The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-14
THE REFORMATORY IDEA
A. w. BUTLER TALKS OF ITS DE-
vELOPMENT IN INDIANA.
Points Discussed i'm a Paper Read
Before the Century Club
Last Night.

In paper read last night by Amos w
Butler. secretary of the State Board of
Charities. before the Century Club some
very interesting facts were stated with
regard to the Development of the Re-
formatory Idea in Indiana"
In treating the subject-the care of those
under punishment by confinement in this
State-the whole history was gone over,
from the time Of the log and rail jail in
the early days TO the full working of the
Reform Schools and Reformatory under
the indeterminate sentence and parole
law. The treatment of criminals was d.
vided into three divisions: First-That in
which the State or the injured one wrought
vengeance upon the offender. Second
That in which the State punished the
wrong-doer Third-That in which the
transgressor is given an opportunity to re-
form while under the penalty of the law.
While the historical part was interesting
as history, that which attracts most at
tention is the reorganization of the Re-
fcrmatory and State Prison along recog
nized reformatory lines, and the results
OF the administration of the indeterminate
sentence and parole laws.
AT the Reformatory," said Mr.. Butler
Gin the three years from April 1. 1897. to
March 81, 1900, 532 men were paroled. OF
these forty-two were returned to the insti-
tuition for various causes. In all seventy
nine men, or 14i1 per cent, have thus far
proven unsatisfactory. From the State
Prison 1S5 men have been paroled. Fifteen,
or little less than per cent. have been
reported as having failed to show them
selves worthy Of the liberty intrusted TO
them. From April to Oct. l. 1885, prior to
the enactment OF the indetermirate SEN
tence law, the number OF men released
after one years service was 81 per cent
From April l TO Oct. /, 1897, under the in
determinate sentence law, the average
number Of men released after one year:
service was 10 per cent. At the State Prison
South the last 800 men sentenced under the
definite sentence law served 574 years and
ten months, an average OF one year, ten
months and twenty-four days. Under tht
new law the first 800 men received at the
Reformatory had, up TO. March /, 1900,
served 610 years and one day, or two years,
l2.93 days, and $50 still remained in prison.
What has become of these paroled men?
Most of them remain faithful TO the trust
reposed in them. But forty-two of those
sent out from Jacksonville have been re-
turned for the violation of the terms of their
parole. Four of those paroied are serving
additional sentences, and but one has been
reSentenced to the RetormatOry. During
the first three years of the Reformatory's
history these paroled men together earned
$6y, 6y6.49. Two hundred and eighty-four of
them also received their board, which, at
an average of So week. is $2i,060, making
a total of S93,756.i9. The aggregate time
these men have been out upon parole, not
counting the time of those returned 10 the
institution or who have been discharged,
amounts to 3S3 years The gross cost of
maintenance of each inmate for the year
ending Oct. 81 1899, was $1161l; hence had
these young men remained this time in the
Reformatory they would not only have
fQf l0d 10 Ia hot Aoe.
indicated, but would have cost the State
Si447O.l3 for their support. In addition
some OF them would yet have years to
serve. and, therefore. be continuing ex-
pense to the Commonwealth.
The experience at the State Prison at
Michigan City is substantially the same.
Nine of those paroled have been returned
To the institution. In the three years OF its
paroled men have earned SO, 76S. 10. Ninety
four OF them, also. were furnished board TO
the value of $3.50. making a total OF $751;
6se.lo- Had they remained in prison for the
time calculated herein they would have
been an additional expense of $9.5l9.0l 10
the State. Putting this all togther il will
be seen that these paroled men have earned
for themselves and saved for the State,
under the operations OF the new law, S17I,-
42I.7S. The paroled men are encouraged to
save their money. Some, when they receive
their fnal discharge, have had over 500 to
their credit Some have invested in real
estate. Others have placed their savings
in business. Still more have gathered to-
gether their families and re-established
their broken homes. The men reporting
for the month OF March. 1900. showed that
they had on hand and due them $135ll. 20.
Each OF these left the Reformatory less
than year ago and with very few excep-
tons had rot to excede $50 a piece in
GLIDING the value of the suit Of clothes he
wore"
In speaking OF the jails Mr.. Butler said:
| Our jails should be but places of deten-
| ton, and at the most confinement therein
after conviction should be for the shortest
| term. Those convicted are imprisoned for
| violation OF state laws Why should not
| all our minor prisons. then. be under state
control? To secure proper results district
warehouses should be established. These
need be under nonpartisan control. All
persons sentenced for more than thirty
/ days should be confined therein. The in
mates should be properly classified and
| kept employed. Every effort should be put
forth 10 help them reform. The results
| should be a lessening of crime and conse-
quent decrease in public expense. Pro-
vision should be made for the employment
/ OF matrons TO properly care for women
/ prisoners confined In our fails and work
/ houses" Mr.. Butler condemned the pres
/ ent Indiana Jail system, and especially the
coEsregating OF prisoners. as leading 10 an
A.. T.