The Van Buren press., 1897-01-09
coNvIcTs CAN DoFF STRIPES
Those Who Behave Properly VIII Be Al
70 nEess LIZ, Rusiness Garh.

Those Who Behave Properly VIII Be Al
lowed to Dress In Business Garb.
The most original experiment in pris
on reform which has yet been tried hai
recently been put into effect at ohio''
penitentiary at Columbus. A strIk
ing, almost startling change in the con
ventional prison stripes of the convict
has been made. This, the first an
nouncement of this startling departure
will doubtless excite wide attention ane
comment.
1t is. in brief, regulating the clothing
of the convict by his conduct. Under
the system now in vogue in all prisons
every convict wears the same uniform
The prisoner whose instincts are vile
whose ideas are thoroughly stepped in
crime, is the same, in the appearance
that clothing gives, as the man whose
instincts are of high grade, but who
through weakness, has violated the
laws.
Penologists have long held that the in
telligent convict could be more thor
oughly reformed by mental processes
or methods akin thereto, than by the
physical penalties that prison rules havt
caused all offenders to suffer. This If
exactly the idea from which Warden d
G. Coffin, of the Ohio penitentiary, con
ceiyed his plan of helping the prisoners
to reform by grading their clothing
There are to be three grades, one hard
" different from the ordinary suit oil
the civilian, while the other two beai
in a greater degree the mark of tht
prison.
The first grade of clothing is of plain
gray cloth, with nothing to indicate that
it is anything else than citizens suit
The second grade will consist of gray
md white checkered goods, and the
third grade will be that of the present
regular stripes, as now worn by all.
A prisoner upon entering the prison
will be placed in the second grade, and
after the expiration of six months, with
out being reported for any infraction oil
the rules, will be entitled to be placed
in the first grade. Every prisoner in
the Ohio penitentiary who is not re-
ported for the violation of u prison
rule until January 1 will be permitted
to wear the first grade uniform as soon
as it is possible to procure 1t. The pris'
oner who during the time mentioned Is
reported for one infraction of the rules
will be eligible for the first grade in
ten days thereafter. The prisoner who
has two reports against him January
will not be eligible for the first grade
for 20 days. If a prisoner has three OF
more reports against him he will moi
be placed in the first grade until three
continuous months have passed without
an unfavorable report regarding him.
Warden Coffin, in talking to the writ.
er, said: 81 am fully satisfied that all
good citizens will heartily approve the
step | have taken. I do not believe that
it is right and just that man who has
so conducted himself as to maintain an
unblemished reputation for years
should be classed, clothed and marched
with one who is daily committing in.
fractions against the rules of the pris.
on. 1t holds out no inducement to the
worthy prisoner to continue his efforts
in well doing. There should be some
mark of distinction to separate the good
from the bad. 1t seems to me the graded
uniform is the best method of accom-
plishing this purpose"
The Ohio penitentiary has long beer
known by the fact that the inmates
thereof are treated with more humanity
than in almost any other state prison
The policy that has actuated the author
tiles has been that men are much more
inclined to renounce an evil life and t.
become good citizens if the attitude o.
| the officials toward them is that which
| human beings might naturally expect
N. Y, Herald