The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-19


Reformatory Is in one sense a new prison,
but it is not a prison for the hardened,
or the habitual or the dangerous. criminal
in whom is to be found no hope for
reformation. Our present prison is lack
ing in accommodation and adaptability
to the new methods: The demand for
Of criminals is well founded There can
be no uniformity of treatment with any
hope of successful reformation. There
are degrees in crime and there are differ
ences in criminals. Some, unfortunately
for themselves and for society, are Grim
inals by instinct and terminals by habit.
ducement strong enough to cause them
TO forsake their evil ways.
1t is their misfortune, as well as that
OF society, that they are such as they are
tied criminal tendencies or have been SO
schooled in crime by early associations
as to make 1t impossible to overcome
their tendencies and their habits. They
cannot be made to yield to persuasion or
| gentle influences. They cannot be made
better and for them there is nc proper
or adequate punishment but that which
acts by way of restraint.
But none the less certain 1T is (and
this fact is confirmed by the experience
and observation of all in this ~presence)
now confined in our prisons or who may
hereafter transgress our criminal laws.
mo intelligent observer will deny the
proposition. All criminals are not Grim
mails alike. Criminals guilty of like Of
fences are not equally criminal. Slowly
but o the less surely through the long
centuries we have come to recognize
this fact. Criminals have been put to
death for what we now consider minor
offences. In every civilized country today
there is left to the discretion of the sem
fencing judge the length of imprisonment
imposed. Beyond a certain limit he can
not go, but within that limit his dis
| erection is exercised without question and
from his determination there is no ap-
imprisonment for like offences and does
so because he recognizes a difference in
degree of criminality. Some are more
guilty han others. And slowly, too, but
discipline have undergone a change. In
antiquity and down through the middle
ages our prisons We're places where men
might be confined and surfer. They were
places of silence and darkness or of
| gloomy confinement and torture where the
spirit of the convict was broken and his
physical and mental health were under
mined.
Punishment was their only purpose.
But no longer do We regard Imprisonment
asa means of punishment alone-we look
there shall come, if possible, a reform of
the prisoner. On the front of the Refor-
matory Of st. Michael there appears the
legend. Tt IS not enough to restrain the
wicked by punishment. unless you also
make them good by instruction Upon
the principle embodied in this motto the
friend of the movement In behalf of the
Reformatory in this State have urged
the erection of these building. They
know that under the new modern
methods of prison discipline the young
and Inexperienced criminal, the first Of
fender can be and has been made a new
man. They know and they urge upon the
| consideration of their fellow citizens that
the system which neither recognizes this
fact nor makes possible such reformation
has come by common consent to be re-
sarded as vicious and ineffective. 1t is
a sad commentary upon prevailing
methods that the few who are re-
ton in spite of their surroundings and
against fearful odds. In our present
prison there is want of sufficient facili-
ties for the trial of the new method. We
cannot provide the necessary room for
workshops or schools, the out-of-door
training and the exercise of the various
trades which are taught. Already it is
overcrowded and the demands upon its
capacity viii become greater as our popu-
lation increases. Sooner or later a new
prison would have to be built. The old
of the hardened class of criminals and
for those in whom there is no hope Of
reformation While here, upon lands al
size to meet all the requirement. for a
fair trial of the new system. there can
and ought to be erected a prison planned
ana ohducted np9n those principles
discipline.
Here, within these walls. aided by in
strengthened by labor, the inmate viii
become a new man, with old habits dis
carded and new ones formed. New
thoughts and new aims will fill his mind.
Better and higher aspirations animate and
inspire him. From these walls. where he
entered weak, vacillating, easily swayed.
outer world a man, changed in body. in
mind n IN character. BY reason of his
training he win grow strong and vigor-
Gus; lie viii BECOME self-respecting and
struggles before him, and be willing and
eager and resolved 10 win maintain
a position in the world. Such have been
the results Of the system wherever tried.
and such, both reason and experience
teach US, will follow the erection of tbo
New Jersey Reformatory. Il is a matter
IS thus far advanced. il is earnestly ia
be hoped that the completion of the birild-
lngs VIII not be long delayed and an
urgent n important reform thus de-
Senator Voorhees, address ended the
| ceremonies.
will have accommodations for LOCO prison,
ers- It is located on the old Edgar farm.
just OUTSIDE of Railway and in Middlesex
county. IT VIII cover about five acres OF
ground. and when entirely finished WI
make an imposing appearance. AS seen
from the 'front.', 1t will look like two long
Wings conVerginS toward @ central blli,d-
ing, with a high dome, the wings ana the
main building forming the centre of a
long, high brick wall. Directly in front
OF the main building will be the head
quarters of the Reformatory officials. IN
administration building, as 1t viii he
called. and where the business of fhe
institution viii be transacted. The bniId-
ing will be at the head of circular drive
way, from which extend two arms to the
right and left of the Reformatory
grounds. On. esther side of this circular
driveway VIII be a house fer the wardens.
From the main building four LONG wide
built the cells for the inmates Of the
HeforTnatory. There viii be 1000 cells
to accommodate that number of persons.
and as the specifications call for graded
cells, they win be made of different
sizes, The four wings will be Of the
same size, and a different number Of
cells viii be placed In each wins In the
wins to the left of the central building
there Will be 22f cells, in the wing Jack
81 mat 2sS. in the wing en- the right of
me main building 240 cells, and in the one
back of that 24S.
Right back Of the central building will
pc located the drill yard for the inmates.
IhiS yard Is to be surrounded by a wall
one story high, which will completely
shut off the yard from the other build
lngs Of the institution. On the left-hand
side CT the grounds, beyond the will
which surrounds the wall which incloses
sized buildings. Two Of them viii be
the shops. where practical instruction ii
manual labor will be given. and the
other will be the foundry. AT the rear
OF the Kround VIII be the physfcal acfl-
Surs hall. the big dIning-rooqn ana a