Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-03-13
RIMINAL AND PRISON REFORM.

am convinced that if the judges o,
ae land could form an accurate con-
option of all that has to be endured 10
|, sentence of penal servitude, there
rould be an end to the truly mon
trous sentences of ten, fifteen and
wenty years for offenses against prop
rty. There isscarcely a crime known to
ur age Of civilization short of that of
nurder which ought not to be expiated
n q sentence of seven years of this
cientiic system of refined torture.
ncorrigible criminality demands
pecial consideration, though even
5itn reconvicted criminals it is a
question whether long sentences
re the best remedy. 1t is certain
hat deterrence has not been final
y secured beyond the length of sen.
ence by means Of prolonged detention.
special treatment rather than long inn
,risonment 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 lin England)
.ood conduct offers little, if any, test of
he influences for moral reform which
,unitive justice exercises upon criminal
character. The "model" prisoner is.
IS rule. the "old lag" the exper-
enced thief and rogue, who knows the
ules better than the governor; who can
luote 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 his dinner.
The indeterminate sentence, with re.
ease on parole on the recommendation
If governor, chaplain and prison doc
or for first timers in penal servitude,
coupled with the forfeiture of privileges
+ again reconvicted, would be calcu-
lted to encourage greater reformation
han the present plan of remission by
parks, followed by ticket-of leave. But
fear such a proposed change in the
reatment of criminals is not likely tc
Ind much support with the prison au-
horities of our time. The day will;
pine, however, when more humane
md more enlightened spirit will dis
over that improvement based upon in,
lustrialism and tempered with a hu-
nan sympathy that shall be guided by
deeper knowledge of comparative
,riminality, will.be made more effect
We for reformatory ends than the de-
|,umanizing system which at present
,btains.
The one remedy which will combin.
he essential ends of reform and pun
shment is ndustrialism-work, not OF
The abasing but of the useful kind;
productive labor, instead of treadmills,
"winj-sawing," and oakum-picking.
Mere mechanical "work," such as
walking" a treadmill, turning a crank
u separating strands of tar-rope, gives
40 occupation to the mind, engages no
moral or mental faculty that will help
;he prisoner to take his thoughts away
from present surroundings or evil rem.
misoences. II, on the other hand, a
prisoners daily task were to consist O.
.ome rational occupation-engaged Al
Or learning some remunerative work do
ing something of some value to hlmsei
Or TO the state: "something attempted
something done," every twenty-fou'
hours in the way of producing articles Of
value, or making some ornament OF
soy-there would be far different sol
for the labors of chaplain and schoo
master to work upon, and far greater
moral results to show at the end of q
'entence of imprisonment.
One of the favorite objections agains,
allowing remunerative employment
20 prisoners ls that the trades
anions have frequently protested
lgains it. I think such opposition
arises more from mere prejudice
;han from any substantial ground
Tor grievance. The amount of trade
that could be diverted from outside in.
lustry by a few thousand convicts and
casual prisoners in county jails-as-
mming that all these would be employed
n regular trade occupat:ons-would be
Eery trifiing. Probably not more than
20 per cent. of such prisoners would
,ctually compete with, say, shoemak
srs, tailors or mat-makers in their re-
,pective crafts, while the influence OF
Parliament could easily bo invoked at
my time by trade unionist NJ. P.'s to
prevent anything like unfair competi-
lion between the produce of prison
labor and that Of trades union indus
Iy.-Michael Davitt in Nineteenth Cen
!uru