The Penn's Grove record., 1895-03-08
RIMINAL AND PRISON REFORM.

l am convinced that il the judges OF
ae land could form an accurate cor
option of all that has to be endured in
sentence of penal seryitude, there
rould be an end TO the truly o
trous sentences Of ten, fifteen and
wenty years for offenses against prop
rty. There isscarcely a crime knownt to
,ur age OF civilization short of that of
nurder which ought not to be expiated
n a sentence of seven years of this
cientifc system of refined torture.
ncorrigible criminality demands
pecial consideration, though even
vitn re~conyicted criminals it is a
question whether long sentences
IRE the best remedy. 1t is certain
hat Difference has not been final
y secured beyond the length Of SEN
ence by means of prolonged detention.
Ipecial treatment rather than long i'm
,risonmept is what the grave evil of
ecidivism requires. The indeterminate
entence would afford the best possible
Incentive to reformatory conduct in all
prisoners not hopelessly criminal.
Under the existing system Gin England)
rood conduct offers little, if any, test of
he influences for moral reform which
punitive Justice exercises upon criminal
character. The "model'' prisoner 10.
IS a rule. the cold lag" the exper-
| enced thief and rogue, who knows the
Jules better than the governor; who can
quote Scripture with the chaplain; who
las no repugnances Of feeling, religious
moral or personal-who, in a word,
would no more commit a breach Of the
ules knowingly than he would throw
way bis dinner.
The indeterminate sentence, with re.
ease on parole on the recommendation
III governor, chaplain and prison doc
or for first timers in penal servitude,
coupled with the forfeiture of privileges
( again reconyicted, would be calcu-
lted TO encourage greater reformation
han the present plan of remission by
marks, followed by ticket-of leave. But
fear such a proposed change in the
| teatment Of criminals is not likely te
Ind much support with the prison au
horities of our time. The day viii
! pine, however, when a more humane
ind more enlightened spirit will dis
'pver that improvement based upon in
lustrialism and tempered with a hui
nan sympathy that shall be guided BY
deeper knowledge Of comparative
,riminality, will be made more effect
We for reformatory ends than the de.
sumanizing system which at presen
Sbtains.
The one remedy which will combin,
he essential ends Of reform and pun
shment is industrialism-work, not o
;he abasing but Of the useful kind
productive labor, instead of treadmills
i'wini-sawing," and oakum-picking
Mere mechanical "work," such al
nwalking'' a treadmill, turning a cranl
,r separating strands of tar-rope, give
40 occupation to the mind, engages nj
moral or mental faculty that will hell
The prisoner to take his thoughts ava,
from present surroundings or evil REM
iniscences. II, on the other hand,
prisoners daily task were to consist c
Tome rational occupation-engaged a
Or learning some remuneratiye WORKED
ing something of some value to hlmsel
or 10 the state: .something attempted
something DONE" every twenty-fou
hours in the way of producing articles Q
value, or making some ornament Q
loy-there would be a far different sol
Tor the labors of chaplain and schoc
master to work upon, and far create
moral results to show at the end OF
ientence OF imprisonment
One of the fayorite objections aGains
allowing remunerative employment
70 prisoners Is that the trade
anions have frequently proteste'
lgains it. I think such opposition
arises more from mere prejudic
han from any substantial groun'
Tor a grievance. The amount of trad
that could be diverted from outside in
iustry by a few thousand convicts ant
casual prisoners in county jails-a:
mming thatall these would be employee
n regular trade occupations-would b.
ycry triHing. Probably not more tina
10 per cent. of such prisoners woul
: actually compete with, say, shoemal
BIS, tailors or mat-makers in their re
| ,pectiye crafts, while the influence 0
| Parliament could easily DO invoked a
my time by trade unionist NJ. P.'s +
prevent anything like unfair competi
lion between the produce Of prisoi
labor and that Of trades union indus
ry.-Michael Davitt in Nineteenth Cen
ksry.