New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-18
PENAL COMMISSIONS REPORT
49, .popATE COMMENTARY on RE-
VISION OF EXISTING LAWS
,,,,,, prcovurvD THE ADOPTION OF THE PRO
RATION" AND "GNDETERMINATE SIN
TENCE" SYSTEMS.

RATION" AND 'TNDETERMINAIE SIN
TENcE" SYSTEMS.
Trenton. Nov 1.-THE Penal commission ap,
pointed under authority OF JOINT 'esou.'on 49,,
bv the last Legislature. has about compete -
,l ard "a now preparing the recommendation
+, will make 10 the incoming Legislature lHr r.
mort will be placed In the hands OF Governor WI"
within few days ,,- ..
Cling through the States and have visited many
institutions of a reformatory CHARACTER anu ,ae'
u, o-obahiv draft a bill providing Tor an II
s,,,,,,a sentence" Of youthful criminals ana
also one embody.ng the probation system ~
Massachusetts,. -, -
,rhe work of the Commission has no; been az
,boroueh as the gentlemen composiHs j. "O"'i
like vet their report is looked Tor by lawyers 'l
,ha state with more than ordinary Interest 10Y
the reason that they also expected TO lnyes''
gate and report upon the penal system u WV"
Jersey. ., ,
., oogrizance of is the decision of Judge J. kear-
~. pics In the arson case in the MiddleseX county
Court a Few days ago. This is somewhat "i'io"'
the scope Of authority granted the |or'iiss0''
hu, II nav be used a sample Tor coh'paIson
between many Of the New-Jersey penal laws al"
Tho old common law OF England which !. Ia us'
IN ,bIs state in the absence of statute law
PLACES THE COMMISSION VISITED.
IT., Commission inspected the Concord Reform
atorv Charlestown Prison the city buildings 0"
Deer Island the police courts the muncipai GRIM
inal courts and the Bridgewater helor"a'o'S :"
Roston The county Jail al Plymouth was a's'
inspected as well the cluster OF state "u''"'e'
at Howard r. l. More recently the Conm'ssioA
,s,.od tho Yves, viewing the reformatory az
tIur,,rgdon Penn; the unfinished reformatory az
Mansfield Ohio; the reformatory at pontiac ~
and the municipal prison at Detroit Nhch ''r'''
have also been paid to the New-York State he
formatoiy at Elmira -, o
Although only $1,000 appropriated tor 'ne use
f tho Commission it Is Of interest TO know tnat' II
snite of the extensive inspection and wide sfe'c"
Of territory covered. the Commissioners VIII re'ui"
to the State of New-Jersey a proportiona'eN 'ais'
unexpended balance. ., rasolu,,on
calls for special investigation into the supJof1 -
ssntonce both OF which are in use in the State o.
Massac This CommonweatR :ianis a. ob '
iects in view the Penal Commission devoted mucs
OF it's time study 81 the pTaciical opeIuIorn
them The Commission was deeply impressed py
both and their aiyanases nov saving money from
the standpoint Of the taxpayer.
THE PROBATION SYSTEM.
The probation system has for Its OBJECT the re'o'-
nation Of the criminal. without the Disgrace ot IN
prlsonment and Is most advantageous IN cases o.
novices in crime This at least is the cardina!
conclusion reached by the Commission. AS an QUIZ
growth of individual interest where persons becam
surety Court for those convicted OF crime or
misdemeanor a system of probation was inaugu-
rated. This gave hope for reform outside corlee-
tional Institutions The practical operations OF toe
system are TO De found IN the facl that after the
Judge has listened 10 the statement or the case ~
turns over the offender to the probation officer,
VINO be from political Influence, and WAC
j. responsible 10 the Court for the appearance o.
offender specined time and FOR behavior
curing probation. woman probation officer nas
charge of the females.
While under the direction Of the probation o.
ncer the criminal leads a lie OF strict accountant
ments ' and ali tho ncaentais when nave tende
TO make him a criminal. are recorded Ala - Sfe"
him secure an avooaton which will tend 10 re
establish him in society. Inc personal liberty wneA
he much desires ls subject to restraint upon tn
Of the term of probation. the case may be dispose
of either by extension OF probation, the person may
by non-appearance or case dismissed. TO Illus
trate somewhat further. i may be said tn9t the
system and the New-Jersey parole system is tnat
the former R pre- wHe n re laC;s I
has disgrace attached. the latter relieves INC
9nendeG IRON - LONGER Term OF 5a
reached It's highest development in the city OF bos'
ton
THE INDETERMINATE SENTENCE SYSTEM
Ground has recently been broken az Railway FOR
the Intermediary Prison. In this connection me
Commissioner paid particular attention To the in
determinate sentence" This plan the Commits
soners found. tended to restore offenders to a BET
ter and more usetu life. In Massachusetts, and
years the percentage OF gain TO society % the
reformation of young criminals was somethng lka
40 per cent in Pennsylvania and Illinois per
cent. 1t Is well known that the idea OF repealed
short sentences IL fallacious and that under
conditions little reformation Is TO be accom-
piished No true reformation can take place, ex-
cept with the consent OF the offender. and II re-
peated convictions give evidence OF character
UNFIT 10 be at large. the term OF imprisonment
should only terminate with death. Upon the other
hand IT, in the opinion Of the prison authorities.
the conduct OF the offender ha. been such as to
merit appreciation. he should be allowed TO regain
his pace in the social organization.
terminate have created In the minds the
Commission the most active interest. incidentally,
elaborate investigations into the management %
reformat tories, jas and prisons. especially with
reference 10 sanitation, heating end lighting, as
well as the construction of cells chapels and Re-
Although the work has been done quietly vast
amount has been accomplished and there is every
only on account OF its novelty but its usefulness
as well. Will be gladly received.
Lewis; member Of the New-York bar. and a rest
dent OF Morrlstown. Mr.. Lewis was for many
ton; he was a delegate to the international Prison
Congress he'd in Paris during the last summer.
ana Is pen9ogist enjoys worldwide repu,etiiion
OF The jersey city Journal" who has been for
many years deeply interested in philanthropy.
measures. The Rev. George C. Maddox OF Tren.
| ton. chaplain OF the New-Jersey State Prison. IL
| secretary OF the Commission Mr.. Maddox .
president OF the Board OF Trustees OF the State In
dustrial School for Girls, is one OF the Board OF
Managers OF the State Charities Aid Society. ana
has frequently been delegate 10 Prison Congresses
ton bar. OF the Board OF Managers or the state
Charities Aid Society. and Attorney for the New
Der. Mr. Lee. who IN local historian. has devoted
much attention TO the study of charities ana cor
list is completed by ex senator Philip p Baker, OF
Nineland president OF the Institution for the reeo,s
| Minded. and for several years Senator from 'h'
county of Cumberland