The herald., 1895-11-28

with nothing to do, and with nothing
done for them. Orphans who had COM
mitted no Offcnse, prisoners Tor debt,
lepers, boys and girls, raving maniacs,
men and women, were ali huddled to-
gethcr in rooms foul as death morally and
physically. We need to remem Der tn is
IL order not to be discouraged at the con-
fused condition Of things that prevails to-
day. II another century makes the Same
degree OF progress as the last has done.
we may hopo to almost eliminate the
criminal classes. The reformatory meth
DDS have not been carried as far in the
prisons for adults as could be wished,
but the spirit is almost universally hu.
name, and few institutions have been
able to show n arvelous results in we'll
tested reformation.
If the. exigencies OF politics aid not
make changes SO frequent wardens would
nave opportunity to prepare themselves
for the successful carrying out of radical
improvement i'll methods.
The most sgniilcant development of
modern penology is the probation sys-
tenn; this 10 an attempt to legally recog-
nizo what every thoughtful observer m ust
have noticed, viz, that large proportion
of those who are arrested, convicted and
sentenced have no inherent criminal ten
denotes; they are the victims of temper
AIRY adverse circumstances, or of evil
tendencies which might be readily cneck-
ed. For them to serve sentence would
be to cause the state unnecessary expense
and harden them into hahitual criminals.
To meet this need the laws of Massa-
chusetts provide for probation officer in
each police district, and makes it his
duty to become familiar with the particu-
lar cases of misdemeanor in his district
and to recommend, where it seems wise,
that the persons charged be placed On
probation, and such officer has the gem
eral oversight OF such offenders until it
has been tested whether he is capable of
becoming an orderly citizen without
punishment or exposure. One of these
officers reports that in his district in
Boston 1t was necessary to rrsarrest but
a little over one-fourth of those who
had peen placed on probation.
A probation officer tor women had in
charge 209 cases during ten months, of
which only thirty-four were finally SON.
fenced. But, it may be urged, if these
persons have actually com m itten Offenses,
how can VIC condone them even if the rs-
suits make it desirable; this is much the
same objection that Jesus must have met
regarding his attitude toward Zaccheus,
the unpr;ncipled publican. He thought
the law of human kindliness was reason
enough, and the results proved that tnan-
cial and social we'll being were alike Sc
cured. And 30 in regard to the proba-
ton system: it has saved enormous sums
and Kept thousands from criminal car
reer. The only possible object to be Sc
cured is the wall-being of society. Since
it can be shown that the system of defer
red sentence secures the reformation of
offenders it is certainly right and exped-
lent. The great need is that com on
sense and human sympathy be given
some opportunity to enter into the ma
chinery of the law, and this opportunity
is furnished by the probation system, for
it allows officers to be men as we'll as
law-enforcing machines, which must
work even though they grind to powder
officers are like record of the wlsest
sort of city mission work. Frequent
visits, correspondence and interviews
with parents and friends search for en-
ployment consultation with employers
and associates, Investigation of boarding
houses and homes, constitute some Ut tho
activities OF these m ost valuable adjuncts
to the police system.
Mr.. Frederick Wines, the highest au-
thority perhaps on penOlogy, says that
he believes, that the probation system
will eventually take the place of the en-
tire prison system.
1t is difficult for amateurs to see just
how this may be. but certainly the more
the individual factor can he introduced
with personal interest and persona. SUI
pervision the batter for society, and the
sooner will the spirit of brotherhood be
realized.
The probation system as the climax in
the penal theory, is peculiarly sueges-
tive; although it has come US a matter oil
economy aud wise administration it is
virtually society's statement to the often
| der: 1T IS not mine to condemn thee;
| go ana the law will help YOU to sin nc
more" Let us hope that experiences
like this of the penologIsts, showing that
the law OF love and wise expectancy are
one law, will read men to such an undor-
standing that they will always believe
even when they cannot see that love is
the fulfil Hing of the law.