The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-14
THE CRIMINAL INSANE,
AN INTERESTING STUDY IN
CHRONOLOGY.
Report of Hon. S. j. Barrows, United
States Commissioner On the In
ternational Prison Commission.
Washington Office of The Herald, !
1415 G Street, N. W.

|
Washington, D. c., July S.-The re-
port of Hon. S. ]. Barrows, United
States commissioner on the interaa-
tional prison commission, has just been
published. 1t contains a vast amount
of information concerning the criminal
insane of the United States. Among
the most interesting information is
that contained in letters from govern
ors OF various states. Some time ago
| the American commissioner sent to the
cEief executive of all the states a ser
les OF questions, and asked an answer
at as early a date as possible. The
/ inquiries were as follows:
If a person accused of miSde-
pieanor or crime is adjudged irresDon-
sible on account of his mental condi-
ton, is he Immediately set at liberty
by the judge as acquitted and free
from further proceedings, or is he sub
mitted TO some special treatment AID
care? If the latter, what is that spec
ial treatment?
I'm what way is that Irresponsible
ity decidedly the examining magis-
trate, or by criminal court? Is there
any appeal from that decision?
SIS there a special question laid be-
fore the jury as to the mental condi-
ton of the accused; and. if so, what is
the form?
4-Does the judicial or executive au-
thority order the commitment, or re-
lease of an insane convict, either in
an asylum or in prison?
5-TO what extent are medical experts
called upon for opinions at the time
OF commitment or release?
6-Please send or designate any leg
islative or other documents bearing
upon the question of the criminal in
sane. and state whether the law has
been criticised; and, if so, upon what
points?
Have you any statistics giving ap-
proximately the number of convicts
found to be insane after sentence?
S-Are the special asylums for the
criminal insane annexes to ordinary in
sane asylums, or are they independent
and specially designed for the treat
ment Of insane criminals?
The answer for the state of Utah
came from Attorney General a. c.
Bishop, to whom the inquiries were re-
ferred by Governor Wells. He said:
IF q person accused of crime is
adjudged irresponsible on account of
his mental condition, he is not ac-
quilted, free from further proceeding,
but is committed by the court to the
state insane asylum until his sanity is
restored. The question of insanity is
triable to a jury in the court in which
the criminal prosecution is pending,
the issue being the insanity of the de-
PENDANT. When the prisoner thus sent
to the insane asylum has been restored
TO his sanity, he is then required to
be brought before the court having
Jurisdiction of the criminal prosecu-
ton and tried for the offense of which
he is charged.
The judicial authority of the state
has jurisdiction to order the commit
ment or release of an insane convict. |
In the trial of the question of insanity,
medical experts are called upon for
opinions, but there is no limitation as
to the number which may be called.
''Inasmuch as our state is very young, |
we have no statistics giving aDproXi- |
mately the number of cOnvicts found !
to be insane after sentence. We have |
but one insane asylum, which is in
tended to accommodate all persons of |
this class, and no special treatment for |
the criminal insane is in force"
The Idaho replies, made by Medical |
superintendent 1. H. Moore, We're cate
gorical, and as follows:
HE is discharged, and no special
treatment directed.
''2-By the court, after hearing ex-
aert testimony.
''3-Yes; do not know the form.
"4EExecutive authority.
"5-Very little.
"6-We have but little law bearing on
he criminal insane. L am endeavoring
o have some legislation on this mat
er enacted this winter.
mo.
''S-Criminal insane are cared for In
he public asylum