The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-18
REFORM OF CRIMINALS
REPORT PRESENTED TO THE PRISON
CONGRESS BY A. w. BUTLER.
Methods of Dealing with Convicts Dis
cussed-Discharged Prisoners
Should BE Helped.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, Sept. 1.-THE
business sessions of the National Prison
Congress were concluded to-day. Morning
and evening meetings were held and the in
tervening hours were devoted to an inspec-
tion of the Eastern Penitentiary and a drive
through Fairmount Park. An earnest plea
for a national bureau Of criminal identi-
fication was made by Major Richard Syl-
vester, superintendent of the Washington
police force. at the morning session, and
tonight DR.. John T. Bird, of the Michigan
State Reformatory. and DR.. Theodore Cook.
.jr., of the Maryland State Penitentiary.
discussed recreation and sanitation in
prisons.
A. w. Butler, chairman of the commit
tee on discharged prisoners, presented a
report, in which he said: Prisons in
penal system occupy the place of hospitals
in the field of public health. They are for
the treatment Of anti-social men. Their
purpose is for public protection. There
the offender should be restrained and
trained. He should be taught to keep the
law and to be able to earn living. The
stages of the treatment of the criminal
are probati ton, confinement. reformation,
readaptation. The first of these we recog-
nize as of the highest value with the
first offender especially If he is Juvenile.
Confinement is that stage generally prac-
ticed throughout all lands, and it's visible
sign is our prisons. Reformation is rec
ognized a theory by most of us, and its
practice is attempted In quite number
of prisons Readaptation, or readjuStment
to the conditions of the world outside the
prison, is one of the most important stages
in this work. Yet few States have recog-
nized it, and in many individual effort for
q he iS not
organized. Even If the preceding stages
have shown good results these results may
be overthrown by failure to do the right
thing at the critical period.
Those States which have recognized the
Importance of the proper treatment of the
criminal have instituted reforms from time
from adult prisoners; three States have
established separate prisons for women; in
nearly a dozen reformatories have been
created for the purpose OF separating
young men from older criminals In some
localities, however, there has been no
progress and conditions are little better
than those existing century ago. In
most States the definite sentence prevails
There the prisoner is discharged at the
end of his sentence, less his accumulated
good time. One after another our States
are adopting the so-called indeterminate re
sentence Under it those eligible are re-
leased under supervision. There is a great
contrast between the prisoners discharged
under these two laws To no one can the
oner released under the old system No
matter what his resolutions he is not re-
ceived with confidence. Employment is al
most impossible to find, and when found
the other employees upon learning the new
comers history, usually demand his dis
charge. How different IL is with the con-
vict who goes forth with the testimony of
the prison authorities of their belief in
his reformation. IL is but natural. when
one comes processing reformation and
vouched for by the managers of the insti-
ftfiO hat We
him trial and encourage him in his de-
sire to live right life"