The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-13
RECOMMENDING REFORM.
,r,reTNTA PRISON ASSOCIATION
GEFORM cONvIcTs.
r.xors Classification OF Criminals and
,.si,idnal Celis-rhe Jaiis of the state
should DO Improved.

substantially nothing up TO
- prsseu, time. except TO superin-
..s reform school Tor boys The re-
t.ve,cr. sets forth that there are
s.nartments Of phuanthropic ef-
...n.n the scope 81 the charter OF
.nlzauon. some o. which ought
... 20 have received attention
. I'D could not be claimed that the
...l laws OF this state were peileC''
n.r. were good reasons why the
..an had not suggested cna"be9
.r. criminal system.
report then continues as iolloWs'
....ral of the States OF the Union
. Reform" OF prison Science,
..-.etod general public attention
.e radical changes have been in
affecting the MANAGEMENT Oh
. and prisoners Tho most lmpoi-
.. rl Che most approved OF ihese rec
.... re the most indetcrminate sentence
rr.visloual release. the adaptation
..,n NE TO the aim and purpose OF
rosforafion of the convict 60 society
- the education of public sentiment
... point Of giving him fair chahce
.r. - restored. ,...,o~,f
. association. while in the general
assessed to endorse these reforms mas
A f.It 10 wise 90 suggest tne S"eeiIHe
...-.rton of the entire criminal
~ fha state which the adoption
t... fe.trrcs would involve. for two
fr.t because these new meas
..r .r.ely as yet be said 20 have
f che stage OF exp riment ana
rI second. because of the peni-
....r. contracts.
r, Ecarrance Prison Life.
.... most essential feature OF the re-
.t..- system of prison science is
.. -..rr.n-emcnt OF prison or convict
rs adaptation IS the recognized
rn. aim and purpose of preparing
t, convict 20 re-entcr free human
This would of course. require
....f.. sion of the inmates 81 the pen
....re and the adoption for them or
....m Of diversified labor primarily
.tnral and developing 10 the pri-
r rather than remunerauve TO the
... rut 30 was found that the State
bound hy solemn and elaborate agree.
..t. extending over q series OF years,
..rc Substantially all the labor of
..rri.ts t0 one OF two contractors TO
lab. them employed within the walls
t. ronIteniiary in one or two fixed
Inns NJ manufacture.
is however. fair TO add not only
shat these arrangements could not be
lr broken up. but that IL was per-
l.r. rof desirable they should be. Under
tI. Intelligent administrations Of Cen
oral I.a and Governor Mckinney these
r.rt..farv contracts have more and
mon. absorbed the convict labor Of the
State and taken the place Of the old
...t.n nf leasing out the men for work
nnr. OLD. rInr0ads which certainly ten
l.i ta rr.af abuses. ON the other hand,
.a admirable has hefn the conduct,
both moral and financial OF these manu-
f.urr- operations within the walls
.r tns Uententary. that we question
whether tla effect upfn the cOnvicts
themselves win not compare favorably
with ue moral results in many of The
so-.aneI "refarmatory prisons of the
country. While sur penitentiary. instead
Of costing au immense annual outlay, as
most of these Institutions do has actu-
.lr of Date years proved more than
..'fsusilm.n- and "a large sum, say
.tHH Of thc wages earned by the pri-
.Hn.rs has annually gone TO them or 10
t.sIr families. Indeed. while some changes
and improvements are greatly needed
t.'tIly separate individual cells for the
inmates yet no Nirginian need blush for
.U uen.tcuuary II is upon the whole, a
managed institution. and we believe
n eeneral influence of it's discipline and
labor upon those confined there is good.
while the ponitentiary contracts are
.1 force. 30 is Of course not possible to
make fair test of the three most prom
Sins features of modern prison reform
above meniisned. for they an hang to-
eefa.r and are based upon such radi-
cad ralmstmont of convict life as is
not af present either legally or pracu-
ttIIy possible I'm Virginia.
Tho Condition Of the Jalls
owe wish We could speak as favorably
af The laIls of the Commonwealth, but
DO must hc confessed that. as an integral
rarf of the criminal system of an en-
IrItenel Christian state they are shock
IHsy tar from meeting the demands of
tH. situation. ~. however, any one Will
tulv the ursbem of properly caring
for arrested persons held for trial. and
petty offenders sentenced for short terms,
he wh lnl 10 fun of difficulty.
"Hoh oft these classes indeed, all
suspects and AN convlcts. save those
confined JIM the State pcnitentiary. the
most lfpraved and hardened and the
most innocent and inexperienced alike
are .ni'soriminately herded in the typi-
cad Nifinia JAIN, where almost OF quite
universally. TWO conditions prevail. alb
HufD idlonoss and unrestrained inter
course So long ass these conditions eX-
$50 if s futile 90 pirate of retOrmatOry
measures: inspite of all the JAN will
continue 10 Dee. az IL has long been. "a
deadly cancer gnawing at the Vitals 81
lle social body.
'The blame is not as we think. gem
orally attributable 10 the officers. The
fherins. scrseants and jailors. but rather
10 the jain buildings and TO our laws
which allow and require the commit
nent of perstns under accusation VIII
nHy be innocent. ana of children an,
youth. 20 these common prisons.
ave make with hesitation two sug
.a.uons as the result of cur observation
upon these points, with the view and
h.He of arresting attention and provok
discussion. rather than suggesting
Immediate actiop.
Irl When any new jail Is 10 be
erected 10 Should be subject 10 the APP
II'taI of an inspector of prisons OF
some Other state O1icor or board. and
Irel 90 be- constructed upon a plan
''iIne at least for a separation be
'"'.n the sexes so entire and complete
' prevent any possibility Of cOmmu-
In ln amy way and as far as pos
aIa' providing against The absolute
OF inmates and the unrestrained
'.'ifse between the most hardened
iie least experienced ln crime. which
W rule in the iails of Virginia.
i The passage of a statute maxi
Do obligatory upon courts and magis-
crates io commit youthful law-breakers.
under fourteen years Of age 10 the
'inaior school instead OF the Jail,
of "a statute which shall have a
ST.. broader etyoop and autbarfza tho