The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-04
What TO do With
CHRONIC Criminals
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post.
C7HE STATE of Kentucky has recog-
nized tho existence of the chronic
criminal, not by adding a few years
10 the ordinary term of imprison-
n.cnt on account of previous con-
victions, but by condemning him to prison
cor life after he has been twice convict
ed Of offenscs of the same nature. 1T is
highly improbable that the conditions of
lrison life in that state are suitable for
the perpetual seclusion of the incurable,
but 1t has recognized Just principle
and necessary one if society is TO be
fully protected. 1t assumes that when a
criminal has twice suffered all the acute
misericS of Imprisonment. he has lad
ample opportunity 70 learn tnGt the
rogue life does not pay; that whatever
allurementS and delusi"e pleasures it
may offer, the penalties are vastly great
er and lar more real. Having expert
enced this. if he resumes his career cf
crime, it is not merely because he prefers
it, and does not want to reform, but be-
cause, like many a confirmed drunkard,
he cannot reform. He is a moral imbe-
cile, impelled to crime by a law of his
perverted being that he is wholly unable
to resist. He would commit criminal acts
though the penalty should be death. Just
as certainly as there are IRRESPONSIBLE
kleptOmaniacs, there are other irrespon-
sible and more certainly incurable Grim
inals. Science is able, in some cases, to
point out physical peculiarities that in
diCate or are characteristic of the moral
defect that makes criminals. The typical
chronic criminal of the most pronounced
character is as positively defective as the
rank imbecile.
1t is just as necessary to the protection
of society that the incurable criminal
should not be at large as that the homi-
cidal lunatic should be secluded from the
world. The habitual policy of placing a
limit to his Imprisonment is based on the
fallacy that he is merely obstinate. and
that he can and win reform after the
given time in prison. He Is released as
a reformed man, though the experienced
prison official believes he will resume his
| old career, and he does. The only effect
of an Incarceration that would reform
any responsible and sane person is to put
| him in communication with other more
experienced and more desperate Grimm
| ais, from whom he acquires greater skill
in preying on society. He Is no more 10
| be intrusted with liberty than the lunatic.
| But bad as he is, he should not be treat
| ed in spirit of vengeance. Repulsive
| and hateful as his instincts and his acts
| may be, the purpose should not be 10 pun
| ish him, but to protect society from his
operations. To imprison him for life is
! costly, but NOT as costly as TO allow him
! periods of liberty.
| .
| The Kentucky prison, or any ordinary
prison, where the spirit of harshness pre-
walls as a means of producing reform, is
not the kind of prison for the criminal
| whose reform is known to be impossible
1t is not necessary that his prison should
| be as hideous as possible, though he is
| entitled to no luxuries at the cost of the
| public. He should be made to work hard
| partly because he should support himself
| as far as free labor will allow him, and
| partly because to condemn him to idle.
| ness would be a form of excessive cruelty
| There should be a prison set apart for life
| convicts, as in some states there are asy-
| lums especially for the incurable insane
| A strong argument in favor of life i'm
| prisonment for the confirmed criminals
is that it will prevent the further descent
of the criminal instincts. 1t has beer