The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1899-11-21
PRISON SCIENCE.
Methods Looking to the Prevention and
Cure Of Crime.

Cure OF Crlme.
Only few decades ago did we get
glimpse into the true mode of treat
ing the insane; the prevention of in
sanity is yet far in the future, how
ever much it may be talked and writ
ten about. So, too, with the preven-
ton and cure of crime. tits less than
a century since we learned, even pass
ably, the best methods for this; and
prison science is in its infancy, so far
as the world at large is concerned.
Pathetic and humiliating is the
tardy advancement in this direction;
very provoking to the enlightened are
the dull indifference and frequent
hallucination of the community in
regard to the treatment of criminals.
Gradually, however, there has grown
up, in regard to large class of Grim
inals (the so-called "first offenders")
most rapidly in America, and
chiefly in the past 80 years-Some-
thing that may be termed "prison
science" It's best examples are in the
mems prison at Elmira, which is the
outgrowth of Mr.. Brockway'8 half
century of experience in controlling
and instructing convicts--andin the
women's prison in Sherborn in Mas
sachusetts, lately under the inspiring
government of Mrs. johnson. AS
yet the criminals of longer habitua-
ton in guilt have come but little I'M
der this new development of prison
science, except that in some states
they now receive an added sentence
when proved to be old offenders, But
the tendency is, where crime is best
understood, to establish small class
of "incorrigibles" for whom perpetual
imprisonment shall be the sentence.
This is on the theory that such can
never be safely returned to the COM
munity, upon which they are found
perpetually preying, with no reason
able hope that they can be cured of
evil habits. From these should be
distinguished a much larger class of
who are temporarily incor-
rigible, but will yield to the methods,
somewhat prolonged, which Mr..
has established at Elmira,
and Mrs. Johnson at Sherborn.
What are the main requirements Of
this prison science? First, to under
stand the individual convict and then
place him in one of several grades,
into the highest Of which he can rise
by effort, even as he can fall to the
lowest by Incidence or vice. Second,
to see that his marking for good or
bad conduct, good or bad lessons at
school, or progress up and down in
manual training and mechanical in
1ustry, is done on such a scale, and by
persons so experienced, that the con-
7ict himself must recognize the JUS
ice of the award. Third, instruction
It school, but more especially in some
,rade or honest employment, which
will serve as a brcad-winner when the
prison ceases to be his home. Fourth
but preliminary to ally, the indeter-
innate sentence, allowing time for
he punishment Of the old regime to
become the education and rectiIica-
ion Of the new science. Finally, a
recognition at every step of imprison-
nent that the future Of the prisoner.
S in his own hands, but that there is
need towards him of what
We call experience from the great su-
,erintendent Of this reformatory pris-
IN of human life-the exercise of
grace and forgiveness, tempering the
nfexible results of justice and de-
merit. Into this moral science must
inter-, as into all physical science, the
nscrutable element of vitality -
principle whose action we but dimly
Comprehend, while it is at our peril
hat We fail to make allowance for it.
Frank B. Sanborn, at the Session in
Hartford of the National Prison AS