The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-05
ISDETERMISiIE SENTENCE.
Some Account of the Operation of New
Prison Law In Indiana.


From The Indiana polls Journal.
MIcuIGAN CITY. Ind, Oct 80. Last evening
prson Sunday was observed here by u union
meeting OF the Methodist Presbyterian and Con-
rreeauonal churches, held in the Methodist
Church. W. H. Whitaker clerk OF the State
Prison, read paper on The Indcterminate Sen
tenoe and Parole Law" lie spoke. in part as
follows
Before tho passage Of this law all prisoners
sentenced in counties moth Of a limo running
east and west through the centre OF the STATE
which line touched the southern border OF Marion
county, were sent 70 the Michigan City prison.
and all south Of this line were sentenced 70 Jener-
sonyille This was done without regard TO age,
crime or the number OF times the prisoner may
have been In prison The result was thai many
q young boy who had committed his hrst onenso
was thrown into prison and put into tho same
cell with an old. experienced offender, and after
serving his term OF one or two years, with no al
tention being given him while In prison. ho was
discharged a graduate in crime. The new law
seeks 70 remedy Jus, such cases as this by commit
unr 10 tho State Prison all men who are over
thirty years OF age, and those who have been
sentenced for life or treason and those who have
served in prison more than one term. To the
Indiana Retormatory are committed oil persons
under thirty years OF age except those who have
a life sentence or found guilty Of treason The
management Of the State Prison and the Re
formatoty. as soon as the laws were passed. In
1897. set out at once 70 adopt rules and provide
for the better government OF tho prisoners In their
charge as contemplated by the new law.
Tho hrst reform that was instituted at these
Institutions was TO abolish the lash and In its
stead we'll ventilated and warm cells were pro-
yided. where a prisoner is placed in solitary con
nnement on short diet. being compelled to stand
at his cell door during working hours, This
punishment lasts until the prisoner Ia willing
and the management Is satisfied that he viii
return 10 his work and give no further trouble
Again. the change OF clothing from tho stripes
70 tho cadet blue for the first grade prisoner and
tho second grade, and the stripes for the third
grade Tho lock step has also been abolished
IN military hilary" order TWO abreast These three re-
forms-the establishment OF the lash, the striped
clothing and the lock step-haye done more 70
Improve the condition Of the prisoner and make
him feel like man than anything that has boon
done ,.,..,,, ,.,,.no. ,.v moan. ,,,,
when a prisoner is sentenced to prison he goes
for a minimum and maximum term, which Is
determined by law in accordance with the oncnse
committed. II may be from one 10 three years,
one ~ fourteen two to fourteen, or two 10 twenty
ono years On entering the prison tho prisoner
clothing viii be Of the checkered cloth. While
in this grade no will DO permitted TO write one
rnd snS Of 9ps s' ps %
perfect department in this grade the prisoner
will DO advanced 70 the first grade and the clothing
oner Is permitted 10 write two letters poi. month
and receive two visits per month from his inends
For The breaking Of any rules IN ,nas , have been
DO reduced in grade: II reduced to the third grade
he win don the stripes and while in this clothing
visi.s from his friends nor 10 read in his cell
with tho grading q the prisoner from the
begins to study him, making careful invcsu
as e n nj II T ns on
schoolropm four evenings in, the week, and nine
months In ihn year There he Is taught 70 read
Endeavor, meetings each Sunday morning and
regular chapel service every Sunday forenoon;
he Is also permitted to have in his cell the hest
library books, papers and mage zines With
such methods as these the authorities are enabled
TO study each prisoner and at the end Of his mini.
ter and hahi,s Of the prisoner when he appears
before The Parole BogId asking for parole.
brings US to the %nnnsr IN which ths In
tered; when prisoner has served one or two years
In prison, as the case may be- and has complied
Parole Board The board hrst examines the
statement made by the trial Judge, and prescott,
ohis past record II they lind that he has served
other sentences and that his past life has been
spen, In crime; his case win not he favorably
TO- return 70 his work, not knowing Just when he
win again have another chance. 70 be heard
by INC DOhIu On ulc Ouner ndnd, III the board
finds that u Is the prisoners first offence and
that The Judge and prosecutor who tried him are
tayofable to his parole, and the records and all
evidence at hand go TO show that the prisoner
will again become useful citizen, they will parole
him. Employment then, must be found Tor The
prisoner, usually in the home Of his own people
they arc responsible; II not, we will secure work
for him In factory OF on a farm. the person civ
wages for one year and 10 take n friendly intercs
In the prisoners welfare, lie il also 10 see thh,
or superintendent ON the first Of each month fol
he previous month, stating in this report In,
number Of days he has worked: II idle fnT VIII
reasoni amount Of money earned and Nmoun
expended, and for what how many times he hs,
attended church during the month and where
where his evenings have been spent; how offer
ne has been in saloon during the month
,,, Hills report must be signed by tho parole,
prisoner and approved by his employer IN mi
report Is no, received by the warden or sunrr
ineIdent y ompuy, inycsig alton is al once STATE,