New-York tribune., 1901-07-20
GIVE CRIMINALS A CHANCE.
EXISTING PENAL CODES ARE A MASS
OF TANGLED ABSURDITIES FOUND
ED ON TRADITIONS, SAYS
CHARLTON T LEWIS

The treatment of criminals and crime the
subject discussed yesterday at the Summer School
Tor philanthropy. Charlton T. Lewis we'll known
as worker In prison reforms, the principal
speaker, and he traced the development of the
penal codes in operation the present time, from
the brutal methods of the past. Death was the
penalty In England for more than hundred
offences as lately in the eighteenth century"
he said, land mutilation was common Imprison-
ment as a penalty is comparatively modern. The
old idea was based the theological teaching
garding a God Of vengeance and the object was
to punish. not to reform As that theological
dogma disappeared from general belief, the prin-
clple or humanttarianism, with Its adherence or
cruelty. increased. and the deprivation of liberty
for a time became the usual mode of punishment
Gradually the broader outlook of modern
thought and research has led a widespread
conviction that reform of the criminal. net the
punishment of crime. should be the basis which
crime is to be treated, and the idea of is
becoming less strenuously insisted upon"
MI Lewis said that all existing penal codes are
"a mass of tangled absurdites founded tradi-
uons." and affirmed that criminals should not be
dealt with in the lump. but as individuals" He
pointed out the failures law to be just and said
that 1t makes reform impossible the offender.
The most important advance in the penal code. in
his opinion is the gradual admission Of the prn-
ciple OF probation and parole.
More than twenty years ago Massachusetts IN
troduced the probation system and under It's work
ings the criminal class has perceptibly decreased
said Mr. Lewis. "A few other States have adopted
IT In recent years, and the legislation the last
year has shown a marked advance In the direction
OF adopting reformatory instead of punitive meas
ures.
Society must Of course. protect itself from the
criminal class, but the habtual criminal is to be
treated altogether differently from the occasional
offender. To treat them alike makes them alike.
Prison life units for freedom. and the only
reason for imprisoning a should be that the
safety OF society demands his secusion. When that
is not the case he should be allowed to remain
outside. but subjected better influences than
those under which he went astray.'
AS an illustration of the possibility of reform
when the criminal is studied Individual Mr..
Lewis told of young committed TO
sympathy with the new IDEAS He that the
young mal was exceptionally bright. and put him
in the printing department where his progress
was rapid. In year he virtually its head.
and when he was released, at the end of five
years. he carried with him the strong recommen-
dation OF the prison governors. This secured him
position in one of the largest printing houses OF
the Kingdom. and he IS Its trusted superin-
tendent and general manager.
Ine women students showed deep interest in the
topic, and asked many questions, of which
was whether the probation officers found any diff
Guilty In getting places for their charges to work
Mr. Lewis said that the contrary is the case
Many manufacturers and other employers take
a deep interest in such men. and are glad TO give
them chance" he said.