Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-14
THE RECENT PRISON CONGRESS.
Sentiment la Favor of Making All Prisons
Rcforina;ory In Character.

Major j. W. Lynn the efficient and In
telligent Superintendent Of the Virginia
penitentiary. returned from the meeting
Of the National Prison Congress recently
held in ST. Paul. Mimi. very fayorably
impressed with that body and its efforts
in the line Of prison reform. There were
about 201 delegates present, and the
prisons generally were represented. eN-
cept I'm the South, only Kentucky, West
Virginia. AMI Virginia having sent dele
gates
This body" said Major Lynn. in con-
versation with a Dispatch reporter yes
terday. had in it some able and distn-
gushed prison-reform workers. The
president. General Brinkerhoff, OF Ohio
Oxho succeeded the late General r. i.
Hayes. is an able ana earnest man. who
enjoys the confidence Of the people who
are engaged in a work which is second
10 no other in its Importance to society
and the common welfare Of our country.
Its late president announced at previous
meeting that the true prisOn-reiormer
labors to Introduce the spirit OF the
Golden Rule into the whole territory of
duty embraced in the great subject OF
criminal jurisprudence.
PREVENTION OF CRIMES.
"The prime object is the protection Of
society and individuals by the prevention
Of crime The means by which 10 OBJ
tain this we believe 10 be:
Il. The speedy and certain arrest. con-
viction. and imprisonment Of the guilty.
-. Reformation Of convicts by the
valid retaining forces-relgion, educa-
tioD. ana productive labor.
"3. The permanent Incarceration Of all
prisoners who are not reformed.
- The most effecfual means to pre-
vent crime is an unceasing conscientious,
and wise care in the training of the
young.
THE prevailing idea In all the Gapers
read (and many of them were very able
was that there should be less sentiment
alism. sterner discipline. and that all
prisons should be reformatory in their
character
SERVE UNTIL CURED.
"The discussion Of these papers brought
out the fact that the indeterminate sem
tence. that IS to say. that a prisoner con-
victod Of crime should be sentenced 10
prison unti he was cured, as a patient
would be sent to a hospital for treatment
for smallpox, not for three or six weeks,
but until. in the judgment OF the physi-
elan in charge. he is cured and tit TO 20
out again, and then only upon a parole
or ticket-of-leave. which should require
monthly reports showing the person To
be in regular employment. sober and
law-abidng, so that. when a prisoner has
by good conduct earned = right To be
trusted under certain conditions to start
anew. and with the habit Of Industry SO
formed and the certainty Of being re-
turned 10 prison unless he conducts nim-
self in all respects as a good citizen
should. would no doubt be the means Of
preventing large majority Of that class
from again committing crimes for which.
under our present system they are tried,
convicted. and sent repeatedly to prison.
"Ths system" Major Lynn concluded.
"precludcs the idea Of punishment for
an offence and acts upon the principle
OF detention until the offender has been
taught that he can be free only when BE-
has been cured Of his propensity to do
wrong The subject is a very important
one in that II costs in mere money, as
stated by pr. Wayland. $ip.o"o.VO an
nuauy, which, If turned into other chan
ncls would mean employment for all OF
our mills. demand for our products and
bread for a million homes"