnupn mat ,yhi,h
have been carefully compiled. and throw some
amazing lights upon the causes OF crime in
this State. and notably In this city. for most OF
these young criminals are from New York. 1t
must. however. be borne In mind that the
"Co.lege on the Hill" harbors only selected
criminals. even OF the ages between sixteen
and thirty. o. the $500. STA were whites /!
anil lS5 were negroes. Chinese. and Indians.
or the 5.7l4 whites. ]. l63 were foreign born.
1851 had one foreign parent. and !. SO3 had both
parents foreign, but were born In this country:
2.2T4 had native parents.
The statistics OF ancestry and surroundings
are especially interesting: l2.3 por cent. had
insanity or epilepsy In their ancestry. 1913
per cent. had drunkenness in their ancestry
clearly established. III per cent. were doubt
fnl. and 4S.6 per cent. claimed to have tenn
pernte ancestors. As to education. 1a1 per
cent. had ancestors who could not read or
write. ~ per cent. had ancestors who could
larely read and write. 5i.4 per cent. had an
cestors OF common-schoo education. and only
As per cent. had ancestors with high-school
education or more. These statistics are the
more significant rs these criminals. were OF
the hest class that passed through the hands
Of Justice in this state, Again. as to peruniary
circumstance. only 40 per cent. were OF pau
per IiTth. only 1872 Eer cent. were Of lore;
handed parents. while 7h3 per cent. had
As to the occupations Of these ancestors.
oniy % per cent. were tho sons OF professional
men. ILL., per cent. came OF parents who were
servants or clerks. 35.1 per cent. came OF com
mon laborers. 34.2 per cent. from parents who
were mechanics. and III per cent Of parents
who were engaged in trade.
In the matter OF environment these facts |
were collected:
CHARACTER OF HOME. Per
rrn. |
Wv ,bS VI 81 |
Dnly Ikf. Slis OF 90 |
uool...-,'''''' al OF 10 |
EDUCATION.
mterates. i. 0a4 or Ia3 |
Read and write with difficulty ,..-.."2 1857 or Ss8
0Inm EgnODl --- or yhh l